recent graduate seeks opinions...

[ceehound619]

Here is my story. I graduated Class A school with my CDL on Sept 5. I have all endorsements(no restrictions) and a clean driving record. I have a stable work history, good references and even some prior Class B experience. HOWEVER.. I have FAILED so far at finding a local Class A job... I probably have over 50 resumes/applications out there.... I am not even getting calls from the temp agencies.... I am ASSUMING this is due mainly to my LACK of experience.... so I have decided I am going to have to put in my dues OTR for a year at least to get some experience... THEN maybe I can get a decent local job....(local due to my young kids) I have narrowed things down so far at this point to Gordon/schneider/US Express and Werner...are there any OTR companies that I should stay away from??? and which companies do you think are the best out of the ones I listed??? Any help/advice would be GREATLY appreciated... THANKS in advance. ( ps.. I am in the San Diego, CA area)

[Uturn2001]

Out of the ones you listed Gordon would be the way to go.

Have you applied with ABF. They hire and train new drivers.


Jeff McNabb San Diego CA 91911 875 Energy Way (619) 656-7952

I would call or better yet go there in person.

[ceehound619]

Out of the ones you listed Gordon would be the way to go.

Have you applied with ABF. They hire and train new drivers.


Jeff McNabb San Diego CA 91911 875 Energy Way (619) 656-7952

I would call or better yet go there in person.

thanks much for the advice... I will take it!!!! :>)

[bigrigdriver]

UPS hires new drivers too, you can always try if you havent been away from the work force for long. San diego has openings for local P&D. I checked few days ago. upsjobs.com Good luck Bro.

[ceehound619]

UPS hires new drivers too, you can always try if you havent been away from the work force for long. San diego has openings for local P&D. I checked few days ago. upsjobs.com Good luck Bro.

Thanks!!!!! I check this company for openings religiously and hadnt seen anything open... appreciate it!!!

[inmate1577]

I thought companies like UPS , FedEx etc dont hire drivers outright. I thought you had to shlep it out on a loading dock for awhile.

[ceehound619]

I thought companies like UPS , FedEx etc dont hire drivers outright. I thought you had to shlep it out on a loading dock for awhile.

FEDEX driving positions(class a) require 1 year experience minimum.... UPS CITY drivers do NOt.... their OTR positions DO require experience.

[worldisnotenough]

recent graduate seeks opinions...


The color blue is nice, IMHO.

[ceehound619]

recent graduate seeks opinions...


The color blue is nice, IMHO.

guess you were too LAZY to read my entire post huh.(rolls eyes)

[worldisnotenough]

sorry, i couldn't resist. from the ones you listed I don't see much difference.
all are pretty similar pay wise.

[Lunker]

It's what you get besides pay and benefits that should help you decide which company. If you have no otr experience, find a company that will make sure you get at least 160hrs. training behind the wheel before you're let loose on your own. You stated you have class b experience, but that's nothing close to 80k flying downhill with 4 wheelers everywhere. I got 200 hrs with a trainer at Interstate and he prepared me very well.

[worldisnotenough]

that is not realistic. What if one company offers 120 hours with someone who is a fantastic trainer and another company offers 300 hours with someone who runs a illegal log book, is frustrated with life, hates four wheelers, and constantly refers to you as, "banana nuts!" ( purely and exaggerated for instance )? It is hard to get a good impression of a company beyond pay, and the options for a first year driver are limited to basic mill companies. Although, we are considering interstate as well, I don't necessarily believe they will be night and day better than where I am currently. Just maybe the things I don't like about my current company will not be a problem at Interstate. But I am sure they have other issues. It's pretty much a crap shoot. My advice is really to decide where you can spend a year no matter what and go for it with whoever is more convenient for you as far as pay, closeness of terminal to home, etc.

[ceehound619]

that is not realistic. What if one company offers 120 hours with someone who is a fantastic trainer and another company offers 300 hours with someone who runs a illegal log book, is frustrated with life, hates four wheelers, and constantly refers to you as, "banana nuts!" ( purely and exaggerated for instance )? It is hard to get a good impression of a company beyond pay, and the options for a first year driver are limited to basic mill companies. Although, we are considering interstate as well, I don't necessarily believe they will be night and day better than where I am currently. Just maybe the things I don't like about my current company will not be a problem at Interstate. But I am sure they have other issues. It's pretty much a crap shoot. My advice is really to decide where you can spend a year no matter what and go for it with whoever is more convenient for you as far as pay, closeness of terminal to home, etc.

(laughing my ass off @ "banana nuts") anyway... thanks for the advice guys... it is MOST appreciated.