I'm currently in my 3rd of 4 weeks at a local school. So far, we've had Swift and a "sister" company (IEL - International Equipment Leasing) out to the school to do some recruiting. Werner, Covenant, and the other usual suspects round out the list of companies who have applications at the school but have not actually sent a recruiter.
Today, while out on our backing range, a dirt hauler came by and said he was looking for 3 drivers @ $13 / hr who could start ASAP.

I have a wife, 5 year old and a 3 year old at home so the local option is appealing based on that. However, I would like to keep my options open, so to speak. I would prefer something local but I'm not totally closed off to the idea of OTR.

Now, looking at the 2 scenarios, what would benefit me more in the future?
1) Go local then OTR in a few years when kids get older.
2) Go OTR now, get experience and apply for a local job after 6 - 12 months?

I see a lot of local jobs that require a year or two years experience. Some specify OTR, others just say "experience", so I'm not sure which wold be more beneficial.

 

One thing to keep in mind is the most OTR companies want OTR experience and will not recognize local driving. Even if you drive T/T local you will most likely end up at an OTR training company as a student and have to go through OTJ training and may even have to go back through school again. In addition to that driving a straight truck will do nothing for your experience level if you go for a tractor/trailer driving job.

Not trying to tell you what to do, but just want to give you somethings to think about.

 

stay local if you can, I dunno about 13/hr- you may look into one of the LTL co.s in the area. I went to LTL after a year otr, so I paid my dues just to go local anyway! Then I got offered linehaul, wich is pretty darn nice!!! best job I ever had!

 

hmmmm wife and kids huh, I would say uhhhh better stay home then, yer young , after the kids are gone and you need to get away from the ole lady then go for OTR....

 

after my experience with the paperless log jam I'd "dirt hauler came by and said he was looking for 3 drivers @ $13 / hr" in a heart beat. -good luck.

 

$13 an hour seem kinda low,most guys in my area get around $20 an hour for soil relocation

 

13.00hr that is a JOKE. Don't take it dump truck drivers get anywhere around16-23 an hr. Depending if they are Union or not. The reason he came to your school saying he was looking for driver he was hopeing he would get cheap drivers. New drivers that don't know no better.

 

Working for the City (in South Georgia), a dumptruck driver gets about $10.00 an hour. That is with benefits, of course. That's not really good, is it, even with the benefits?

 

I would go OTR to gain the experience. What would happen if that guy goes out of business and you are out of a job? You would have no OTR experience and would have to basically start over. If you go OTR first you get the experience and if this same scenario happens then you will be better off. That is just my $0.02 worth. BOL

 

No that aint good even with benefits. Penndot only pays like 10 or 11 an hr. I think people who have wifes that make alot of money take them jobs just to do something. I i drove dumps i was getting 18.75 with full benefits and i was union. Only 20-21 years old when i worked there. My dad knew the owner good that the only reason i got that job. But even non union drivers where get atlest 16.00 an hr. with benefits.