[datdam47]

start school to get CDL this month at city college what can i expect. when i get out of school is it hard get a job with no exp. what is home time like i live in chicago i just need to be home at least 2days during week

[mike3fan]

I think 2 days at home when first starting out is a little unrealistic

[Justruckin]

I don't think I made it home but once in 6 years. :roll:

I think it will depend upon who you sign on with. Your first training period will probably, but not always keep you out for around 3-4 weeks straight.

Just make sure you interview your future employer as to what they want and expect of you. Being in Chicago, you should not have to much trouble getting home. I know that there are normally openings for local drivers in your area, even with some of the bigger carriers like PAM, Schneider, Swift, JB Hunt etc., and they will higher a rookie to run some of these local runs.

And RoadWay it seems is always advertising for drivers. Heck, you might even have a shot there. Nothing would surprise me now a days.

[datdam47]

so my home time might be okay cause of my home location

[millersod215]

2 days home a week, with your first carrier, right out of school? You might want to look at the long term goal of working towards that, like 6 months to a year down the road before you go getting your hopes up, in my experiences, that has been an unrealistic goal, but from what i hear certain companies like TMC are good about the weekend home time stuff.

[Justruckin]

Originally Posted by datdam47

so my home time might be okay cause of my home location

I have known guys in Chicago right out of school who got local jobs. And that is no lie, Chicago is a great place to be if you live there and want to drive local.

I know for a fact that PAM, Schneider (tanker, flat and van), Swift, JB, blah blah blah have hired guys right out of school to run local routes. They may not be the choicest deals going, but what the hey, you will be home.

Worst case, you run auto parts for a month or two, just don't screw up, BE HONEST AND DON'T TELL NO LIES, and you can be in the cat birds seat with little effort.

Be a man about your job up there, don't whine, be late, ask for time off or hit things you are not supposed to AND show up a 1/2 an hour early for work EVERY STINKING DAY! And before you know it, you will be running the joint!

Don't laugh, I am serious!

[NorthMSDriver]

You can find companies that will get you home every weekend. Search, search and search some more. Some companies will say 1 or 2 years OTR experience, but go and talk to them. Many of them will take a student if you are a good candidate and show interest, and they need drivers fast.

After all there is a big driver shortage

I am starting with Ashley Distribution Jan 8th and they average 1 1/2 days home on the weekends, every weekend. My brother drives OTR and gets home 1 1/2 to 2 days off every weekend. My pop is an owner operator, so he gets home when he wants, but his previous company driver jobs he drove OTR and got home every weekend. I have 2 friends that drive OTR and get home every weekend. All make excellent money.

Most companies do want a driver to stay out at least 2 weeks, but don't give up searching and talking to any company your interested in, even if they advertise 1 to 2 years OTR experience. :wink:

[NorthMSDriver]

I forgot to add,
To show you that companies will hire students that advertise 1 or more years of OTR experience.
Ashley hired me and they say they want 1 OTR experience, but persistants and showing a peak interest in being a driver for Ashley, they hired me.