[frankbeard]

Hello, I have some questions and would greatly appreciate any help that can be given to me. I am 42 years old and teach blind/visually impaired persons. I live in Chattanooga TN. Last summer I went to Chattanooga State and took the truck drivers course and got my class A CDL. That is the only experience I have had with driving trucks. I have not driven for anyone. Being a teacher I get two months in the summer and wanted to drive/gain experience/make extra money while I have all that free time. I want to make as much extra money as I can. That was my whole motivation for getting my CDL. It gives me a skill that I can utilize to make extra money. If I ever left a teaching job then I could do it fulltime if I wanted. Otherwise I just want to be able to do it in the summer. The main problem I have is the fact that I have no experience. No company that I have found will let me come work for them for just the summer. Getting started and getting that initial experience is what seems like is going to be a difficult task. (After I have gotten experience then I imagine it would be pretty easy to find summer work.) Is there any place that would hire an inexperienced driver to work just for the summer? I could go to wherever the job was. If not, then does anybody have any other suggestions? What about leasing a truck for 2 months and getting my own insurance? Doing it that way I would have to kind of train myself. What about driving other types of vehicles. Would my CDL qualify me to drive other types of vehicles that there may be more opportunities for? Like a dump truck for example? Anyway, I appreciate any advice that can be given. Thanks, Chip

[headborg]

yes, you simply hire on some where then quit in 3 months like 99% of the other drivers do....

ok... seriously... look for a company that hires---casual drivers..


ok...I went back and read the OP---

how about getting your Passenger endorcement and driving a school bus? for
a little extra money-- then approach a local/ near by Vocational/ State Community College that has a truck driver training program and work for them during the summer- as an instructor- I know you have NO actual experience- but this doesn't stop many CDL schools from hiring you as an Instructor...seriously.

[DaveFromColorado]

check the farmers market, sometimes they'll train grain-truck drivers for summer work - also, you can get into dump truck work, I know around here at least, lots of that is just seasonal stuff.

--Dave.

[jefster]

do you live near any coal mines? those tractor trailer outfits that haul coal usually hire casual drivers.

[Kranky]

Get to know some people in the excavating business.

Dump truck work is at it's peak at the same time that you're "off for the summer".

[Jibs]

Since you are in Chatanooga have you contacted US Xpress. They do a lot of hiring of new drivers.

[DrewNTrucking]

Thing is alot of OTR companys are not going to want to put the time and money in someone that only going to be there for 2 months. At 2 months you are just getting warmed up in the seat. On another note, most companys that do hire student drivers, look at it that you have about 60 days with most to find a company to drive for. So you will most likely have to do a 40Hr. refresher on you CDL. I go the route that some of the other posters have said, your best bet is to maybe look for some kind of local work in your area. Just be careful with your CDL, if you dont leave on good terms with a big carrier, they can slap some nice comments on your DAC. :twisted:

Good luck to you.

[bigtimba]

Try beer, soda, ice and ice cream . . enjoy them all . . and then try their distributors.

[GMAN]

There are a lot of construction companies around Chattanooga. There may also be a need for drivers by some of the beverage distributors. You may also try some of the rock quarries. There are a number around the region. Since you went to school at Chattanooga State, they may also be able to help place you in a job. Getting started can be difficult without experience. You might also try Lesco. They furnish drivers and trucks to shippers. Your lack of experience will be the greatest challenge.

[Ian Williams]

Most anything that is construction related will be busy during the summer. Dump Trucks, Concrete, Flatbed, etc.

LTL companies also tend to get busier during the summer and fall. Try Yellow, Con-Way, FedEx Freight, UPS Freight etc. During the summer most employees are using their vacation time as well.