Otr W/ Only Local Exp???

[trintonjk]

Hello drivers............
I am trying to find an OTR job that is good paying and has insurance. I have had my class a for about 5 years but have never driven OTR, only stuff in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. I was usually home every night but sometimes gone no more than two days. I have contacted several companies and get the same reason for not being able to apply. "SORRY BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE 1-2 YEARS OF OTR EXPERIENCE." Is there any company that would take my 5 years of driving and give me a chance to prove I can drive???? Thanks for your help.

[trintonjk]

Bump...........Can anybody give me some suggestions????

[alaskantrucker]

i am sure u will have to start at a big company as a student driver. did u graduate from a truck driving school? that is a big thing with the big companies that will hire new otr drivers
maybe check with usexpress, crengland, and some of the other large companies.
good luck driver

[renodriver]

You have 5 years driving experince? You say you've driven in 3 states? Did you run Line Haul for a company? I believe most companys will consider that otr experince. What gives? Whats the rest of your story? Bad driving record, felon, what?

[feng_shui]

Originally Posted by renodriver

You have 5 years driving experince? You say you've driven in 3 states? Did you run Line Haul for a company? I believe most companys will consider that otr experince. What gives? Whats the rest of your story? Bad driving record, felon, what?

I guess there could be more to trintonjk's story than he's told, but assuming there isn't, alaska could very well be correct. A lot of companies insist on "OTR experience." That has always puzzled me because the skill set required to drive locally is at least as great as otr. Gosh, a 5 yr. old could guide a truck in 18th gear on an interstate. What's left? Reading a map? Even that isn't really necessary nowadays.

I suggest trintonjk, if time allows, keeps trying to find a company who will take him without having to go through training. I would also like to know why in hell he would want to go otr instead of local?

[trintonjk]

Thanks for all the input drivers. The reason I would like to go OTR is because I have mainly driven oilfield. With this economy the oilfield in NW Oklahoma is dried up and there are no driving jobs open that will pay a decent salary and offer insurance. I have called many many companies and when I tell them I have no OTR experience they say sorry i need 1-2 years in the last three. I have no criminal convictions and ZERO points on my DMV. Not sure if I have anything on my DAC as i have never had to have one. I just called Prime and they seem to be willing to work with me. Is that a good choice?????

[icantinaturner]

Originally Posted by feng_shui

I guess there could be more to trintonjk's story than he's told, but assuming there isn't, alaska could very well be correct. A lot of companies insist on "OTR experience." That has always puzzled me because the skill set required to drive locally is at least as great as otr. Gosh, a 5 yr. old could guide a truck in 18th gear on an interstate. What's left? Reading a map? Even that isn't really necessary nowadays.

I suggest trintonjk, if time allows, keeps trying to find a company who will take him without having to go through training. I would also like to know why in hell he would want to go otr instead of local?

I have to agree with you about the basic skill set and in many ways, it takes more driving "talent" to run local, particularly in big metro areas. Same for OTR being worse than local. Why go OTR when OTR guys are looking for local jobs???

But I was also puzzled about the companies insisting on OTR experience... until I was given a local guy to "train" for OTR. I am now convinced that companies might be concerned with logging (lying, budgeting hours and such), trip planning, navigation and the ability to be away from "mama" and family for extended periods.

My "trainee" was a great guy who could drive his a$$ off but was a disaster in all those respects. He flat couldn't handle logging -- with two people in the truck -- and simple arithmetic blew him away.

He couldn't visualize anything outside of the LA Basin and the idea of planning a multi-day trip across several states was tough for him, possibly because he couldn't get his mind around the log and HOS. When he was away from SoCal, his lack of navigational skills surfaced and no amount of explaining Rand/McNally seemed to help. All these are things that the OTR driver takes for granted.

The biggie was loneliness and he was constantly calling home. He had a young family and after a couple of days away, he was going nuts. I don't know if it was love, lust or lack of trust, but he couldn't handle it. I suspect that his preoccupation with home might have influenced his inability to pick up the other simple skills.

My trainee lasted two weeks and that was only because we ran to the East Coast. When we got back to LA he quit and I suspect that he's driving local to this day.

Was my trainee typical? I don't know. I'm guessing that companies have had too many drivers who jumped at OTR, only to find that it isn't just one long, fun vacation. I'm also guessing that younger drivers dislike OTR more for the obvious reasons.