Newbie truck driving jobs do not follow the path most expect.
Truck Driving Schools love to pitch OTR jobs. These companies have systems to mass hire drivers. An OTR job is the easiest way for a newbie to find a job.
But, that doesn't mean OTR is the only way into the trucking industry.
You can still drive a truck for living: even if your life doesn't allow you to go long haul (OTR). Local jobs for newbies exist. But, local companies do not have a systems to mass hire drivers, like the big OTR companies.
A newbie needs to understand how the transportation industry works.
Look at the jobs that require experience (any amount of experience). The majority of jobs that require experience are For-Hire Motor Carriers. They carry other people's goods for money. Look at the (non-OTR) jobs that do not require experience. Most of those jobs are Private Carriers. Private carriers haul their own goods.
Trucking companies have to carry insurance.
There are two types.
- Every trucking company needs to carry auto liability insurance (you carry the same for your car), in the event of an accident .
- For-Hire Carriers must also carry a second type of insurance - cargo.
Carriers that haul other people's goods (For-Hire) must have insurance to protect those goods. Carriers with auto liability insurance do not have the same driver experience requirements as carriers with cargo insurance.
Don't ask me why. I carry $1M in auto liability. No questions asked by the insurance carrier.
I carry $100K in cargo insurance. I must provide proof of my driver's experience with every new quote. It doesn't make sense, but it's true.
I carry $100K in cargo insurance. I must provide proof of my driver's experience with every new quote. It doesn't make sense, but it's true.
Some companies do not fit the mold.
They're either monster-huge and self-insure, or they're so small that they don't care. The point being: jobs (other than OTR) exist for newbies. Spend your time looking at companies that haul their own stuff (Coca-Cola, Budweiser, trash companies, etc.) They'll hire you.
This link goes directly to truck driving jobs that do not require experience.
Keep looking. You'll find a use for that CDL.
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