Not too difficult to find OTR jobs?

[mark1270]

Here's a May 22, 2009, post on another trucking site:

"I'm getting ready to start school in two weeks. How hard will it be to find a job once I graduate? Some of the comments I've seen have me concerned.... I'm not too late am I? I’m 30 with a solid work history and a vet."

The answer from the site moderator:

"Getting a job running over-the-road should not be too difficult right now. One thing you can do is work with your school to get pre-hired, which means a trucking company agrees to hire you upon graduation. Most people are able to land a couple of pre-hires either before beginning their schooling or soon after it begins."

Is this true?

[baiano]

The big carriers that hire right out of school generally are always hiring because of their extremely high driver turnover rates. Their rates are so high because the pay is generally very low, or drivers can't make enough miles due to the overcapacity in the industry today. Also many people decide shortly after graduation from driving school that trucking just isn't for them, it is not an easy life.
Just remember that just because a company is hiring does not always mean that they will have enough work to keep you busy all the time, just drive by a truck stop and look at all the trucks parked there. Even 2 years ago, there wasn't half as many parked at truck stops as there are today.

Good luck.

[Cerberus_Kelpie]

YES and NO!!

Depends entirely upon the school.
A company sponsored school is better than personally sequestered loan however there are available private schools that charge less than some company sponsored driving academies.
Some Companies that hire from schools are not worth the time while there are some companies that are worth the time yet EVERYONE PAYS THEIR REQUIRED DUES for the first 2 years.
1 years' experience really means nothing anymore except to the large companies that are basically driver mills.

Newbies are a dime a dozen or more likely a dime for a 1/2 gross.

Unless you're wanting for a specialized carrier like Oversize/ Over Dimension or Explosives hauling, expect to do more sitting still unpaid waiting than driving considering all the trucks available (Independents and Company Drivers) and not the freight for them.
Reefers are multi load affordable unlike Dry Vans.

I hope you land something good after your schooling yet remember that Trucking ain't what it used to be and will never be again.
You have to WANT TO BE A DRIVER or you'll not make it.

[mark1270]

Thanks for the response. You wrote: "Reefers are multi load affordable unlike Dry Vans."
I'm not sure what "multi load affordable" means. Please explain.
Thanks!

[baiano]

He meant that reefers can also haul dry loads (non refrigerated,) dry vans cannot haul reefer goods because they have no temp. control.

[brigpilgrim]

This is a hard time to start, but it will not last forever. And there are still so many people starting out who run themselves out of money, family, and sanity, that if you have a little bit of discipline it is not hard to rise to the top. If you take care of yourself, the money will take care of itself. Just like in the military, attitude is everything.