Question:
Drivers,
I'm looking for a local trucking company that will sponsor my CDL training and help me get a class A license. I'd like to do local driving only (be home daily). I'm in Pennsylvania. Does anyone know any trucking companies that will help me with this? I know of many companies that will sponsor training if I drove
coast to coast or OTR....while, I don't mind ocassionally driving out of state, I'd like my runs to be local and home everyday, even if the pay is low.
Can anyone help please?
Thanks,
Gabriel

Answer:
You might check with your local garbage collecters. Occasionally those around here will pay for a liscencse upgrade.
Answer:
Great, I'll check it out...anyone else have any other suggestions? It will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Gabriel

Answer:
School bus companies. They are a start for a class B.
Also, Roadway is advertising they will train if you live in the Harisburg PA area. You may want to give them a call.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
you guys rock....I live like 30 minutes from Harrisburg. I'll check roadway out....
keep those great suggestions coming....I do appreciate it.

Answer:
They had a huge banner hanging on their terminal saying they would train.
I guess drivers must be short out of that area.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
I've seen those same signs at a Roadway terminal some where in PA. Conway use to also hire and train people up there. I've talked with a couple of their drivers while unloading and wished I could get the job. But they didn't start as drivers.
At the very least you could find a Union company and work the dock while you upgrade your license and experience. My opinion it is worth it if you live in the right area. You would be building a future and not just filling some seat.

Answer:
I would guess working the dock at yellow, ABF, Or Roadway would kinda be like working our . Our dock is only a 20 door cross dock. So it is not like those huge 200 door crosses.
It is pretty easy on this small dock. I lend a hand in the mornings and some evenings. We do not have to. They have full time guys that do it. I just do not like sitting around and drinking coffee to much. I like to earn my money and lend a hand.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:

I'm quite sure the 'full time' guys will love you when one of them is laid off as not needed. You were hired as a 'Driver' do your fellow Employees a favor
by limiting what you do,to what you were hired for, DRIVING.
Sitting around and drinking Coffee will keep the status quo for everyone.
Answer:
helpfull truckers cleared out all the labor at grocery warehouses.the employee's figuired if they dragged butt the drivers would do it and than the boss saw he was paying people for no reason and the checker was born.The morons should have just waited no matter how long it took.
2 young guys at a small company where giving me the look like what the hell lazy driver,you could help,I told them I would help them but if their boss saw me helping he might see no reason to employee 2 people on his dock,so don't think I'm lazy,I'm helping you out.If I watch and you work,you both get to keep your jobs.
I went from being a lazy no good S.O.B. too a good guy instantly in their eyes,glad I could help
Answer:
This is a little different. Our full time dock hands in the AM even run Peddle freight.
I am also a peddle driver. So I load and unload all day. Inside delivery, set up, lift gate. Alot of the places I go to I just hit the dock. Get the door open and land the plate. Fire up the fork lift and unload the freight. Many of these places have no docks. They may have a fork lift. I just jack it to the back and unload it. The only thing that wastes alot of my time is finding some one to sign for the freight or write out a check.
Delivering to the farms suck. They get oil. 450 pounds. In a 55 gallon drum. No docks and you can't jack it. I like to be able to place my own oil drums. I can set them on the back and work around them.
In the AM when the line haul trucks hit the dock at 6am to 7am. There are 4 guys getting the loads crossed. 1 is the owners brother, the other 3 are St Louis local drivers. In the evenings. There are 3 full time operators. They do it all. That way the drivers and get off the log book and go home.
I run Quincy. I am able to save my self and the company a ton of time and money buy helping or loading my own freight. This way I can get them off the best way.
Now, You do not have to do this. Just alot of the guys around here do what they have to. We get it done.
The checks we got at Xmass time help show how that works. 3% GROSS on freight invoices go to the drivers each year.
Over all it is a fine place to work. One nice big family.
Myself. I do not see alot of probelms here. They have a few safty things to get cleared up. I have asked about some things. Talked to the president and they are going to work on getting were they need to be.
One thing that gets me. They do onsite drug and alcohol testing. They hit up about 2 drivers a week for randoms. there are only 35 drivers. Kinda seems like a lot.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
the garbage is a good idea and also check with the porta pottie outfits, it may be stinky, but most likley they also own a few tanker semis that may need a driver sometime, and always volunteer to help out.

Answer:
I do appreciate everyone's feedback, but it doesn't look like I'm getting anywhere....I guess I can't get hooked up since I don't know anyone (from these companies) and I can't volunteer to help since they don't know me.
Is there another way....perhaps a driver out there that has a truck of his own and doesn't mind training someone? I'll pay some cash as long as it's reasonable.
I just don't have $5,000 right now for a driving school.
I would really work hard for my cdl, but lack of experience and connections is making it difficult for me.
Let me know anything else that can help me...
Thanks,
Gabriel

Answer:
There are folks that take temp drivers. Labor ready used to. They don't anymore. At least around here. Look for a driver for hire gig. At least you get the foot in the door of many diff companies that way.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
"Look for a driver for hire gig"
You mean like a temp agency? Because most of them would hire but require CDL license....
I'll see what I can find in the local paper...