Question:
what are the odds of completing training with roadmaster and trying to get with a LTL COMPANY or just a company wher i can get home everyday like USF, ABF, CONWAY, OVERNIGHTEXPRESS, OLD DOMINION, YELLOW etc etc. im not looking to be out otr for long periods of time so thats out of the question. any thoughts or experiences u have gone through please give me some insight..........

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chances are slim to none that you will get on with the major LTL carriers straight out of school,those guys require some experience,atleast a year or 2 i think.

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Lonewolf is pretty much right almost all of those require two years or more I have almost 2 years and am still having a hell of a time to get with one of those companies for a local LTL job in my area, I know USF will hire newbies to run the line but usually that will mean ur gone for a few days, GI Trucking says they will hire newbies for LTL but haven't seen any proof of that but it never hurts to apply and try sometimes some of these companies are shorthanded or low on applicants and some are willing to train talk to the hiring manager for the drivers and see what they say, I know there are some smaller LTL companies that hire newbies or 6mos to a year exp. they may have crappier equip. and pay a lil less and no union but its a start, but bottom line is probably 90% of LTL companies want quite a bit of experience 1-3 yrs which doesn't make sense to most newbies cuz they figure how hard can it be to pull a 28ft pup daycab around town and make lil deliveries sometimes without even docking when I can pull a 53ft van and 70" sleeper across the country, mainly I was told speed is key you need to make your mistakes and learn a lil first and then you can do your job quickly, efficiently, and safely good luck and I hope you find what your looking for and someone give you a shot I know how hard it can be at first but I noticed just after 6 mos of driving getting a job was a lot easier.

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ABF requires 2 yrs of tractor trailer exp. plus you will need to go to there driving school. Good luck.Ivey EnviroTech Services
Start Up date: 3/1/06

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considering where you live,you might have better odd's than most places,all they can do is say no. You won't know if you don't try
A good prior work history and a decent backgound might just get you on at one of those places,even if it's dock work,jump on it.
Answer:
I disagree; I got on with Overnite after 1 month of OTR. My friends from driving school got on with them after 5 months OTR.
You'd be freaking suprised at what you can find if you're willing to look for it----really alls your doing is driving around and filling out apps. Even a chimp could do that.
Are you willing to move if nessesary?
FedEx Freight will hire your butt if you work on the docks for a while. Then they'll put you out on the street on your own delivering local. There's a FedEx terminal in Dayton, i believe. Dock starts at at least $16 per hour by now. Mostly forklifts. (Of course, do you really want to work for FedEx Freight? Are you Ex-military? Is your butt so tight it's waterproof? Are you a robot? Then fed ex freight may be for you. But more on this later---i speak from experience. Actually they're alright i guess.)
The key is you have to look and be willing to drive around town filling out apps. Even call (or better yet visit) people who are not advertising---you'd be suprised there too.
Contrary to popular belief, not every driver wants local work, thus more chances. for you.

Answer:
I seem to remember reading an Ad fro ABF where they would take new drivers with a CDL and training, and put them through their company school in Fort Smith Ar. The LTL companies are starting to advertise in the last few months for drivers and are loosening their requirements a bit, in response to the limited number of drivers available. For years the LTL world picked up theri drivers from the Truckload carriers, but that seems to be changing a bit now. I've seen a couple of ads for LTL carriers in the cheapie truckstop freebie magazines, so you chances of getting in with one of the LTL outfits is probably better now than it has been in the past.

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I seem to remember seeing an ad the other day from ABF looking for new hires where they would take someone with a completed school and a CDL and run them through their company training in Fort Smith Arkansas. Looks like the limited number of drivers available is having it's effect on the LTL world, as well as the truckload carriers. It might be worth giving them a call and see what their program consists of. In the last 2 months, I have seen ads in the little truckstop freebie magazines for a couple of LTL outfits, and that's something that yuou never used to see. This might be the best time to try to get on with one of them that there's been in quite a while.

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Driving home the other day I was taking note of the line haul trucks. ABF has an add for drivers on the back of their trailers as does Estes and Old Dominion. It looks like some doors may be opening up even in Florida. But the adds were for experienced drivers.
If you have an interest in one of those companies I would find their training centers and call them. I would ask if RoadMaster in particular is acceptable. here in Fl. they have a bad reputation for being nothing more than a very high priced CDL Mill. Maybe you can find out what schools are acceptable to the different companies.
Zigzag has a good point. It might be worth while to get in their door even if it means working a dock while taking their driver training.

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thanks for the insight. but i have been told the area i live in( columbus, ohio that i have a good chance of finding a company too take me on. also wouldnt mind working the dock as long as i can get in a truck somewhere down the line...

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Hope fully it is the companies you are looking at who gave you the information and not the driving school.
Alot of driving school recruiters remind me of trucking company recruiters, they lie through their teeth.

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You have the opportunity in your area to work for more than one Carrier
at the same time as an Extra on the dock which could very well lead to a driving job. Visit the better carriers in person for an application,forget the phone call job hunting. Working the dock gets your foot in the door.
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Depending on the terminal size, OD will put you on but you are going to run with a trainer for awhile which is a good thing. I happen to have today's newspaper in front of me and there is an ad from Conway for "apprentice" drivers. From what I see, the non union LTL's will hire you but overall, the union ones want a year or two.
It just so happens that I was at an job fair hosted by a local school that trains CDL drivers on saturday. I don't think I impressed the CCX recruiter when I told him what I thought about their line haul operations. You see, I have it my head that line haul means arriving at my desination, swapping out and getting on my way. CCX thinks you should dock your pups, work the docks then be on your way. I am not afraid of work but getting all hogged and sweated up then hopping in a truck (which in CCX's case, may not have air) does not make for a safe driver.
Don't let me discourage you. Just be aware that any driving has it's share of bull. The LTL's just happen to pay a little better to take it.

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You might want to consider a warehouse job like I did. I work 40-50 hours per week, home every night, and get all weekends off. Paid lunch break, smoke break, overtime after 40. It's a union shop and pays union scale.
I run a forklift loading TL and LTL freight. Also do some crossdocking and warehousing.
I know a guy who's got a peddle run for FedEx Freight. Lots of stops, dealing with traffic, headaches at the shipper/recievers. You better be out of your stop in 15 minutes or less or you have to justify why you're there. Kinda stressful if you ask me.
I dwelled for a year, but hated all the freebies involved and being away from home. OTR is a really crappy job I would avoid it if you could.
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EnSoledad, you brought up a good point on LTL about running. Low man on the pole gets to fill in for vacationing drivers or help where there is to much freight for the normal driver on that route. Not only do you have multiple stops but you need to constantly be learning new routes and locations. All while being safe and making your time count. And don't forget, your going to have a different truck everyday, usually one that has been down the road a few miles. Makes for a painful learning curve.