finding local jobs in moving and storage industry in FL
Question:
I was recently laid off from my airline job as a result of 9/11. Living in FL, where jobs are tough to find, and being interested in trucking, I contacted several trucking schools. I was told by a rep from one school (I won't mention the name of it here, but the initials are ROADMASTER, a.k.a Comcar in Auburndale, FL) that I would have no problem getting a regional job, with one or two nights away from home, making $35,000 - $45,000, AND have them reimburse for training. A rep from a different school told me that "One third of the students in the current class were going OTR, one third regional, one third were local". A second rep from the same school told me local jobs out of training were slim; suggesting the best thing to do before committing, is to contact the local companies in my area try to arrange a face-to-face meeting and convince (beg) them for the opportunity to drive locally. Now, I suspect that of the three, at least two are out and out lying to me. But I submit to the group; what is the best way of securing a local job right out of school. With a wife and two young ones, I won't do OTR, or more than two nights away per week. Should I be looking in another direction?
Answer:
where jobs are tough to find, and being interested in trucking, I contacted several trucking schools< Your choices are mostly agricultural and a few in service. Becuase there is very little manufacturing in Florida the small fleet idea there is more limited.. However as a person I know in Texas did, you can go from school into the moving and storage idustry.. Or as a persobn I know in Pensacola did you can go into the beverage distribution industry as a route driver... Farm trucks, log trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks ( recycling BFI type) . You didn't say what area of Florida, but in the north central Mouse house area there are turf farms who use flat beds, and even new manufactured faire and conversion eguiptment to be delivered. UNFORTUNATLY the local driving jobs in Florida are among the lowest paying in the country, so much so that even OTR companies tend to try to pay Florida residents a reduced wage.... Good luck on finding what you need to replace your airlines wages but the methode of finding it is the same as I mentioned in my other post Look in person at your local area. Search fior small outfits that haul for 1 customer and deliver regionaly. Then spend time with that outfit asking about what they do and asking if you could "hang around" when you are in school helping to move trailers etc. I don't want to discourage you, but let me also list the experiences of those people I know who did start local. ( it can be done). driver 1.... I mentioned in my other post began at a local manufacturer Drove 3 years best year $26k... no longer drives but noiw is a small manufacturer of specialty parts for the company he drove for! Driver 2 drove for me 6 months went local Now making $10 an hour for 50 hour week! ( hauling cow and chicken ) Driver 3 same as driver two and working at same place! Driver 4 started as trailer spotter by the hour.. after 1 year went regional for 3 years.. now is owner operator after working for me 2 years OTR and is training ! driver 5 started at moving and storage company, worked local 1 year, went OTR 1 year and is now working part time a s local driver part time office worker at moving and storage agency! It can happen that you find a local job but NONE of these people would claim a local job paid 35 or 40 k a year!
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