Trucking: New Hire, truck driving school, excavating companies

Question
I am a recent Roadmaster Truck Driving School graduate.  For the past 21 years I have been in restaurant management but now I am looking to be home nights and weekends.  My first thought would be to work with a food delivery company like Sysco, US Foodservice, etc.  Do you have any other suggestions beside food delivery where I could be home nights & weekends.  

Answer
Hi Scott.

There are many companies that you can apply to for local positions.  Some will put you at the bottom of the stack, with no experience, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!  Depending on what part of the country you live in, I would look into the following companies...

www.averittexpress.com
www.myyellow.com
www.gorlc.com
www.saia.com
www.usfc.com
www.wilsontrucking.com

Let me give you some advice, DON'T apply online!  Learn something about each company, find the terminal nearest to you and stop in to fill out an application.  Do it during the week and normal business hours.  I use to always ask to talk to the terminal manager after I filled out the app.  This way, you just jumped up that pile of applications.  Keep it simple, tell him that you just graduated school, you have 21 years management experience and that you would like to work for his company.  Ask the TM if you can call him/her for a follow up on the application.  You know how it is when you hired people in the restaurant business.  Being a manager, you know a lot already.  I wouldn't wear a suit and tie, but don't wear a tshirt either.  I use to always wear dark jeans, dark shoes and a button up shirt.  Your now in one of the professions that you can actually "overdress" for an interview.

There may also be many, many other companies in your area that need local positions filled.  Construction and excavating companies are a good source.  I would stop in and ask to fill out an application.  You may also hit a local truck stop and walk through the lot.  Read the company names on the truck doors, if they're local, call.  If it's a daycab (even if the company is 1000 miles away), find their nearest terminal and call (or stop by).  Many of the jobs never make it to the internet or newspaper, that's why legwork on your part is so important.  I have a couple of trucks that run local and I HATE putting an ad in the paper because it's next to impossible to get a good driver and wastes my time, but I'm always impressed with guys that find me.  

The final place you may look is with tanker companies that haul gas.  Many of those guys run at night (especially when your a rookie), but it's an option.

Good luck and welcome to trucking!

Bob Stephens