Is it possible to get a yard jockey job as fresh CDL holder with no experience.
I got a Class A CDL a while ago when working part-time because my job offered a tuition assistance program to get one with a partnered community college. I just went and did it because they offered to pay for it and I wasn't doing anything else at the time.
I can't really be a long haul OTR or Regional trucker because of family, nor do I really want to do that type of trucking. While I was in school, my instructor told me about a type of driving job called "yard jockey" where you just move trailers all day and sometimes haul stuff from cite to cite. That type of job would work much better for me and I think I would prefer that to being a long haul driver.
However, I got lots of mixed messages in school from my instructors as how to navigate the job market as a fresh CDL holder. Some said that the trucking shortage is so bad most companies will hire anyone, other people said that you pretty much have to bite the bullet and do OTR or at least regional for a year or two just to get the experience to be insurable. Thoughts? I'm interested in being yard jockey but I'm open to other things like bus driving or driving a dump truck. I have a Class A CDL with all endorsements except passenger/school bus.
Edit: I'm getting replies saying you don't even need a CDL to do yard jockey work. I was under the impression a CDL is required based on what I was taught in driving school as well job listings in my area listing CDL as a requirement.
Posted May 4, 2022, 6:43 PM UTC · edited