First Conversation With A Recruiter(Roehl), Not What I Anticipated
Topic 12981 | Page 1
Have you ever read Brett's article about The Biggest Mistake New Drivers Make When Speaking With Recruiters?
I'm still a newb so my opinion may not count for much, but Roehl's recruiting was a bad joke from my perspective. And it's not just that they rejected my application despite a clean driving record, zero criminal record, and a very stable work history (two jobs in the last decade with one month of unemployment). It was the way in which they rejected it.
After waiting several days, all I got was a two-sentence form email saying that "if my situation changes" I should apply again. Except, they didn't bother to specify what parts needed to change. When I called for some clarification, they said they couldn't talk about rejected applications.
On the other hand, a recruiter from Prime called me within seconds of submitting an online application, called me again a couple hours later just to update me on the status, and generally seemed interested in making my acquaintance and kick-starting the whole process. I applied to Roehl first only because they have a yard in my city and their home-time options seemed more flexible than most, but if the app process is any indication as to how the company is run, they did me a favor.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Yes, I had read Brett's article. I underestimated how Obtuse a recruiter could be. Upon looking through the article again, Brett called it. It is however hard not to hold it against the company, as I can't get more information about the company.
When I spoke with my Roehl recruiter a couple of weeks ago she was very kind. I had already been pre-hired and she asked all the standard questions, driving record, criminal record, etc. and answered all my questions. She also offered to send me info on their various policies (rider and pet in my case). She did email me these, but when I opened the links they were the exact same info as on the website! I wanted more detailed info not what I had already read over. Didn't make much sense to me.
Long story short, I decided against Roehl even though they were my number one pick up until then. And it was just one policy that turned me away. They require a new driver to solo for 6 MONTHS before they are allowed to have a rider. As a woman I am comfortable with my thick skin, having worked in the automotive industry for years and dealt with the prejudice. But being alone in strange parts of the country? Not so comfortable with that. I decided to go with another company that would allow me to take my husband along as soon as I solo out.
Saying that, I LOVE the fact that I received a WIA grant to pay for my schooling, which is allowing me to pick the company that is going to work best for ME.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
When I spoke with my Roehl recruiter a couple of weeks ago she was very kind. I had already been pre-hired and she asked all the standard questions, driving record, criminal record, etc. and answered all my questions. She also offered to send me info on their various policies (rider and pet in my case). She did email me these, but when I opened the links they were the exact same info as on the website! I wanted more detailed info not what I had already read over. Didn't make much sense to me.
Long story short, I decided against Roehl even though they were my number one pick up until then. And it was just one policy that turned me away. They require a new driver to solo for 6 MONTHS before they are allowed to have a rider. As a woman I am comfortable with my thick skin, having worked in the automotive industry for years and dealt with the prejudice. But being alone in strange parts of the country? Not so comfortable with that. I decided to go with another company that would allow me to take my husband along as soon as I solo out.
Saying that, I LOVE the fact that I received a WIA grant to pay for my schooling, which is allowing me to pick the company that is going to work best for ME.
ChickieMonster, it looks like we have very similar circumstances. I too was interested in Roehl for their Rider and Pet Policy. If the recruiter had been a little more liberal with information and told me 6 months solo was a requirement in order to have a rider, I too would've been able to cross them off my list. 6 months without my wife as a rider is not an option I am prepared to consider at this juncture. If I may ask, what other companies have you considered? And which did you go with?
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Graduated license means young inexperienced driver. I am not surprised at all that they would want you to get a full regular license before driving a truck, that is the way a lot of companies are going to see it.
Graduated license means young inexperienced driver. I am not surprised at all that they would want you to get a full regular license before driving a truck, that is the way a lot of companies are going to see it.
No. It means I haven't had the need to return to the DMV. I've had this license for 12 years. All they had to do is pull my records.
"The holder of a graduated license is not required to obtain an operator license at age 18, but may choose to obtain one." -ADOT (AZ Department of Transportation)
My current license is subject to no additional restrictions than a non graduated one at this point. And is perfectly legal until it expires in December of 2052.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
December 2052! Holy cow. In Indiana ours are valid for 6 years and expire on our birthday regardless of the issue dates.
No. It means I haven't had the need to return to the DMV. I've had this license for 12 years. All they had to do is pull my records.
Well it sure looks like you need to now. That or go through explaining to every single company you talk to trying to convince them you are not still a student driver.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
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I submitted an application to Roehl for their company sponsored training program a little over a week ago. I received a call Wednesday, but hadn't had the opportunity to return it until today. I called and spoke to the recruiter. Apparently they have been unable to process my application further... Why? My driver's license is a "Graduated Driver's License". My response: So... And that's about were things stalled, as I tried to explain to the recruiter that it was the exact same thing (although it was about like trying to convince a distraught Former that four quarters is also a dollar). It ended with me agreeing to go to the DMV and get a new license without that word on it (?). So it looks like I'll be doing that on the 23rd (the next non holiday, weekday I'll be in state). I asked if I could be sent anymore information in the meantime and was told no, everything is on their website.
Hmm, the apathetic and secretive approach, not what I was expecting. I'd thought a recruiter would be energetic and happy to tell me about all the wonderful reasons I should be picking their company. I didn't anticipate this until company schooling. I don't know whether to be pleased about the upfrontness of adhering to policy to the letter (in the case of the license), and the general apathy the company has for potential driver's. Or dejected because I must clearly be such a poor candidate and of such little value in the eyes of the company (or at least the recruiter).
Should I expect the same from most companies?
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.