NEW! Put In Applications... Waiting...

First off, I would like to thank you for having an amazing forum that is so dedicated to helping people, like me, to learn about the trucking industry. Every time I look here I find more useful information. I've always been interested in driving truck and have driven taxi for the past 4 years and now I'm ready to move on to BIGGER and better things. I do not have my CDL yet, though.

I have just put in applications to Roehl, Swick, and Prime. From here, it seems like all 3 companies have a good reputation.

I do have a couple of questions...

What do you think the chances are of getting hired from at least 1 of the before mentioned companies?

What is the average waiting period from application to schooling?

I will keep everyone updated, the idea of creating a diary is very intriguing...

~Valerie

Welcome to Trucking Truth, Valerie. Yes, this is an amazing web site.

Your chances of getting a driving job, if you pass all the tests & background checks, is close to the chances that the sun will come up tomorrow.

Don't worry about "average" wait time. I applied to Swift and was in school within a week. Others have waited a month or so. Just work to be on top of your application process - don't be pushy, but keep in contact with your recruiters.

Read the diaries, learn what driving school is all about. Have fun!

Hi Valerie,

You heard from the wise and knowledgeable Errol, so I will just add one small tidbit of past experience.

The biggest issue with a lot of companies hiring out of Michigan, is that they draw an arbitrary line, (because of freight lanes) usually I69/96 and only hire South of that line. You should have no problems, though, in the greater Flint area, because you are along both, and the I75 corridor. When I lived in Midland, MI only Prime would hire, me of the 3. When I moved to Bay City, MI, only a 15 minute drive up US10, all 3 were available, because of my proximity to I75, but it was still iffy because of being 1h30min North of that Line. When I mentioned the distance from Midland to Bay City to my Swift, and Roehl recruiters, it was obvious, one didn't even bother to look at a map, and tried to insist that Midland was an hour from Bay City, lol. The other confessed that he didn't realize that, and they could have pushed it through. This was about 10 years ago, give or take. Today, that would have not been a problem.

Danielsahn suffers from delusions:

You heard from the wise and knowledgeable Errol ...

One year of trucking provides neither wisdom nor knowledge as attributed.

Welcome Valerie, as Errol pointed out you gave great chances. I started at Roehl and from app to in school was 1 week. Call Kim Calhoun at Roehl. She is awesome.

Good Luck VivaciousVal

Thank you all for the replies. Its been a long weekend waiting for Tuesday to come so that I can start contacting some recruiters, eek! I do love my current employer and want to give adequate notice, and they know that this is a route I'm looking into, so I do hope that its not too fast. But, I'm sure that the requiter will understand that, too.

I live within 5 miles of both I69 and I75, and I am south of I69, so hopefully that doesn't become a problem for me. I eventually hope to move to the U.P., but that may not happen until I've fulfilled my time with a starter company. I would love to eventually drive mining/ logging trucks and have a day job. I do love to travel and this will get it out of my system before I settle down.

Thanks again for all the advice on the forum!