Need Advice On Companies

Before I begin, I've already read through the company reviews page. It doesn't quite give me what I want to know in this case. I graduated school and got my license last week (Class A CDL), and am now looking for jobs. The problem is that I don't have a stable work history, and not much of one at all in the last 5 years. This means all of my top picks are turning me down, so I'm having to dig a little deeper into the barrel. Can anyone offer some advice or maybe more info on what it's like to work at some of these companies? I'm currently looking at Swift, Schneider, J.B. Hunt, Werner, companies like that.

Thanks in advance!

Hi Marc, Congrats on getting your CDL. I went with Schneider. just finished 3 week training. They seem to be a really good company so far, they really stress safety. i do not no how they handle work history.

Marc, I think I can help you here. One thing you need to do is make sure you have some form of documentation put together concerning your work history. It's usually not a problem if you haven't been working, but it is a problem if you can't document what it is that you were doing. Were you receiving unemployment? Copies of records of that, or check stubs from that are proof that you were here and unemployed for some reason. Most companies just need to be able to document what it is that you were doing - this is a federal regulation to keep terrorists from getting hired into our transportation industry and doing with tanker trucks what they did with airplanes on 9/11. If you were just a lazy bum living in mom and dad's basement, well shame on you, but at least you've decided to seek work now. In that case all you have to do is have some friends or neighbors (not family members) write a letter stating that they know you were unemployed and living at such and such an address for the past three years or so, and then have those letters notarized and they usually will serve as sufficient documentation for what they need.

I'm curious what companies you were applying to - there are only so many companies out there who will hire inexperienced drivers, and that may be where you are hitting a snag. Could you share with us who is rejecting you? Usually a decent recruiter will go through the same info I just shared with you if they think they can get you in. Are you sure there are not other issues besides your employment record? Also, I'm curious as to what school you went through, because most of them will help you with job placement.

This means all of my top picks are turning me down, so I'm having to dig a little deeper into the barrel. Can anyone offer some advice or maybe more info on what it's like to work at some of these companies? I'm currently looking at Swift, Schneider, J.B. Hunt, Werner, companies like that.

Marc, you mention four companies in that list, and you say it kind of in a disparaging way as if they are not very good companies to work for. Each of those companies are actually top shelf operations who all hire newbies like you who really don't have anything to offer yet. It is a common misconception among new CDL holders that they are in high demand so they can get what they want in terms of their choice in a starting company and salary. It couldn't be any further from reality than that crazy notion.

My philosophy is that you will make this job what you want it to be by your work ethic and willingness to push through what ever difficulties arise to hinder you. As far as which companies are "good" I consider them all to be trucking companies - they've all got the same issues, because they are all trying to do the same thing, move freight from point A to point B. So many people jump into this career with false assumptions based on foolish reports and notions that they have picked up from internet "review sites". Have you ever noticed how 99% of the people who post reviews are people who are dissatisfied in an extreme way? That in itself should be a big red flag to any thinking person. This business of being able to be anonymous, and being hidden behind a keyboard, has emboldened a bunch of people, who are generally failures at most things they attempt, to lay the blame for their ineptitude at the feet of "big greedy trucking magnates who are still practicing slavery in their business models".

What I'm trying to say is choose a company that you seem to like, and then get out there and prove yourself to them. Don't be looking for them to prove themselves to you - that is the current trend of thinking and it is so backwards that it is a huge reason for the current 100% turn over rate in trucking. They don't have anything to prove - if you take a look at the walls of the offices of almost any trucking company that is being unfairly slammed on the internet you will find photos of drivers who have been there for ten and twenty years and put in millions of miles safely and very productively. Those guys didn't do that because it was a "good company" - they accomplished that because they were "good" drivers. Don't take me wrong, I'm not getting on to you for your question. I just want you to realize that your willingness to succeed and your drive to excel are the main ingredients for your success at this career. So don't worry so much about whose name is on the doors of the truck. I spent the first eighteen months of my career at a trucking company whose reputation is absolutely in the gutter by all internet review accounts, you couldn't ask for a company with more disparaging remarks against it. I excelled there, was always in the top group of drivers for productivity, and made some very good money despite the fact that their pay rate was very low. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but rather the truth that you are the driving factor of your success at this. Any company out there who has a really hard working dependable driver who knows how to "get er done" will do all they can to keep that driver moving and satisfied. I have since moved on to a different company, but it wasn't because I thought the other guys were scumbags. I received a much better offer and I took advantage of that offer. That's the way it works - you prove yourself first, then you will find the doors of opportunity opening up to you.

We've had drivers in this forum start their careers at each of those companies you mentioned and they have all gone on to have successful careers. Some stayed with their original employer, and some moved on, but they all got a great start at each of those companies.

Wow, Old School! First off, let me say thank you. You've really changed the way I look at some things. And you're totally right about the companies. I did say it in a disparaging way, but mostly because I was disappointed in myself that the ones I wanted rejected me (TMC, Benny Whitehead, Crete). I'm going to do some more researched on the companies I listed, and then start shooting out applications. Thank you so much for changing my view on it. I don't read internet reviews of companies because, well you already said why, but certain names do get thrown around whether you want to hear about it or not. I'll let you guys know how it goes! I'm also going to start studying for endorsements, I guess :)

Been driving for Schneider over a year now. I don't know how work history will be handled, but I couldn't have started with a better company and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

Good luck.

Been driving for Schneider over a year now. I don't know how work history will be handled, but I couldn't have started with a better company and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

Good luck.

I've learned to ignore the negative things I hear about companies :) I got a call from Schneider today, and have a phone interview tomorrow with them. I'm really hoping this all works out, because they're the most local company I've come across yet. No having to drive 5 states away for orientation!

Been driving for Schneider over a year now. I don't know how work history will be handled, but I couldn't have started with a better company and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

Good luck.

I've learned to ignore the negative things I hear about companies :) I got a call from Schneider today, and have a phone interview tomorrow with them. I'm really hoping this all works out, because they're the most local company I've come across yet. No having to drive 5 states away for orientation!

Good luck!

Schneider orientation next week! Woohoo!