Company Orientation

hey everyone. newbie here. I am aware, from the multiple applications I submitted, that companies ask if you've ever been to orientation for any other company; but my question is this: had two companies interested, chose one, scheduled orientation with chosen company, postponed orientation with the other. so, if I go to orientation for one company and for whatever reason it doesn't work out, does my second choice company know that I went for orientation with someone else and do they penalize you in any way for going to orientation somewhere else, leaving, and now coming to them for orientation, potentially? thanks in advance for any responses.

hey everyone. newbie here. I am aware, from the multiple applications I submitted, that companies ask if you've ever been to orientation for any other company; but my question is this: had two companies interested, chose one, scheduled orientation with chosen company, postponed orientation with the other. so, if I go to orientation for one company and for whatever reason it doesn't work out, does my second choice company know that I went for orientation with someone else and do they penalize you in any way for going to orientation somewhere else, leaving, and now coming to them for orientation, potentially? thanks in advance for any responses.

Interesting first post...

Although I recommend not doing this, in the event you skip out on the first one and line up your second choice...if they ask the question; "have you ever been to another trucking company's orientation?" You should answer honestly. If they don't ask, don't volunteer it.

Thanks for the advice. not really planning on skipping out just feeling a little insecure having been out of school for about a month and not behind the wheel and I've read of many people getting the boot on their first day of orientation so just trying to cover all bases. I will definitely be honest with whomever asks anything but was just wondering if orientation shows up on a dac or anything. I had read in the past to make sure you are making the right choice before going to orientation for a company. just kinda thought that advice might be related to other companies knowing you've been to orientation somewhere else without having to ask. am definitely going to let the second choice go but was just curious, worst-case scenario, if I'd be able to get an orientation with them after going elsewhere first. thanks again.

I believe I am the perfect person to answer this question. I just completed orientation for my first job last week and am waiting for my trainer. Like you I had been out of the truck for a month and was feeling really nervous about starting this.

I go through the first part of orientation and went on to the skills testing. My second day I hit a wall. So much so that I had decided I was going to quit and go home and start over with another company, even going so far as to submit an application. Yes, they asked me if I had been to another orientation and yes I disclosed that I had.

I got great advice from the folks here at TT and ultimately decided to stay. And boy I'm glad I did!

I know you are nervous and questioning right now and it will get even harder once you get there. But if at all possible, tough it out! It will get better I promise!

Read about my experiences:

TransAm orientation

Have a serious question...

@chickiemonster: thanks for the encouraging words. I am quite nervous after hearing about others who got booted from this company on their first day of orientation. my skills were pretty solid (for a newbie) when I graduated out but it feels quite foreign to me at this point. my situation is a little different in that I already applied, obviously, for my second-choice company and they asked and I said no, of course, because that was the case at that time. was more curious about in the future if I reached out to them and told them I am interested in coming out for orientation, if something were to go fatally wrong with the first orientation, whether they'd know I had been or whether they'd ask again. it's probably a moot point 'cause I'm gonna kill orientation with the company I really want to work for! lol i'll check out your story. good luck.

I went to an orientation that didn't work out. When talking to recruiters from other companies, only follow up question that was asked was "do you owe them any money?" As long as you don't, it should hurt you, so there is no reason to withhold that info. Definitely not worth risking your career over.

I work for a 3rd party that does orientation paperwork among other things for motor carriers. This does not show up in any background services. However, any carrier that knows what they're doing will have a sort of fail safe if the prospective employee leaves before their 90 day (or so) probation period is complete. Orientation costs money in more places than you may know. Background checks, drug screenings, etc... If you sign their orientation paperwork and they have something like this, you may be required to pay for said costs if you leave before the probation period is over.

Mike Doyle - Safetycp.com

I think it might count if you're were actually officially hired or not.. My first Orientation only lasted 4 days, I was "let go" by the company a day before I would be officially hired by them....So no hiring documentation submitted. At my second company, they only asked if I was "employed" by another trucking company prior to them. When I said I spent a few days at another in orientation but I wasn't hired, they said that didn't count. So I was okay to answer the question as a... No. I was still able to qualify for Tuition reimbursement, thankfully.... (Roehl) said that they had to be my first hire out of school to qualify. But if they Ask specifically with the word "Orientation" then be Truthful about going to another if you want...you don't have to give a truthful reason you didn't complete it if you don't want to. Orientation is like going to your initial job interview that you would ordinarily go to in a standard job search which usually takes anywhere from 15 minutes to hour......If they don't hire you then no harm no foul. Nobody knows anything...Government, IRS. etc etc. No record of employment because you didn't get hired. Same goes for Trucking except that the "job interview" is days instead of an hour.

Anyway, Check with the hire dates with your companies. They differ anywhere from Day 1 to Day ?? whenever? Their recruiters will usually you would be expected to be hired.. With Roehl, for example, it was the exactly a week after Orientation Start day which is usually a Monday.