Can't Get Hired Due To Government Shutdown.

Topic 24235 | Page 1

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Greg's Comment
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I liquidated my business, and paid $5,500 out of pocket for trucking school. I chose to go full-time and put 100% of my energy into getting licensed and employed as soon as possible. I finished the 150 hour program in 3 weeks, and got my CDL 12/26. I had a phone interview 12/27 with my top choice of companies. I had a second video conference interview 12/31. They called Jan 2nd to let me know they'd checked my references, employment history, and want me on their team. But due to the government shutdown, they can't run the necessary background checks to move forward. So here I sit, flat broke with 2 kids and no income waiting until government reopens. Is this an industry-wide problem? Anyone else in a similar situation? Is any carrier able to hire new drivers right now?

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Trucker Chris (CK)'s Comment
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From application through background checks, approval and now scheduling for orientation and training.... the entire process for me has taken place during the shutdown. I'm starting with Prime on Monday. Maybe give them a call?

Trucker Kearsey 's Comment
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Other than Hazmat and TWIC cards, im not sure what Federal govt checks they do. CSA scores, but i would assume that is all in a database. Criminal and DMV would be state and local levels. However, even the USPS was considered "essential personnel" so we still had to work even during state wide road closures and hurricane evacuations.

Prime is bringing a few hundred people in every Monday to 3 different terminals. so, no...it is not industry wide.

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

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.

TWIC:

Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.

Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

Old School's Comment
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I had a phone interview 12/27 with my top choice of companies. I had a second video conference interview 12/31.

What type of job is this, or what company? Very few trucking companies actually do such interviews. Schneider will generally do a phone interview, but even that much is out of the ordinary in this industry. Are you doing something local or government related. This whole process you're describing is unique in my experience.

Old School's Comment
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Excuse me for adding something here. Really this is advice for others who will read this later on. This is yet another prime example of why we teach you guys to take advantage of the Paid CDL Training Programs.

Had Aaron followed this method he'd not only already be working and getting paid, but he'd also have 5,500 dollars in the bank. Now he's sounding destitute, and nobody wants or needs that added stress while starting a really challenging career like trucking. There is little or no advantage that I can see from laying out your hard earned cash when starting this career.

Busting The Free Agent Myth

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
JoAnne EC's Comment
member avatar

Excuse me for adding something here. Really this is advice for others who will read this later on. This is yet another prime example of why we teach you guys to take advantage of the Paid CDL Training Programs.

When I first started seriously researching this as my next career, I had fully intended to pay for a local school and go that route. However, after reading Brett's book and everyone's posts and the company reviews on here, I am 100% going the paid training route. Why would you not?! =)

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Trucker Kearsey 's Comment
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Had Aaron followed this method he'd not only already be working and getting paid, but he'd also have 5,500 dollars in the bank. Now he's sounding destitute, and nobody wants or needs that added stress while starting a really challenging career like trucking. There is little or no advantage that I can see from laying out your hard earned cash when starting this career.

I was thinking the same thing, but didnt want to pour salt on an open wound.

sad, but true.

Honeslty i was trying to figure out the job too cause government trucking is contracted yes, but Im not aware of additional background checks. Some give their employees federal contractor ID badges. They might get vetted by the FBI and finger printed like i did at the USPS, even for temporary employees. They started doing that after a guy in our building was wanted on a murder warrant. So where did he go? The post office. smh. They didnt know he was wanted until he attacked someone. After that the USPS started running through the FBI.

I delivered a load for prime to the USPS distribution center and they let me walk around the facility and not one person asked me who i was. In NJ we would have tackled a non employee lol.

Greg's Comment
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The company is Dot Foods. Their hiring process is tougher and more time consuming than most. I think the holdup is likely related to Hazmat , which they require you to have within 60 days. I didn't ask many questions because I thought this shutdown thing would blow over in a few days, which doesn't seem to be the case. I'll get in touch with them tomorrow and see exactly what government agency they're waiting on. I'm glad to know it's not an industry wide problem though, I may have no choice but to go somewhere else if this drags on much longer. I hope it doesn't come to that, they're offering me the best rookie deal I've heard.

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

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.

Old School's Comment
member avatar

What age are you Aaron? That is a really physically demanding job. Food service is definitely not something we recommend for new drivers.

Trucker Kearsey 's Comment
member avatar

If it is Hazmat it is TSA. That shouldn't be a problem though. no way will a shutdown be 60 days. and my Hazmat came back in 4 days.

Whats so great about this rookie deal? Sometimes they arent as good as you think.

DOT foods...is that tanker? local?

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

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.

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