Can't Get Hired Due To Government Shutdown.

But you can make that at other companies too. Turtle did $65k his first year. Prime lightweight reefer are at 49cpm plus bonuses and earn paid vacation at 85k miles. We run about 125,000 miles per year. Do the math...that is $62,000 before bonuses.

Those turnover numbers dont really tell you much unless you know the demographics. For example... the 22% turnover rate means nothing unless you know how many were experienced drivers and how many were newbies. How many newbies were hired that year? Most new drivers never make it out of training. So if DOT hired only 10 new drivers that year and all of them quit, it wouldnt affect the % much. They have a page that says "we have 110 'million mile' drivers" and that people only stay that long out of being respected. My company has thousands of million milers, and i know this because our halls are lined with golden plaques dedicated to each one.

It works the same with the pay. The "first year $70k" means drivers of all experience. So if they hired 95 experienced drivers at $75k and 5 brand new inexperienced drivers at $50k, the average would be $73k. So with my 3.5 years experience, i would start out way above you which is fair but i would still be called a "first year driver". That does not mean rookie.

Also, ask if you need a "manadatory availability" to get that guaranteed $60k. Some routes will say "must be available 6 days per week" or something to that affect. So if your kid gets sick and you take an extra couple of days off, you are not available and not guaranteed. Be sure to ask.

Also ask what the tuition reimbursement is. If you paid $5,000 and they will only reimburse you $3,000 then you are still in the hole. Every company allows different amounts and not necessarily what you paid. My one friend paid $6k in NJ but her company only reimbursed $1400.

I made more than that my first year also, but anywho.. not saying it's a bad company, just saying they don't really stand out to me.

Hope your government shut down issue gets resolved soon.

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?

It's a regional no-touch position, mostly refrigerated. Home weekends, and sometimes during the week. All newer Volvo automatic trucks (assigned truck). $60k guaranteed in writing ($70k average). $750 a week during training. $20/hr detention pay. Decent benefits, profit sharing, holiday pay, vacation time, etc. The drop yard is 15 minutes from my house. I'm not 100% counting on this company, it's just my first choice. There are unlimited openings around here, I'll be driving soon one way or another. I was just freaking out a little because I worried this shutdown might be affecting all new drivers and no one was hiring. And the president has said he's prepared to keep it shut down for "months, even years".

Good luck. Im interested to see how it works out.

If I had to guess, the delay is due to the E- Verify site being down due to the government shutdown. In regards to DOT foods, they're an excellent company. I have a good friend who has been with them for going on 13 years now and has never driven for any other company. Great benefits, money and very solid miles.

But you can make that at other companies too. Turtle did $65k his first year. Prime lightweight reefer are at 49cpm plus bonuses and earn paid vacation at 85k miles. We run about 125,000 miles per year. Do the math...that is $62,000 before bonuses.

Those turnover numbers dont really tell you much unless you know the demographics. For example... the 22% turnover rate means nothing unless you know how many were experienced drivers and how many were newbies. How many newbies were hired that year? Most new drivers never make it out of training. So if DOT hired only 10 new drivers that year and all of them quit, it wouldnt affect the % much. They have a page that says "we have 110 'million mile' drivers" and that people only stay that long out of being respected. My company has thousands of million milers, and i know this because our halls are lined with golden plaques dedicated to each one.

It works the same with the pay. The "first year $70k" means drivers of all experience. So if they hired 95 experienced drivers at $75k and 5 brand new inexperienced drivers at $50k, the average would be $73k. So with my 3.5 years experience, i would start out way above you which is fair but i would still be called a "first year driver". That does not mean rookie.

Also, ask if you need a "manadatory availability" to get that guaranteed $60k. Some routes will say "must be available 6 days per week" or something to that affect. So if your kid gets sick and you take an extra couple of days off, you are not available and not guaranteed. Be sure to ask.

Also ask what the tuition reimbursement is. If you paid $5,000 and they will only reimburse you $3,000 then you are still in the hole. Every company allows different amounts and not necessarily what you paid. My one friend paid $6k in NJ but her company only reimbursed $1400.

All valid questions, most of which I've considered. I believe the tuition reimbursement is up to $6k, though I talked to so many recruiters it's hard to keep track. I assume you need a certain availability to get the $60k guarantee, I wouldn't expect otherwise. But they're not just saying you'll make $60k as a first year driver with no experience, there's actually a signed guarantee on paper that I can take to a lawyer if they don't live up to it. I don't know of anyone else offering that. The 22% turnover rate is significant to me, mostly because they're actually willing to share that number. Most won't tell you. But you're right, that number might be misleading if they're not including trainees. But all companies willing to share their turnover rate probably calculate it the same way. You're also right that there are other good companies out there that will pay as much or more. Prime might be one of them, they're on my list of second choices if this one doesn't work out.

You can take that guarantee in writing to a lawyer, but my concern is the fine print all im saying is read it thoroughly and ask every question about it.

"At what point is the guarantee withdrawn? what would disqualify me?do i need to.be available a certain amount per month? How will i know if im getting close to not being eliglble? Is there a tracking system on a phone app or site i can self check? If i go over a certain number of days per year how does this affect it? What if i need to use my sick leave, does that affect it? What if i get hurt on the job and am not available? Will you provide me with a loaner truck durinf break downs or does my availability count even if the truck is in the shop?"

Im from jersey. we are cynical by nature.lol

DOT is a great company, from all I have heard. Everyone here loves them. My son has a friend who works for them.

Greg, did you just graduate from Sage in Rome?

DOT is a great company, from all I have heard. Everyone here loves them. My son has a friend who works for them.

Greg, did you just graduate from Sage in Rome?

Sage driving school, yes. Not Rome NY though, I went to Bloomsburg PA. I'm dealing with the Liverpool NY office, that would be my home terminal. But they have a yard nearby where I would keep my truck on the weekends.

I have some answers now. The E-verify system is down, but that's not the issue. They've suspended the requirement for employers to verify citizenship during the shutdown. She said parts of my background check are delayed, but still being processed. I was under the impression the process was at a dead stop, but the agencies they need are still running with reduced personnel. They expect everything to be processed by the end of the week, maybe as soon as today.

You can take that guarantee in writing to a lawyer, but my concern is the fine print all im saying is read it thoroughly and ask every question about it.

"At what point is the guarantee withdrawn? what would disqualify me?do i need to.be available a certain amount per month? How will i know if im getting close to not being eliglble? Is there a tracking system on a phone app or site i can self check? If i go over a certain number of days per year how does this affect it? What if i need to use my sick leave, does that affect it? What if i get hurt on the job and am not available? Will you provide me with a loaner truck durinf break downs or does my availability count even if the truck is in the shop?"

Im from jersey. we are cynical by nature.lol

Those are all questions I'd like answers to as well, we're plenty cynical across the border here in eastern PA also. I haven't even seen the guarantee, I'm sure there's plenty of fine print in it that I'll read and get back to you. I haven't even been offered the job yet, I still have to take their road test/physical/drug screen/etc. The guarantee isn't really a huge issue for me, I'm ready to drive every minute I'm legally allowed and expect to make well over $60k anyway.