Finding My Place.

Hello, I went to Truck Driving school as Retraining after an injury at a previous job. I was lied to by the school I went to (which is why I went to Western Pacific instead of the school I knew) about job placement and being able to get a local job with weekends to spend with the family. Now I have to make a decision on where to go from here. I'm in Winlock WA which is about 15 miles from Chehalis and 20 from Longview but all the companies around here want 2+ years of experience or they won't look at you some will offer you a job but have rediculous expectations. The closest semi local position I have been offered is with Swift running for Walmart. Originally they said weekends home but now the recruiter is telling me probably Tues and Wednesdays. I know my religious issues could technically force their hand or lose the position for me. Kind of stuck and I'm outdated on job hunting and feel like I'm missing something. I've had a few other offers also but they turned out to be flakes. How do I balance my family obligations with the issues I'm having? Any good advice or leads would be great.

Hi Chris C, welcome and I think you will get the answers to your questions here. I have no idea what to tell you, but there are many experienced drivers here and trucking industry experts. I'll be very interested in what they tell you. Stick around and good things will come.

Let them know you are a “church going” person and attend every Sunday with your family. Be respectful and polite...the Swift terminal manager can easily override a recruiter. Realize that the Walmart Dedicated Accounts always need drivers in order to meet their contracted service levels.

Give that a try. Good luck.

Thank you G Town. The recruiter also said they have local day cab Positions available also and that when I hit 6 months to talk to them before going elsewhere which I would rather stick with 1 company if I can. I just know there are only 2 terminals Washington 1 in Sumner which is 84 miles and the Grandview terminal which is where I will be running out of for WM. If i were from the Grandview area the position they offered me would actually be home every night. Unfortunately its 150 miles from my home. My main issue is that my obligations are Friday from 5:30 to 7 for my Daughter which I unfortunately assumed was gonna be tricky if not impossible and Saturday and Sunday which seems hinky to most as everyone wants the weekends. I was offered Costco dedicated out of Sumner which is closer but I cannot stand Seattle therefore he recommended Walmart out of Grandview. I really would love to haul heavy equipment but I don't know how I would get a local position doing that as an inexperienced driver.

Thanks Bruce, I sure hope it turns out good.

Christopher I run Walmart Dedicated in the North East Region, going on almost 6 years now.

The Walmart DC to store delivery operation is consistent no matter what carrier you drive for or location. Let me know if you have any questions, happy to assist.

Here is a sample of what it’s like...

A Day in the Life of a Walmart Dedicated Driver

You'll have to really scale down you're expectations being a rookie. No opportunity is ever perfect from jump unless you're extremely lucky. There's always a trade off though. And this is what I see but it's only my opinion.

They're offering you viable options yet you find the cup half empty rather than half full because it isn't the whole kit & caboodle. The offer I read in your writings is the close to home one but you "cant stand Seattle".

From where I sit, as a rookie, they've given you very workable options. As you prove yourself & get the experience under your belt, more viable opportunities will present themselves. But you're going to have to meet them halfway until a better opportunity comes your way.

Now about your heavy equipment comment? You're not even applying for the right division if that's your goal. That won't come without switching to flatbed & getting at least 2 years of experience in that division. Maybe a local equipment rental company like sunbelt or something like that, but don't know much about it to give you a good picture of what like.

Good luck & be safe.

Have you looked into LTL companies like Old Dominion, XPO, YRC, Estes? If there are any around you might be able to get on with one of them. Old Dominion will hire right out of a approved school but it depends on the terminal.

Have you looked into LTL companies like Old Dominion, XPO, YRC, Estes? If there are any around you might be able to get on with one of them. Old Dominion will hire right out of a approved school but it depends on the terminal.

Bobcat,

Yeah I've checked LTL's in my area unfortunately Old Dominion doesn't seem to be hiring drivers out of the Olympia Terminal (not according to their website anyway. I've recently moved and there just doesn't seem the same opportunities as there was up North.

You'll have to really scale down you're expectations being a rookie. No opportunity is ever perfect from jump unless you're extremely lucky. There's always a trade off though. And this is what I see but it's only my opinion.

They're offering you viable options yet you find the cup half empty rather than half full because it isn't the whole kit & caboodle. The offer I read in your writings is the close to home one but you "cant stand Seattle".

From where I sit, as a rookie, they've given you very workable options. As you prove yourself & get the experience under your belt, more viable opportunities will present themselves. But you're going to have to meet them halfway until a better opportunity comes your way.

Now about your heavy equipment comment? You're not even applying for the right division if that's your goal. That won't come without switching to flatbed & getting at least 2 years of experience in that division. Maybe a local equipment rental company like sunbelt or something like that, but don't know much about it to give you a good picture of what like.

Good luck & be safe.

Splitter,

It's not that I'm trying to look at the glass as half full. My real issue is really my fault. I went to a school I knew nothing about because it was 15 or 20 miles closer and had 4 10's instead of 5 8's. Regardless it will all get figured out eventually. I know some people think my Seattle issue is rediculous and it might be somewhat and maybe I need to get over that. But driving there everyday would be monotonous. With the WM I would rarely have to go to Seattle. I'm assuming maybe they give the Northern Runs to someone who lives up that way. One big issue is I was shined on coming into this and I seem to be holding a grudge about that which is giving me anxiety about leaving the family and frustration over not getting what I was promised from someone I knew was just saying what I wanted to hear to get me in her school. Like i said i should have been smarter and Drove the extra to Olympia where I know the school (my brother went there). Some things i just need to let go. I was just contacted this morning by Jim Palmer and they say Mon-Fri home on weekends. Their Trucks even come with 24" flatscreen TV'S apparently! They have a Heavy Haul division.