New Driver Needs Some Work
Topic 2665 | Page 1
David, just about every company hires out of WA.
So let me get this straight. You got your license in December and it's now February. What have you been doing this entire time?
Companies don't like breaks after you get your license. They prefer you to get to work when you get your license. What you should have done is gather pre-hires from companies as you were going through school and before you started school. But since you sort of took a break after you got your license it probably makes them a little nervous about you.
In the end, if you really applied to just about every major carrier, then there's something about your application that they didn't like. Perhaps you've gotten in trouble with the law a while back but didn't list it on your application, they could have done a background check on you and stuff showed up that you never listed. That would get your application thrown in the trash.
So I guess what I'm asking you is, is there anything that was on your application that was questionable and/or anything from your past that could be getting in the way?
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre-hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
You may need to send an app to Central...they have a western division and they train...May...and Interstate. these are western state companies. Also, Systems (flatbed), Gordon, Haney....theres a few for you to check on.....
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Thanks for the reply guys.
Daniel - I'm new to this town, I relied on the local's advice way to much when they told me that local jobs always pop up. I've been wasting time waiting for these non existent jobs. I'm making a company choice by Thrursday and just get this ball rolling. As for my background, I have no criminal background, never failed a drug test and have nothing on my driving record. I have my hazmat , tanker and doubles/triples endorsements. I really don't know why I'm not getting a lot of recruiters calling like other people have.
Starcar - Thanks, I don't know why I didn't think of Central. I hear good things about Haney and applied for them a few weeks ago along with Brown Line. Gordon was the first that got a hold of me, but the guy said that my CDL school wasn't on "their list" and to come back when I have 6 month OTR experience. Kind of bothered me when I heard that the school isn't on the list. I know the school has old students working for lots of the big and little companies.... maybe the school just ****ed off Gordon or something...
I'll let you guys know what happens. Thanks!
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.
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
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Remember after you apply you should call the company a day or two later. All the trucking companies need drivers but they are too busy to call applicants. Go figure lol.
About 3 days after I wrote this, my phone started to explode with call backs from recruiters for places I applied for. I started to get a little annoyed actually, it had to be at least 15 different companies. I have chosen Stevens Transport and just waiting for a orientation date so I can purchase my plane ticket down to Dallas.
Drove down I-5 through Seattle to Tacoma this weekend, saw all the trucks passing by gave me truck withdrawals.
Thanks guys for your advice. 
I know it's been asked before, but can't find the post- What's the best things to bring for orientation and my 240 hour OTR training period? Would I need to purchase a "motor carriers" road atlas or does the Qualcomm devices do all the work for you?
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Knight pays newbies while they are in training and the time with a trainer is strictly up to you and your trainer but it normally 3-6 weeks.
For your basic needs, here's a list Items To Pack I'd buy my own atlas...one of the key things to do is to learn to trip plan...and even tho gps is fine...and qual comm helps some with directions...you can't beat seeing those roads on a map...
We have been talking on one of the posts about shoes, jackets, etc...I'll see if I can find it...
any more questions ??? just ask !!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I dont have a gps-never used one and dont plan on it-use the atlas and directions on the qual com and do fine.
I dont have a gps-never used one and dont plan on it-use the atlas and directions on the qual com and do fine.
Except for the new places that are not on a map and only a updated gps can get ya there due to road closures or changed truck restricted routing. There are a few routes that used to be a truck route but have change but even if you dont know about the change you still get the ticket.
What I am trying to say is use the Atlas but also use a gps. No such thing as to much information. Gps is a tool like a map is. Why not use all the tools you can to make your job easier. Discounting a valuable tool like a gps is like flying an airplane without landing gear. You don't need landing gear to fly the plane.
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Hey everyone. Been looking over this site for a few weeks and this is my first time posting.
I got my Class A in December. While I was in school there was tons of local jobs that hire newbies (Class A and B jobs). With my great luck, as soon I was done with school and passed my test, there was non of those jobs around. I have decided to suck it up and do over the road for a little bit to get some money flowing and get some experience. I've applied for so many of the bigger companies that hire newbies, but have only got responses from two of the recruiters. Swift Transport and Stevens Transport were the only ones. I know I can't be to picky being so green, but I don't want to be stuck in the driver's seat for weeks or months getting paid very little while a mentor/trainer sits there getting paid double what you are getting. I'm about 90 miles north of Seattle. You guys out there have any advice or know of companies near me that hires green drivers?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated