Ready To Scream!!

Hi all,

I've been a lurker for a little while and am excited to make my first post. I've been reading and reading and am finally feeling able to contribute in my little way but I have concerns that I'd like some feedback on. I"M READY TO SCREAM! * It took since December to finally narrow down a job. (I know I must be patient but I'm excited) But, when you're in school and they talk about how easily you'll get a job, it's setting you up for failure when you get too excited about it and you are from a small place not a large city.

* Companies wouldn't hire me because of my location, or the requirement of experience that I don't have.

* I'm realizing how crazy the industry can be- I almost had a job 2 times but something went wrong. 1st I told he truth- I was told that the MVD had my license cancelled at some point and although my records show no revoking or suspension, I lost 1 job opportunity. 2nd I read the fine print- I was about to become a JetSet Trucker but as I graduated driving school in December, I was looking for a good mentorship program. I was reassured by the recruiter that it would be fine more than once but because of this forum (THANKS YALL!!!) I read the fine print twice... 18 days of training, 5 with a trainer then I was to be off on my own. Yeah, I'd like to keep my BRAND NEW career afloat and not die or kill anyone.... so, no thank you.

* I got a job with a smaller company that Requires 6 months worth of Mentorship!!! **YAY** They even travel up to Canada and I have a passport at the ready!! **Double YAY**

* I feel like they're taking the **** in regards to pay because of our location in the southwest..... very very south west. 16 cpm is that normal? I feel like it isn't when comparing it to the other companies that I've looked into. Moving up to 19 cpm after 20,000 miles and the most you can make is 40cpm after 1 year as a solo driver.

Now, if you feel that I should take a seat and suck it up, feel free to say so... I have tough skin and am not afraid to be wrong. I'm just feeling frazzled by this whole process. I appreciate your input and really love the content here and I can't wait to share my experiences!

SJ

Rip40, welcome to our forum!

I'm a little confused by your concerns. Your location is Las Cruces New Mexico. You are right in the heart of a major freight lane. Just about everyone will hire from that area. What kind of companies are you looking at? You mentioned getting a job with a small company. Why are you fiddling around with those type operations? If you graduated truck driving school, and have a 160 hour training certificate, you should be golden. Is there something you left out of your post? I just don't see any reason why some of the major carriers aren't making job offers to you. That is what you want for your first job. You want a good stable company with good financial backing. How many applications have you put out?

I'm ready to scream because this isn't making any sense to me!

By the way, I wouldn't take that job at 16 cents per mile. That has got to be a forced team situation, and I just don't think you understand what you are getting yourself into.

Have you used this link to Apply For Truck Driving Jobs? Fill out one application and it will be sent to numerous companies.

That current offer doesn't sound appealing to me. Most of which is it being a small company. Most of us on this forum work for large companies and are treated like rockstars. Ignore the trash about being a number at a mega. How many trucks does this operation have? The CPM is also very low. If that is literally the only company that will hire you jump on it and move on after a year

Did you talk to Messilla Valley Transportation in Las Cruces, NM?

First, I have seen you, Old School and Rob T., everywhere here. Thank you for taking the time to respond and I apologize for the confusion.

Heres my list:

Crete, Navajo Express, Swift (Licensing problem), Pride, US Express (need 3 months experience), Sain, Roehl (Isn't hiring for students right now per their phone number), Estes, JB Hunt (need 3 months experience), Mountain Valley, Central Freight, CRST (Extra one with licensing problem), Schneider was the JetSet company and Mesilla Valley Transport is the current company that I've ?Maybe? chosen.

Phew. I have applied to, contacted via email or called every one of these places. I also have an active application on Pulse. I would have sworn that I did apply to the link Rob but I'm going to do it again now.

I think that I need to be more vague in the application instead of opting in with the license information that I put in there. I'll start there, I just hate feeling like I'm lying.

You're going to need six months experience for Crete, unless the policy has changed.

I was told that the MVD had my license cancelled at some point and although my records show no revoking or suspension

Okay, this is really what is causing you problems. You don't seem to know the details, but you are telling recruiters that your license has been suspended without even knowing the details. You are shooting yourself in the foot! You need to know if your license has been suspended or not and why - that is important. Who told you that it had? When a recruiter hears that they are not going to waste time on you. They have easier folks that they can sign up. They pick the lowest hanging fruit. If you put on an application that your license has been suspended you need to have the facts and a clear explanation of when and why. There are plenty of truck drivers out here who have had a suspension for some reason or another. As long as it is something simple that was remedied it's no big deal. They just need to know what the reason was. You don't even seem to really know if it was or not. You have got to get that part figured out or just go with the fact that it doesn't show up on your records and don't mention it.

Now, that JetSet job with Schneider was a good one that you passed up. Trust me, They know what they are doing with their training. It is short, but very thorough. They will not put you into a solo situation until they think you are ready. I hate that you passed on that one.

Now that you say that other job is with Mesilla Valley, I can recommend it. That low pay at the beginning is because you are being paid "team pay" while with your mentor. That means you will be getting paid while the other driver is driving also. At least I am pretty sure that is how they do things over there. Talk to the recruiter and get them to explain the details. Ask them specifically is this the pay rate while I am with my mentor? Are we going to be operating as a team? Does that mean I get paid the 16/CPM while I am driving and also while my mentor is driving? That is not a bad deal if that is the way it works. Then when you go solo they bump your pay up to a competitive rate. That sounds fine to me. Mesilla Valley trucking has a good reputation and serve some great customers.

I know OS. I shot myself for sure. I have a hard time with my knee jerk reaction of telling too much of the story, I suppose. The back story is that I have been overseas for the last 14 years. My license had been "verified" by military police in order for me to have my license where I was. I got back here, did some registering with the MVD in New Mexico, no red flags or questions were asked. I registered for trucking school and they asked for DL information multiple times saying they "couldn't pull anything up" I figured since I had a clean record and have been out of the states until 2019, that was probably the issue. I went to the MVD to get my CDL permit and the clerk says that it was cancelled 10 years ago! I asked why but there was zero information in the system as to why, so they immediately reinstated it and I went on about my business. I wasn't sure what was going to show up on my MVR and I didn't want something to pop up and be made a liar.

Schneider was great but I scared myself out of that opportunity. I really like to be thorough and know what I'm doing before taking charge of things and I just couldn't see past my own fear. Luckily, the recruiter was awesome and she said to contact her when I'm ready. (Fingers-crossed the job will still be there)

I had been in contact with companies but some were seriously non responsive and also maybe waiting a week for a reply from them was rushing it? I'm simply eager to get started. I clicked on Robs link and have been getting plenty of dings which is awesome. I really thought that I already had gone through that link. (DUH ME!)

Mesilla- I wrote it all down. 16cpm along with the mentor's miles as we will be a team. Then at 3 months, its bumped up to 19cpm for the 4th 5th and 6th months. The recruiter did mention that as a solo driver after 1 year I could make as much as 40cpm which I still thought to be low but I'll get more information on Monday. Now, that I hear that Mesilla is reputable from other parts of the country, I'll continue with them as they are close to home.

I don't have anyone to get information from in this industry and its nerve-wracking and hard to feel like you're not just making decisions but making the right decisions. I'm sure this won't be the last time I get on here feeling frazzled! So I really do appreciate all of you for taking the time out of your day to reply back to me.

If you have military background most companies consider that a plus. Have you also put in an application for CFI?

If you have military background most companies consider that a plus. Have you also put in an application for CFI?

Military time is definitely a plus! I haven't looked into CFI Big Scott. I'll keep them in mind if/when I'm looking again. Thank you!