Can You Let Me Know Where You Got Your Training?

People aren't buying stuff...only essentials. They're hanging onto their money until at least the election. I think if a Democrat/Biden gets elected again, people won't be buying anything at all!

My company with 80 trucks has apparently been letting some drivers go. Just this morning, 10 of us that were in older trucks (2020, 2021) were laid off. My load planner, left two weeks ago but now I think she was laid off also. I sent her a text message just a bit ago to see if that is what happened. All these older trucks will be turned in this week back to the leaser. So, my brother in IL is coming to get me here in MN and run me to Idaho. I am going to apply for unemployment and take advantage of that for about a month. Then, I will see if I want to get back on the road doing over the road or even regional. I may just retire because in a little more than 2 months I will be 73. It's just that my social security won't make a house payment and other standard bills. So we'll see, but I'm not jumping into anything right away.

Laura

If you are running low on funds , I’d be trying to find something non cdl related in the mean time. Maybe try some of the distribution centers running a fork lift or even Amazon flex, they seem to always be hiring.

During the COVID years, the government printed enormous amounts of money and kept the economy artificially robust. Then the chickens came home to roost. We are now in an inflationary period and a recession. People have less purchasing power due to inflation so consumer activity has dramatically slowed down. Therefore, there is less freight to deliver, less need for trucks and less need for drivers.

So James, unfortunately the timing is not great for you and many others who want to get into the driving profession. There have always been up cycles and down cycles in the economy. I vividly remember worse economic downturns than this one. But as it always has, things will get better in time. It’s just the question of when.

There is still a demand for drivers, but mostly for experienced drivers with great driving history. The new driver wannabes are facing a tough time getting started. This doesn’t mean it’s hopeless, just more difficult and only those who are persistent and patient will succeed in getting their foot in the door. You have to tread water until a boat comes along to pick you up.

When I started in 2018, it was relatively easy to get started. Now it’s not impossible, just not easy. The good news is that once you are in, you are in and usually only get kicked out the door due to your own mistakes or bad attitude. For example, my company used to require 2 years experience and then went down to 8 months experience and now only requires 6 months experience. And it’s a really good company to drive for and has many drivers with long tenures at the company.

Hopefully, James, you can find that initial opportunity to get started. It might still take some time where you have to continue treading water, but it definitely won’t happen if you give up. We’re pulling for you, man.

Thanks everyone for the info you've given. I was pretty sure everything that has gone south with freight and driver demand...well, lack thereof, was economically driven. I knew those job creation numbers were bull, all the talk about the economy is doing good was bull and that the inflation rate has been going lower as well.

Not to turn everything into politics, but Brandon really screwed everything up. Can I say Trump 2024?

Well, I'm trying to hang in there and I hope things start to move along for me. At least I got 3 companies currently that have my info. I'm praying they get back soon. In the meantime, I sold my dining room set earlier today and I have a really nice buffet table thar someone is coming over tomorrow and hopefully will buy that. Another $300 will definitely help out.

Once again, thanks everyone for giving the "Trucking Truth" from the truckers perspective and I really appreciate all of your well wishes. It really does mean something to me.

Hopefully Roehl, Prime Inc. or Wilson Logistics will reach out to me soon for the next step. I believe all of them have all of the info they needed from me.

I'll keep you updated.

Drive safely and I'll pray you all start getting some more miles real soon.

Hey all,

HUGE UPDATE: Bradley from Wilson Logistics got a hold of me and said he's going to try to get me out there by this Monday or Tuesday!

Hey all,

HUGE UPDATE: Bradley from Wilson Logistics got a hold of me and said he's going to try to get me out there by this Monday or Tuesday!

Hey all,

HUGE UPDATE: Bradley from Wilson Logistics got a hold of me and said he's going to try to get me out there by this Monday or Tuesday!

Thanks Bruce!

I can't believe this. Bradley called me back and he was all ready to set up everything to get me there Monday. He said he had some questions to ask me. One of them was if I ever drove a truck before. I told him about Millis and that the training there wasn't long enough. 1 1/2 weeks to learn 6 back and I had got 4 of them. He had to stop me right there. He said that Wilson Logistics had to be my first choice. They have some kind of rule. I don't understand. I just don't get it. I even told him that the instructor there admitted that it wasn't long enough and that he argued to management about it. I even went as far as to give him the instructors phone number so he could verify. He said it didn't matter and that he was sorry.

Has anyone here heard of this rule? It seems like a crazy rule to me. Does anyone know of any trucking companies that offer training that do NOT have that rule? They all can't have it. I mean, if that's the case.....I'll NEVER become a driver. Why would they have that rule???

From their perspective, you attended school or training and failed. It doesn't matter why you think you failed. It's a statistically higher risk to hire you.

It confirms what we are telling you. Any large carriers that you get into are having trouble keeping enough miles to retain their experienced safe proven reliable drivers, they are pushed by corporate to hire, but boots on the ground, know that they cant hire more.

The corporate position is still to hang on to as large as pool of drivers and trucks as possible, thinking this economy will follow patterns it used to and magically get better. They are on the cusp of trimming down fleet size and trucks just to stay alive as they are faced with the reality of business as usual means closing their business.

What it means for you is that pretty soon, companies will cease hiring or dramatically cut the number down. Only experienced drivers with low risk records who are willing to take some abuse will be primary candidates. It's just natural selection.

I'd keep trying, go with anyone that will hire you. Be honest about your previous experience and simply state that you struggled and failed but have changed so that you can better adapt to the training. Blaming the company makes you look bad and you're not going to convince a prospective employer who doesn't need another driver anyway that they should hire you. But if you take responsibility and deliver a prescription for change, they might be more inclined to take a chance.

Listen, this isn't personal. It's ok to be bummed. Check them off the list, and keep going.

I do have a question about your previous training, based on your earlier comments, as it does matter.

Were you at a driving school, and THEN got a conditional offer from Millis, or did Millis send you to your previous program? One may be workable, the other may not.