Driver recruitment companies, are they worse than brokers?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Jokingypsy, Jan 28, 2015.

  1. Jokingypsy

    Jokingypsy Medium Load Member

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    Hello,

    I post this question to the guys with experience here, are these recruitment companies even worse than dealing with brokers? It seems to me all they care about is placing a resume with anybody that will take it, regardless of what type of trucking work you are looking for, ( tanker, flatbed, reefer, local, OTR, etc. ). I talked to a recruiter from one of these so called "professional" recruiters yesterday, after telling him three times I was looking for local or regional tanker work, this clown described three OTR jobs, one reefer and two van, I did not pay him the respect of saying goodbye, I hung up on him. The only reason I hung up was because the ad I answered off of Indeed.com was for a hazmat tanker position. This guy seemed totally clueless. Are all these recruitment companies this bad? I also have to wonder about any company that would hire one of these idiots and risk them chasing off experienced drivers because the person claiming to represent them doesn't have a clue. I'm guessing if a company doesn't care enough to take a personal interest in attracting good drivers, they won't care about retaining them once they get them in the door ever. I guess that's why of the thousands of trucking adds on Craigslist, they are all for either US Express, Western Express, or CRST. I wonder if these mega companies have any clue how bad some of these people are making their companies look. Does anybody else have any thoughts on this subject or would like to add their opinions, if somebody thinks I'm out of line and wants to crack my skull on this I'm a big boy I can take it.

    Adam
     
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  3. joseph1135

    joseph1135 Papa Murphy

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    They are horrible. Years ago I talked to QDC. He told me tales of how great Merit Transportation was and it's the greatest ever and blah blah blah. Lying and yelling about he's got trucks here and there and its a mistake if I didn't go. A year later, they shut down and didn't pay our health insurance premiums we paid for. Then when I called him on it, Troy went all Jesus on me. Go right to the company. These recruiting companies are worse than telemarketers.
     
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  4. Midwesttrucker

    Midwesttrucker Light Load Member

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    I don't think you were out of line at all. You told him you were looking for tanker work and the recruiter should of just listened. Instead all he cared about was his customer who hired him to sell you some garbage job so he could collect a commission. A good recruiter would have listened and understood your endorsements and gauged your level of experience. The fact that you hung up on him shouldn't bother you at all. You were more than professional for the professionalism he showed you. Don't lose any sleep over this one bit. Use this analogy "Recruiters are nothing more than a Freight Broker moonlighting for a second income". IE they are all one in the same.
     
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  5. G.Anthony

    G.Anthony Road Train Member

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    I too have my resume on Indeed, and I was specific in what I was looking for regarding driving jobs, and oh my trying to get a dispatchers job as well, as I wish to move into an office setting in trucking.

    This being said, I have gotten emails from you name it trucking companies, all types of trucking companies. I think that for the most part, once a resume is posted on many of these 3rd party driver sourcing companies, all they go by is "truck driver" or "class A CDL", or "trucker", in the subject line.

    My home state unemployment resource center does the same thing, I filled out my resume, what I do for a living, and POW, much the same as any 3rd party driver sourcing service. So from my point of view, yes, one may want ONLY say tanker, but these people call? At least ask if they have a tanker division OR an o/o company that does it for them. One never knows the missed opportunities when hanging up.
     
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  6. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    What are you looking for, driver?

    When I had to start over, looking for an open trailer gig. I did one of those online apps. Swift called me. Swift.... I didnt even know they had flatbeds. I remembered Swift from the 90s, rolling 55 mph down the highway, with those stupid mini tires. The recruiter assured me that this wasnt the case anymore. They have regular wheels and tires and the trucks were governed to 65. Okay, I can deal with 65. 10 speed transmission. Cool, I can with a 10.

    "How much do you start out at?"

    The recruiter did not lie to me. He wasnt given the opportunity.

    I dont care about the owner. I dont want to hear about the mission statement/company goal/ or any other propaganda. I dont care if you like me or not so I'm not here for a "home", or respect, or to be treated like a person. I dont care how many trucks you have or your profit margin from the last year.
    I'm going to treat you and your company as a stepping stone. I'm not buying your swag, I'm not wearing your hat or jacket. As soon as I see the opportunity to step up, I'm out.

    I was at Swift for 6 months. Didnt go home. Orientation, 6 weeks with a trainer, trucking up the roads nonstop and gone. Ran as hard as I could and stacked my money. Got my foot in the door of another company, and I was gone. Wasnt a bad experience...actually the flatbed side was better than I expected. It's a start, not the destination. I had no intentions of being a million miler at a bottom feeder. The truck was decent, and the wage was workable. Now watch me work.

    I spoke to a recruiter at the new company, cut right to the chase: I'm here to pull oversize, tell me about your system. This is why I am here...you guys pull the freight that I want to pull. What do you pay and how fast is the truck? Sign me up, I'm on my way.

    There's a HUUUUUUUUUUGE difference between a bottomfeeder and a higher end company. Swift had worlds better training program. The new company threw us to the wolves. They dont hire rookies. They expect you the driver to be experienced in everything. So you have guys coming from a bottomfeeder flatbed gig, and told to grab a stretch rgn and go load. He's never worked an rgn let alone a stretch trailer. Never pulled an oversized either. When they get their first 10 wide, they panic. In other words, take advantage of the training that the bottomfeeder offers to rookies.

    New drivers and wannabes, where is it that you want to be? At a bottom feeder? Or somewheres else? I hope that you would have a bigger plan than going to school, and getting on with a bottomfeeder. Have at least a 3 yr goal BEFORE you start.
     
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  7. fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    They're salespeople. If they don't have a product you're looking for, they're going to try and sell you on something they do have. Who knows, maybe you're desperate for a new job. I worked for an agency for a little while. The people that recruit typically have zero trucking knowledge. The owner of the company I contracted to told me that she didn't want people with a trucking background but made an exception for me.
    While we had big companies we recruited for, we also had great small companies that would need just a couple drivers every so often. Getting QUALIFIED drivers for those gigs was difficult.
    It really is just like any other sales job.
     
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  8. OldHasBeen

    OldHasBeen Road Train Member

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    And you never know, they might offer you something that you like, yet if you don't talk with them you might miss a good job.
     
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  9. Jokingypsy

    Jokingypsy Medium Load Member

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    I think I'm hanging up my keys. Got an offer to work parts counter at a medium duty dealer. Will take a bit of a pay cut, but will be working Monday to Friday business hours. The government has succeeded, they have gotten one more safe experienced trucker off the road. I'm nervous about the change, but no physicals, sleep apnea studies, etc is making it worth it. I'll be keeping you all posted.

    Adam
     
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  10. Midwesttrucker

    Midwesttrucker Light Load Member

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    Good luck with the new gig.
     
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  11. Jokingypsy

    Jokingypsy Medium Load Member

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    That's the worst part of trucking, when you get to the point where I am and you dont want to do it anymore but you can't imagine not doing it anymore, it's been a tough decision to either try to buy my own truck and build a better job and life for myself or bail and try something new.

    Adam
     
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