Try to phrase your questions without giving away what you're looking for. I've never dealt with a recruiter per say but I'm sure they will tell you whatever they think you want to hear. Take what they say, divide the pros by about 1.5 and multiply the cons by about 1.5 and you'll probably be somewhere near their reality. If they speak in a way that it sounds like a terrible place to work, perhaps they ARE being straight up with you, with no BS.

Don't let them waste your time talking about any "fantastic" lease programs they can offer because you're not at all interested in leasing at this stage or in the near future. if you want to lease later, you can deal with that then and move elsewhere that suits you.

If it isn't in writing, it ain't. Recruiters are not drivers most of the time. They tend to be HR people trying to sell drivers on the company. Think of used car salesman or politician (both used with a negative connotation), and you'll be closer to the truth.

Their job is to get you in the door and let them run you through the company mill. So take your friends advice. Talk to drivers to see what you're getting into. You can dismiss them if you want, but talking directly to drivers - at a truck stop for instance - will give you a better idea of what the downside of the industry is like as well as company practices. Just don't believe all the hype in the recruiting mags. Research.

By the way, good head on your shoulders to get the Endorsements that you can. It can make the difference between being able to get a job or a load once you have that job. Many drivers don't want the hassle of running Hazmat, but sometimes it's the difference between running and sitting and also often has higher pay for the load.

Just remember to mind the tanker contents movement on stopping and curves.

Good Luck

if you "spit into the wind" do you think it'll come back at you, or go someplace else..??

in other words, YOU WOULDN'T spit into the wind, right..??

so DO NOT take ANYTHING a recruiter says as gospel.

consider it, you are spitting into the wind, when you talk to them.

Recruiters are salesmen! With that being said they are pretty much going to tell you what you want to hear. Most aren't going to put anything in writing either so if it sounds to good to be true then chances are it is. If they promise you certain things just keep inind that they may not pan thru. They will all pretty much give the same answer as far as miles and home time. Just do your home work ahead of time and be as prepared as possible when you do talk with them.

Goodluck.....

I will let you in on a little secret ...... EVERYONE in trucking will lie to at some time or another!!! You can trust no one. You have to look out for yourself because no will do it for you in this industry!!

Recruiters lie, dispatchers lie, safety lies, heck once you become a truck driver even your MOMMA will lie to you !!! And that's no lie ........ LOL

That is the last honest thing you will hear from a truck driver !!! So put on your big boy pants and join the party because it is one hill of a ride !!!!

Big Thanks to all the info. You have pretty much confirmed what I thought.

"If it ain't in writing, it don't exist"

In addition to the usual suspects, DCCC has some smaller and more local companies come in as well.

I have to say, with the company I went with out of Greensboro, they have produced on everything they said they would with no lies and no bs and even spelled out some of the lifestyle changes and rigors of living on the road to make sure I knew what I was getting into. They've been straight up from the word go. One of the few.

You'll be able to sort out the used car salesmen from the real deal with the ones that come to recruit there. Generally the bigger the company, the more full of it they are. lol wait till you get the peaches and ice cream fantasyland hard sell from the fat weiner recruiter.

You won't go wrong there at DCCC. Just look at the smaller companies and politely nod while the bottom feeders come in and let it go in one ear and out the other.

flyingmusician has a good point. If you go with the smaller companies they have much less turn over rate and their recruiters aren't as aggressive and full of bull! You will find them more straight forward as they are looking for good drivers not just seat warmers!

Here is a site that will help you find the smaller companies:

http://www.truckdrivercentral.com/tr...companies.html

Keep in mind that they don't spend millions of dollars in advertising so they are going to be harder to find. You can also check Craigslist. They are really good for the mom and pop's who are hiring!

Good luck man...