Will companies even accept applications before I finish school?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by JustSonny, Nov 9, 2009.

  1. JustSonny

    JustSonny Big Dummy

    6,038
    5,785
    Oct 22, 2009
    Troutman NC
    0
    I'm thinking about applying to trucking companies even before I start school. Has anyone out there done this? If so, how'd it go?
    I realize that I might be getting the cart before the horse but I want to get as many ducks in a row that I can ahead of time. I've got the time to do it right now because I've got about 7 months before I start school. I really need advice on this. Help, please!
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jmurman

    Jmurman Medium Load Member

    334
    85
    Sep 8, 2009
    Baltimore MD
    0
    7 months before you start school? How long is your school?

    Our school is 6 months and our placement people will only work with us/companies at the 4 month mark.

    Now if you have any issues with your DAC, Criminal background etc...you'll want to get started on trying to get that cleared up right away.

    You can contact Hire Right, which used to be USIS for your reports.
     
    JustSonny Thanks this.
  4. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

    6,257
    4,358
    Oct 23, 2005
    Vegas/Jersey
    0
    No I wouldn't apply just to every company you can find. I suggest that you make a list of what you want out of a company and what your goals are and go from there. Then when you're just about to finish school, apply.
     
  5. JustSonny

    JustSonny Big Dummy

    6,038
    5,785
    Oct 22, 2009
    Troutman NC
    0
    Thanks for the info and advice.
    My school is only 8 weeks long and is being taught at a jr college near my home.
    Your school (6 months) seems quite long which is probably a good idea. Are you at school all day long? Just curious!
     
  6. Jmurman

    Jmurman Medium Load Member

    334
    85
    Sep 8, 2009
    Baltimore MD
    0
    I'm at school from 8am-1pm Mon-Thurs...20 hrs per week. We have 10 weeks of classroom and 12 of Range work...480 hours total.

    It's a lot of school for sure, but we seem to really cover everything and have all of the professional endorsements.

    I guess when it's all said and done if it helps me get on with a decent company, then I'm fine with it.
     
    JustSonny Thanks this.
  7. 97 Ford Aeromax 550Det

    97 Ford Aeromax 550Det Light Load Member

    183
    110
    Oct 1, 2009
    Indiana
    0
    My school way back when(1999), was 2months long...4wks class(8hr with lunch), and 4wks OTR training. First company was impressed cause I knew ALOT more than these fly-by-night-get-ur-cdl-outta-a-cereal-box-sign-a-contract-to-train-ya-schools. Many BIG(700-2000 trucks) companies have their so-called schooling and spit out the MOST dangerous drivers I've EVER witnessed. Most of them just wanna go home and show Ma their license and say "Look Ma, Im a trucker now, just one problem, what does CDL stand for, I forget." Their normally good people, just trained poorly.

    Some companies offer on their website "When do you expect to graduate?" THEN the biggie, "What is your GPA right now or expect it to be upon graduation?" I know of some that DEMAND no lower than 97GPA or they wont hire ya upon graduation...but they're out there. Mine was 98.5...Hoorah for me???...NAH...Complement my school instructors.

    DOESNOT hurt to plan ahead...GEE...your already learning how to "trip plan" and dont know it(life is also a"trip plan"...same difference. I tell all newbies that ask me "We all know you dont know what you want, but what do you want"?

    Knowing what you want "Basically"(longhaul,shorthaul,home everynight,out 2wks home 2da, team driver, solo etcetc is the basics....experience will get you to know what "professionally" you do want and hopefully you wont hafta quit your 1st job to obtain what you want professionally.

    This website is so chocked full of Drivers that are intellegent, help anyway they can, and advise you which is best BUT we hafta know what you want basically(kinda like a domino effect). Never ceases to amaze me how many times Ive read the same questions asked over and over, take time and read ALL the titles of threads, you'll find soooo many answers in soooo many catagories(Great, now I sound like a Forum Thread Driver)....just research.

    _______________________________

    "Experience is something you dont get until just after you need it".
    "Dont lie to your Dispatcher,if you tell the truth, you wont hafta remember anything."
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2009
  8. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,354
    11,164
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    I don't think any company is going to waste time processing an app from someone who has yet to attend school. Too many things can happen, your DMV needs to be within 30 days, you could die, change your mind about trucking, fail school, your DMV test, the company could go out of business etc.
     
    97 Ford Aeromax 550Det Thanks this.
  9. JustSonny

    JustSonny Big Dummy

    6,038
    5,785
    Oct 22, 2009
    Troutman NC
    0
    First let me tell you what I don't want:

    1) no fly-by-night-get-ur-cdl-yada yada yada schools for me. I'm sure they've worked for a multitude of drivers. I don't want to be rushed through anything and I'm #### sure not going to rush into going solo. It's not fear, it's respect for 40 tons!
    2) no recruiters (aka salesmen) feeding me a line of bull. I'm 55 years old and can see a line of bull from a mile away.
    3) no leases ever. If I decide O/O is the way for me to go after a few years company driving, I'll buy my own truck.

    Now, for what I want (even though, you're right, I don't know what I want):

    1) decent pay. What decent means to me is not less than $400 week net after food, showers, what-have-you that OTR requires. I don't have to have that much first year but if, after a year, I can't make that much I'll have to rethink a few things.
    2) long hauls. I'm not interested in regional unless that's what I have to do at first. Truth is, I'll do just about anything for a reasonalble period of time just to get the experience.
    3) minimal home time. I'm single, have a 34 yo son who's busy with his own life (we talk a lot though), elderly parents that I love being around but I have 2 sisters closeby that willingly see to their needs and just a few good friends that I see on a semi-regular basis (I'm kinda boring and not into partying anymore).
    4) as much freedom as possible to chart my own course day in and day out. I'm not naive enough to think that I'll just be cut loose by whoever I work for without some structure with respect to getting loads delivered/picked up.

    What do you think? I'm wide-open to suggestion and I listen with both ears!

    Thanks

     
  10. 97 Ford Aeromax 550Det

    97 Ford Aeromax 550Det Light Load Member

    183
    110
    Oct 1, 2009
    Indiana
    0
    DONT WANT: Flip-flop them and Yeehaa, ya got "wants"....SEE, you DO know what ya want(persay)....

    1) My schooling was eight(8) weeks and simply SUPERB training(actually, really didnt realize that until I got the ole "feet wet" and OTR came A L O T simpler compared to the hundreds of rookies that asked me for advise WHICH they shoulda learned in school). Made me feel high tho. OK, understand I was in a factory and they closed doors and my state paid for training of my choice(had ceiling cap tho), so I picked CDL($1940 back in 1999), no out-of-pocket fees. I dont know your situation "Oldnew", but (sadly) many people dont have the money so they are duped into the GARBAGE fly-by-night companies that offer training to obtain your CDL and sign a contract stating "Your butts ours and you WILL pay us back, OH, by the way,our training blows, but whatda you care, learn it out there like everyone else does, OJT is the best". DONT MAKE ME THROW UP. Your comment about 40 ton worry is RIGHT on and very respectable in my book:biggrin_25514:Football field to stop(maybe), and you can wipe out a WHOLE family JUST because your farting around with the cellphone,playing with the CB, no mirror checks, playing with CD player..etcetc. Can 97Ford do all those things and MORE?...sure,but it took common sese and EXPERIENCE. Too many know-it-alls out there with experience that "think" theyre not rookies anymore and they can just weave whenever,wherever,however they want..and crash...family dead. SO, knowing "which" ones out there to "best" train....is a hard one, BUT which ones to wear a necklace of garlic around ya and stay away from them is EASY. I tell newbies this, "You know the saying the bigger they are the harder they fall?....WELL, the bigger the companies are, the harder YOU fall cause the training aint worth a %&*#."

    2) CAUTION, recruiters ARE salesmen, cause they have commissions, quotas, to make,blahblah and they have rent to pay too BUT, with websites like this to warn ya, heed the wisdom and dont even THINK of going to the WORST ones. Guess its a matter of how smart and NOT gullible you are hereditarially speaking. Recruiters have their job at stake if they dont lie, and the truth will set you free,if they do that and tell ya the truth, OH theyre free all right....unemployment. Just "try" and pick a not-so-bad lier but there are some that are respectful and drivers will tell you that here. Truckers opinions are like #########s, everyones got one. Right or wrong, its just their opinion.

    3) RIGHT ON(my opinion see?) Get your feet wet THEN decide. Some people need their feet to get "wetter" longer than most but thats not a bad thing....they take longer cause they WANT and NEED to be totally happy in their decisions and not 20-20 hindsight it later and give it all up.

    WANT: (an after thought of "DONT WANT, but mind is made up).

    1) LOL Newold, thats what i was making in the factory(400), but mine was gross. 2grand a month net, ok. Variables as follows: FOOD: Depends, if your a "hearty" eater and what are your tastes? Myself, I take precooked food WITH me in tupperwares (2wks worth) and I have steak,burgers,hotdogs,meatloaf ANYTIME I want it. Popin fridge,...cook...ITS ALIVE and its mine. Eat real good(burp). COST: $150.00 evy 2wks. That includes bread, and all that other stuff. So, it depends on the type of person you are. Flying J's are best in my book when ya want a home cooked meal buffet(used to be back in days of Rookieness) SHOWERS: 8 to 10bucks a whack, BUT when you fuel(Pilots,Flyinj's, TA's etcetc) your company pays for fuel(of course) and you get your butt in there at EACH and EVERY TS you fuel at and get their CARD and your showers are free. Stockpiling them dont work, 1 comes off your card each week if ya got more than one. Right now I have 7 different TS cards in my wallet....BTW Flyin J's(if ur co fuels there) sends you 5 dollar certificates 2 ur home everytime you fuel over certain 100's of gallons each time. I got 50bucks worth now and can buy anything free there(minus alcohol and cigs). Will stop this section here but hafta say Newone, your gonna make a WHOLE lot more than 400net...say bad week 400...MED 500-700 GREAT 800-1000 take home. I WILL NOT BS you, Ive had my share of $200 checks beleive me then the next one was huge(ebb and flow ebb and flow) Payroll dept at some companies BLOW for processing when ya use the ole trip pack boxes. You also will have your share of deciding do you want CPM(centspermile) OR % of load....you decide...Ive had both...when owner from buyer gets raise so did we. What kinda person you are will depend on how much of a check you got left.

    2) Im bias at this one cause I LOVE OTR...depends WHERE and HOW often a driver will miss things back home and the need to be there. Drivers say,"Oh, I only wanna be home cause I gotta pet my dog to see if shes ok every now and then, and to make sure my wifes still in good health to take care of her". When I sign on I want 2500-3000 each and every week...NEVER think you'll "average" that EVERY week...Companies cater somewhat to the higher senority drivers(BOY, me and my big mouth, I'll hear it from em now:biggrin_25525:) Even in FAST economy, you will be in a situation where its slow ONLY because where your at.

    3) ***see example above*** Cant put a price tag on keeping your sanity, I dont care if ya dont party now, gotta get home and smell what the neighbors cookin.

    4) Finally: Here is another bias title for me. I DETEST and shutter to think to have a partner(team driving). For those that do...OK..Im on their side just not WITH them. I for one cringe at the fact of snoring away and putting my life in their hands and they are farting around with WHATEVER and wreck the truck and I never wake up. If it ever happens to me, I'd rather relish at the thought I had a "chance" of survivng rather than I didnt know WHAT THE HECK JUST killed me. Ive always enjoyed being my "own" boss, but caution, you can take that sooo far cause companies (like any job) want this done and where THEIR way. Many times Ive wondered why in the (bleep) am i using this road when I can use this and get there quicker. They look at it this way concerning company directions on the QC(QualCom, sorry, dont know how much you know,its a laptop comp for you.) FYI, When ya have a bad day its excellent to bounce off the floor to releive frustration cause you didnt get your $400 a week, they have a choice...Longer way = more fuel usage BUT gets you there quicker(it does really sometimes cause of the AVERAGE speed limit and lack of BIG cities) OR Shorter(theyre way) = Saves fuel BUT takes longer(so now you hafta break law and speed)...and BTW...Shorter DONT mean all the time you save fuel....hitting all those "podunk" little towns and State routes = shifting like crazy, RR tracks, lights, low speed limits, school buses,...man the list goes on. FYI, the average driver ONLY has 110,000 left leg shifts BEFORE their leg falls off...9,999 and counting....US Express has Automatics...no comment. You not being naive is another great start....many areas you WILLNOT be your own boss BUT you will expected to have at least 1/2 a brain in the decision dept to make your own choices. Asking your dispatcher questions is FINE to learn, but for crying out loud, you have to be intellegent enuff to ask "legit" ones and not have him hanging up on ya thinking"This guys a bone-head"...word travels f a s t in Dispatch and now your $400 is $40....but please have pride and dont be a suckup...also my dispatcher had 64 trucks under him.

    Sorry Newone if I missed anything "important" and for the novel. Some at this website think and has typed saying "Im a jerkoff, bully, comedian and so forth. Dont take it to heart out there or here, your ulcer will get an ulcer. I miss something, just ask away in future...ALWAYS willing to help Newbies....dont beleive me, follow my posts...take care and BE SAFE....Never give up ...hang in there and dont get hung.

    _____________________________
    "In trucking, THINK......Common Sense = Good Judgement Luck = Common Sense that lacked Good Judgement Smashing into the back of a Big Truck = Lack of Common Sense that had poor Judgement thinking they would Luck out. **Made that up, I know I know,you could tell**):biggrin_25524:

    "Experience is something you dont get until just after you need it".

    "Im white and proud of it, they call me cracker and thats "insaltine".
     
  11. JustSonny

    JustSonny Big Dummy

    6,038
    5,785
    Oct 22, 2009
    Troutman NC
    0
    97 Ford, plain and simple - you rock!! I'm gonna give you short lil' ol' reply another read in a little while. Sure couldn't digest it all first time through! You said nothing, absolutely nothing, that I can't agree with. Maybe I'll pick at it a little more closely 2nd time through. LOL!
    But seriously, even though you're just a little off the wall (did I say a little), you're shooting me straight and that, my friend, I appreciate. I'll be in touch and in the meantime, be safe!
    ONGB
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.