Imagine that you’ve just left your current trucking job, or just earned your Class A CDL and now you’re out there applying for a new trucking job, hoping to find one that will pay the bills and get you home enough to be able to remember what your family looks like. You’ve been talking to recruiters and weighing your options, when you get a call from a new recruiter who promises you great pay, flexible schedules, and a waiver for any previous criminal activity or driving infractions. Does it sound too good to be true? That’s because it is! The FMCSA has just issued a warning that fake recruiters have been calling up driver applicants, promising them incredible jobs, and then taking wire transfers to “prove financial solvency.”
Real recruiters don’t exactly have a reputation for being entirely trustworthy, but now we have to deal with fake recruiters out there calling truckers up and scamming them out of hundreds of dollars!
Here’s how it works: A “recruiter” will call the driver with an “air of urgency” and claim that they need to hire several new drivers right away. They will claim that they represent a legitimate company, and that they are being allowed to offer higher pay and better benefits than normal. The only thing that the driver has to do is wire $350 to the “recruiter.” Once the wire transfer is complete, they are given a location to travel to (usually outside of their own state) where they can be picked up by a company trainer. Needless to say, that company trainer never shows.
The really disturbing question is this: how have the scammers been getting the contact information for drivers looking for a job? They could be giving out their contact information to CDL schools as a potential employer, so the CDL school would become an unknowing accomplice. Alternatively – and much more frighteningly – they might be getting help from unscrupulous training programs and recruiters.
The FMCSA recommends that you should always get the name of the recruiter that you speak with and verify with the company that they work for that they are a legitimate recruiter before signing any documents or transferring any money. Additionally, CDL schools should confirm that the contact information they are given for new drivers employment opportunities corresponds with the information on a company’s website.
Next Story: Receiver To Pay $2.2 Million to Injured Trucker
Source: truckinginfo, fmcsa, fleetowner
it boggles the mind..in canada we don’t have to pay to get work
We don’t have to pay in the U. S. either. How stupid do you have to be to actually send money to a stranger, then do everything they ask like go to some far off location to meet a trainer, like some robot with no mind of your own!
All I can say is, if you’re dumb and ignorant enough to fall for something like this, not only do you deserve to be ripped off, but you certainly shouldn’t be driving a dangerous big rig across the country.
“The FMCSA recommends that you should always get the name of the recruiter that you speak with and verify with the company that they work for that they are a legitimate recruiter before signing any documents or transferring any money”. Excuse me ,legitimate or not it doesn’t matter if you get their name ,underwear size ,and DNA never never never send money to anyone period!!!!!!!
I think its funny that they say get a name (which obviously cannot be faked) and check the website (cause that too can’t be faked) honestly i think if you are stupid enough to fall for this 350 is cheap considering how much the lot lizards and truckstop hang arounds will get you for
anyone who would give hundreds to a total stranger hoping to get a higher-paying job deserves to lose that money.
Agreed!
Agreed! People need to grow a brain! Lol
Perhaps these “recruiters” are from a Nigerian trucking company?
I agree.I can’t believe anybody is that stupid to just give their money way in hopes for a trucking job.If they believe these fake recruiters then they’ll believe anything.Hell I don’t even believe the real recruiters.Anybody with half a brain knows recruiters don’t know a thing about trucking or what happens once they get the driver hired.Recruiters say what you wanna hear so they come drive for that company nd so the recruiters get that commission.
It’s easy to get anyone’s personal information. Just put an ad for a “Driver wanted” in the paper stating that all applications must be electronic. So you fill out a bogus job application online & E-Mail it to some stranger probably in another country. I would try and find an actual street address for the company supposedly looking for drivers. DO YOUR HOMEWORK ! And anytime someone wants you to pay upfront,,,it’s a SCAM. Kinda like storm chasers running around my neighborhood wanting to do new siding & roof because of hailmdamage. I didn’t see any damage. So I told them I wanted a photocopy of their driver ‘s license and took a snapshot of their license plate with my I Phone. They left quickly.
Why would an unemployed person send someone money for a job? If a recruiter is out to get you a job their pay should always come from your potential employer not you.
Hell….truck drivers don’t make any money for at least (2) years….and do the “out-of-town” runs that NO ONE wants. So….what’s the point? The trucking industry has a 100% turnover year after year because of companies like Roehl, Swift, and others.
90% of the guys ‘who make it’ in trucking…find local, sustainable jobs that allow a family life from
“day-one”. And this occurs in small towns, where big regulations don’t mandate action, and where a 30K income can actually sustain a family where the woman works too to chip in.
Hey now it’s not always the guys that are the drivers and family supporters. Us women drivers do it too! Hehe 😉
Thank you!! I’m a widow, so I have to drive to pay the bills!!
If you send money to a recruiter your a fool.
Anyone dumb enough to wire money to a recruiter or anyone they don’t know personally deserves to be scammed out of their money. Why would you pay someone to get you a job? Stupid should hurt!
Agreed!!!
If you send money to a recruiter, you’re desperate.
Stop blaming the victim.
If the simple scam didn’t work, then the scammers would simply get more creative, and you geniuses out there would be the victims. Thank your lucky stars that there are still a few morons left to take the bullet for you.
If you leave a $100 bill on your porch and someone takes it, it’s still their fault for taking something that they knew didn’t belong to them – not your fault for making it easy for them to do so. What you did might have been stupid, but that doesn’t change the fact that the thief did something that they knew was wrong. People who get robbed never “deserve” it for doing something stupid; that implies that the thief earned their ill-gotten gains. When you’re a doddering old person, and someone bilks you out of your retirement savings, pension, or social security check, will you “deserve” it, for being senile?
Only people with the same moral values as the scammers think this way – perhaps they are the ones that truly “deserve” to be ripped off.
I was a victim of a similar scam. only mine was having a check sent to me to rent a truck to deliver a truckload of Ashley Furniture from an undisclosed location to somewhere in Pennsylvania. I was to cash the check and meet with the rental agency, which I did. Looked like a legit operation. I gave them the cash as directed and actually test drove the truck. I was told to pick it up the next day. The bank called later that afternoon with bad news after they cashed the $3500 check and told me it was a phoney. They wanted their funds back. I didn’t have them. I went back and the building was empty and no signs of the people or the truck. I was unemployed at the time and nearly lost my home. I’m 55 years old and I’m sure I will get some snide remarks on being a dumb old man from some of you know-it-alls. so be it. It will happen to you some day. It’s what you take away from the experience that makes the difference.
Man I am so sorry these vultures got to you. Everyone that says how stupid one would have to be to send money to anyone has probably never been desperate for a job. These people are pros at stealing money from others. Like you had that check in your hand and the bank cashed it. ow many of the haters take their check to the bank and spend it before it clears?
One thing that one could do would be to tell these bastards that you will be getting back to them as soon as the check clears their bank. If they say there is no time to do that, then call the police and have them meet you at the place they are doing “business” out of. I had to do that many years ago for my Dad. He was retired, and had dementia, but he was well enough that he could live with me at that time. Someone called and needed him to come to his bank so they could “catch” a dishonest teller that was cashing checks and pocketing some of it. They didn’t know that my Dad couldn’t drive anymore, and I had to drive them. I called the Sheriff and had a plain clothed officer meet us at the bank. Back then there was no pictured on driver license so my Dad gave him his old one that had expired. The criminal didn’t look at that and the officer acted like my Dad and we got them arrested and jailed for the scam.
Unless you have been the victim of some scam process, you should never call anyone else “stupid”. These people have been scamming other for many years and know how to make it look like a real business offer. Now they have just moved to scamming desperate drivers out of money they can’t afford to lose. I personally think they should be put in a chipper/grinder. They always go after the elderly or the desperate because you want it to be real so bad. Hindsight is 20/20, but it doesn’t help the person that was scammed.
I also had one of those fake recruiters trying to get my money. You know something is wrong when they fail to provide a complete address with a proven workable phone number. I always back ground check them. Yes, beware of the fake recruiter who is out for your money.
Also, be aware of the real recruiter who works for companies like like Roehl, Werner, Us Xpress, etc etc. Understand, these companies all have the high turn over rate. The truth is those recruiters are paid a commission so they will stretch the truth about a company where you will only know about a company AFTER YOU ATTEND THEIR ORIENTATION. Which means you have already spend your money to attend. Be careful of the big truck mill outfits where they try and force you to sign a document agreeing to pay them for orientation if you are fired/quit. Get a clue, getting your money is more important.
Live and Learn…I think we all have been scammed in some way in lifetime,some of us just don’t care to admit it…Sorry that happened to you…
All recruiters are LIARS not “truth stretchers”!!! I can honestly say that I only told 1 lie for every 6 they told me! Tee Hee. Shhhhhhhh
Scamming is just part of this pathetic industry.
No, the really disturbing question is who would be stupid enough to wire money to a complete stranger. I’m not sure I want that guy behind the wheel.
Who in their right mind would send a recruiter any money for any kind of job?!?!?! That’s down right retarded! If your dumb enough to send money to someone for a “job” then u need to be smacked in the head! Smh….
As in most scams, if they require you to pay for anything more than bus fare to their terminal, RUN!
A fool and his money are soon parted.
– Thomas Tusser
That is in Proverbs
Anyone who DOSENT have a local LTL driving job. Is a fool and wasting time. If you otr drivers knew how much LTL paid. All these truckload crap companies would fold.
Just went to a orientation with a company recruiter told me one thing terminal manager told me different never went back
So the difference between fake and real recruiters is what?
Dear new drivers. Trucking companies don’t charge you money to work for them. Trucking companies may ask you to come to an orientation, take a test, a driving test and medical exam, but these are paid for by the trucking company! If testing takes a few days, they will set up a motel for you and pay for it. You may need money for food and laundry, but most motels always have breakfast, t trucking company use to (not all do now) pay for lunch anprovide transportation to and from lunch, but you will need to buy dinner. They even pay you $50 per day while you are there. After you get on a truck, it may take two weeks before you see your first paycheck, because some companies hold the first week. You will get 1st paycheck starting with 1st weeks pay.
To all you new owners out there that want to work with ligit companies in USA. You get off your wallets and buy the North American Blue Book and Red Book. Every ligitimate accredited company is listed there. The books are updated every year. I’m not talking about those cheap $40 specials you find in truckstops. These books are used by companies and brokers across the country. The only companies listed are ones who are properly licensed, who pay their taxes and have excellent credit standing. They cost around $200 to $300 a piece. Only ligit companiea can buy them. If you are a lease operator, you are not an independent company.
when I was an Independent and agreed to haul someones freight, we sign a contract. I then get the ICC or Fed. ID number, their insurance and in turn, I send copy of authority, proof of insurance and signed contract. Before I even send anything, I check the database and blue and red books. You need to know what to look for, especially if the company has a high credit standing and no lawsuits. Does every Independents do this? If they want to stay in business and collect pay, they do. Without a binding contract, you have nothing to support your defense in court.
Larry, you tried to trust people who should be in jail. You didn’t do anything wrong except listen to a bunch of swindlers. Like you said, you learn from experience. I was down on my luck a few times, and being desparate, in need of money to pay bills, I listened to the wrong people too. I learned one very important thing. Swindlers love to target people in need. The swindlers know you need help, need money and will go under thwe wire of doing ligit business just to earn a few bucks. Swindlers are worst scum ever to exist. Get it in writing if you can, phones have cameras on them. I’d take pics of license, truck and swindlers, too. Its just some advice but if I can help, I’m happy.
Something I forgotten to add: if someone offers a check for payment, make sue you can verify it with bank. Shady swindlers try to offer checks after hours, when banks close for the day, or on weekends. If you’re able to verify fun ds available with a bank, always ask for a check “guarantee” this guarantees when you cash the check, the bank will pay you and you won’t have to pay back money. If the bank cannot give you a check guarantee, its because funds are not available in the account or the account is a fake.
I Know exactly How they got Your Information awhile back they was a Job Fair Posted on Craigslist looking to hire Truck Drivers or Trainees they had a nice lay out (web page) including sub pages and pictures listing the trucking companies that were Hiring. OK the only thing that was the matter/wrong with this is the Companies were all fakes and they wanted a job app filled out with ALL Your infomation which they now have. Drivers heed warning check anyone out first before giving any info to them even if the web page has a lock at the top meaning a secure site If their Fakes their Fakes also check the web addresses at the top in the address bar to makes sure Your not being redirected to another site, even if you have all the best malware and Antivirus security software they won’t need to use any of that BECAUSE they are Fakes and You Just Gave them Your information they won’t need to pry it out of You or hack your computor You just simply gave it to them. Beware and Have a Great Day Fellow driver calambert
Here’s a thought instead of buying a Book for $2-300 dollars check the DOT web site to see if some one is Legit it’s Free and whether or not if there are any complaints about them also you can find out who their Insurance is also Talk to other drivers here at this web site about what the companies are like and never give anyone money You don’t OWE OR KNOW it’ll be gone. May God Help You because there are ALOT of Crooks out there.
A very wise old man once told me “life is a game of chess” and that
“you need pawns to distract attention from what the hitmen are doing”
So I say to you ltl job thanks for being such a great pawn,
Enforcement is so busy cleaning up your debris…………
Omg, you have to be a naive idiot to send a stranger your money. I don’t really feel bad for anyone who gets scammed like this. Use common sense people. This world is full of vultures, protect yourself. If you don’t know them, keep them out of your personal business, period! This reminds me of those fools on Dateline NBC who fell for”Wendy LineOn”,a scam ran by Nigerians. One fool fell in love with one single pic of “Wendy”, thought they were engaged,though he never talked to her live, or seen her move. Wake up people, don’t get played for a fool.
To ensure you don’t get scammed out of your $350: send $1000 to me and I’ll verify the recruiter for you.
LOL
I have not had a CDL since 2oo6. I still get letters from recruiters . I asked where they got their information on me. It wasn’t from my state’s records……but from the Federal Government’s CDL listings.
Send me some money if you feel like giving it away.
This story was a waste for real drivers. If you can pay then you don’t need a job. Just saying.