The struggle

What company called you? In my opinion you are in a great area,at least for flatbed.

 

Are you close to any mega-crap trucking company that hires fresh meat? If so land on their doorstep and ask them in person why they won't hire you.

I am talking from experience when I say many companies will only hire from a certain radius from a terminal this time of year. Like I said I am 50 miles from I-5 and many large shippers. However, I am 2.5-3 hours from any trucking company terminal that hires newbies. That alone made my first freight hauling job hard to get. I heard many times, "you live in a bad location," or "you are outside out hiring radius." Even now with 8 years of ticket free, accident free, no-service failure service, and great work history, I can call up any number of companies and the recruiter will tell me outside their hiring radius. 100% true.

I know you are told their is a driver shortage; that just isn't true. You are also told that trucking is a job that is in demand thought the US. That too isn't true. Common sense would say, that if your 50 miles from a major customer, in the whole scheme of things that is nothing for a trucking company. But, it is. Since there is no shortage of drivers, risking adding a possible 50 miles deadhead once a month is too much for some of these cheep-skate companies. Offer to commute and leave the truck at the terminal is not much help either. Most of these companies have more then enough fresh meat knocking on their door that live much closer.

Get some experience under you belt you can be more picky on who you work for. Wait to later in the year when their is more of a demand you might be able to be more choosy. If you need a job now, you can't be too choosy as freight demand ramps up slowly this time of year. Companies will choose the fresh meat close to the terminal in order to short hometime deadhead miles.

 

Hope it goes well, good for you for keeping at it.

 

Never worked for Melton but they seem like a good company. Good luck and God bless!