Who is Hiring right now?

The big ones are suffering right now. A lot are hiring students though.

The entire training "system" is being overwhelmed by the recent rise in new driver applications, as our economy takes a downturn, and people turn to trucking for jobs.

It may take a bit. But you will eventually find a job.

A lot have weighed in on the "if you have a job...keep it" side. Which is true, if you have a considerable debt load. But companies are hiring experienced drivers every day.

Hang onto your shorts though. Because all the forecasters I listen to, are saying THIS, is just the beginning.

January 1, 2009, will be the real economic indicator date. As stores turn in holiday sales reports, then shut the doors.

 

I would continue to look, either way.

It's a coin toss at the moment. Most companies require a refresher after 3 months. Although I would expect them to ignore that policy if freight suddenly became overwhelming...which it ain't.

Your biggest issue right now. Competition of other newbies flooding the industry. Gobbling up jobs left and right.

If projections hold true. This time next year, will be see companies crying about a shortage again. As "part time/fly by night" drivers return to the areas of employment they had, prior to running to the trucking industry.

If this is really what you want to do. Keep looking...and don't pass up any oppurtunity that avails itself. Unless you can confirm it would be a really unwise move.

 

There are many companies that will hire a new driver. You mentioned school(driving) and they usually find placement(and sometimes are contracted) with companies. Did your school not provide this? I would not know why, if not, and if I was you I would check into this.

One point you, and any others, might need to understand is the old saying about paying dues.
1)-The pay for a "new" driver is pretty low and will probably be low(lower thin I think it should be) for a while.
2)-You may be hard pressed to find a company that would consider hiring a new driver without additional company training.
3)-"Paying dues" pretty much means putting up wth lower pay and a lot of crap until you have at least one year experience. A lot of the better paying companies want two years experience.

My advice to anyone wanting to, or breaking into trucking, first, is to know this is what you want to do as OTR is hard. Gone from home for extended periods, having to have others take care of certain things, and among other things at first not making the money hoped for or expected.

A new driver needs to stick with a job as long as he or she can. Sometimes this is not possible. Any experienced driver knows first hand that sometimes you have an unsolvable problem with a company or dispatch. There may be a few situations that are different but almost all problems that can not be resolved are either from fault of the company or the driver.

A new driver HAS to be able to put up with a certain amount of bull. If you realize that the goal is to get to a point where you can move on.

Anyone that is a truck driver almost always is in a class of their own. More often than not, self sefficient, head strong, needing little supervision, and I feel not wanting things monotonous.

Companies can be found on the internet or in the many truck stop magazines. On the internet there are companies that take applications and present them to several companies.

I do have some advice I hope will help all new drivers and those that become drivers with roaming souls.
1)-Strive to be professional. There seems to be a new wave of drivers that seek to change certain things fundamental to the profession. You can read about some on this site.
2)-Never quit under a load---EVER---and never abandon a truck.
3)-If you leave a company on other than favorable terms get documentation. Keep your equipment sheet from the day you start and require an inspection and accounting if you leave. Do not ###ume anything.
4)- Keep a close record of your jobs. If you work for an O/O(or VERY small company)leased to another company, that company may not consider you working for them. If the O/O goes out of business so may the records. Keep records to include copies of paychecks and tax returns. Keep your work history current. You will have to provide 10 years to some companies. Some will want 10 driving years and some require 3 years.
5)-All companies do not want any gaps of unexplained periods of time or undocumented unemployment. No one will care 3 years from now that a company went out of business, does not report to DAC, and you have no proof.

Food for thought: There is typically more pay in specialized freight. Some examples are: hauling cars, swinging beef/lamb(not advisable), tankers, and oversized. Of course hazmat but this is serious and not to be taken lightly.

There is more but I want to help and not bore. I hope this helps.

 

I would not state it like that. This would put you in a position to already be considering quiting. Werner is not for everyone but some have been there a while. There are positions in the company(as in most companies) that are filled with drivers.
I think the point is to get the experience so that you are marketable. This means getting the experience with a good work record, maintaining a good driving record. No recordable or at fault accidents such as backing into poles, building, etc..
When there is a serious shortage of drivers and freight is moving some parts of work habits are less important as is non-recordable at faults.
With a downturn in freight companies will look for the "creme" so to speek.

 

I'm with otr500 on this...Werner should be the LAST place you concider for the next few months. For more reasons than what you find here.

I've recently noticed their "15 day" training. All the while, they have frozen their hiring in some areas. And traditional students are waiting 3-5 weeks AFTER training to get their trucks...without pay, as mentioned by a Werner driver within this forum.

To me, this indicates a "creative" method to increase the bottom line cash flow/assets. By increasing the number of "students" in training, then requiring them to wait such a length of time. They can take their time about starving a higher paid driver...out the door. Then simply replace him/her with a cheaper student driver.

No...I think Werner is teetering on the brink of disaster at the moment. And only time will tell if they recover intact.

 

TransAm hires students all day long.

 

And that is amazing since legally there are labor laws against working someone without pay. I would NEVER go to work for a company that thinks I should work for free. Why don't the owner(s)/CEO's split up some of their profits to pay a driver. If they are not making a profit it is because of why?
I hope all companies that haul cheap freight to starve out the little guy goes under. If they can't hang we will call it market adjustment.
It is the truck driver being forced to work for cheap pay that helps support a company.

Good jobs are out there. I like mine and work very little.
I went to work hauling bulk tanker and make a very good living servicing the oil field industry. I live in Western La. and work in Eastern Texas. I am provided a furnished place to live, utilities paid including phone and cable. I work 6 on and 2 off and make $1200 to 1500.00 a week. The great points are that I have only driven 396 miles(3 loads) one time and made $365.00. 7 hours driving and 5 hours off duty not driving. Yes it was legal. 7 hours on 2 loads and 4(a pick-up) on the last with 1 hour unloading/PTI at the yard. Most days I drive about 280 miles or around 1680 a week. As a comparison a driver would have to drive 2500 to 3000 miles a week #$.50cpm to make the same pay.