Wioa

If you got to relieve yourself in a cup or walmart bag, please don't just toss it out in the parking lot. You will learn to know that smell, the smell of hot piss, when you are in a truck stop and the pavement is dry as a bone. At least go pour the piss in the grass.

 

Do those letter from trucking companies say they will hire you or do they say "if we need drivers, and if you fulfill all of our hiring requirements, and if you pass these 4 other tests, and if we have trucks and enough customers, etc. etc., etc. we will consider hiring you"? Pre-hire letters do not require the trucking company do anything but look at your application but they are written in a way most newbies think they are guaranteed jobs, until they read the letter carefully.

It doesn't matter if you are 4 foot 9 inches or 6 foot 9 inches, male or female, this race or that race, a genius or 75 IQ you can do this job if you learn the information and the procedures it requires and take responsibility for what you do. Trucking won't think about your feelings for 5 seconds in your whole career and it won't throw a ticker-tape parade for you unless you actually do save a bus full of orphans from a burning bus in downtown NYC. You don't need anyone's permission to become a truck driver and everyone in the forum has helped many other people get into this job or stay in this job. You just can't expect a lot of sensitive and emotional language while you get that help from everyone here.

 

I know some women who can do the job better than some men. One I know personally pulls a flatbed after she got tired of hauling mail. I don't discriminate. Welcome, @UnderdogVigilante to trucking, I hope all goes well for your CDL training. I am sure nobody else here means any harm, either.

 

Most people didn't know the account asking your questions was posted by a woman. Every newbie that wants pre-hire letters can have as many as they want because the pre-hire letters obligate the trucking company to nothing but reviewing your application. I am glad you have trucking companies interested in hiring you. Nobody here is rooting against you. Every newbie gets the same type of treatment. People will focus on what they think is going to be the factor that newbie has that can make it difficult or impossible to get hired. That doesn't happen because anyone hates that newbie. It happens because their experience in the industry teaches them things, like what things make it hard to get hired. Many newbies think trucking will be like some previous job or the rest of society. Trucking IS NOT like the rest of society. It's a task. The task is either completed or not completed. The rest is something to talk about while you complete the next task. There's not time for lengthy discussions, overly polite language, and protecting people's feelings. You may fit in and do well or you may not fit in and not do well. It will be your behavior that is measured and decides which way it goes. It turns many people's lives around if they let it.

 

I honestly had no idea you were a woman until this post.

 

I didn't even realize you're female. Honestly, that's going to work in your favor big time. Not only will you find work easily, but you'll probably get a better truck than most newbies, and your margin of error will be wider.

 

@UnderdogVigilante --

Some suggestions as food for thought...to make your transition into trucking much easier:

• Consider starring out with a carrier that has a company terminal close to your residence. This offers at least 3 advantages:
  • If something happens to the truck while you are off duty -- your carrier can't blame you
  • While you are off duty -- your carrier (& usually not an outside 3rd party) can perform needed periodic maintenance &/or repairs to the truck
  • Your truck (& also...your belongings in it) are usually in a more secure area, anyway

• Consider starting out with dry van freight. Dry van will offer you the shortest learning curve -- & the flattest. With other freight types -- you will "muddy the water" with trying to learning multiple skill sets all at the same time . Prove to the world that you can drive a big rig....with a year-plus of dry van, first -- then switch over (if you want) to flatbed, tanker, etc (BTW: this is also what I did ). With dry van you will also generally spend less time doing live loading & unloading -- which is mostly wasted time for a rookie driver...

• Since you now qualify for WIOA....& have the option of a nearby trucking school -- take a look at any carriers that pay your class a visit while you are in school. They are visiting your class because:
  • They are looking for more help
  • They have a developed training program specific for rookie drivers

• Get some dry van experience...before you try reefer duty. Why? Reefer duty is just nastier work (I know -- I've done both). If a reefer carrier won't teach you how to use the "split sleeper" DOT clock technique (& in good detail -- with at least several examples) AND how to use PC ("personal conveyance") during any orientation &/or training period (i.e., BEFORE they assign you any truck)...then bypass that fleet.
• Avoid any/all "dollar store" type account job offers with dry van freight (leave those to other drivers with MUCH more experience). Much better rookie choices: Target, Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, Bass Pro Shops, Costco.

Two carriers that normally hire & offer specific training programs for rookies that have company terminals in the Charlotte, NC area include....but at not limited to:

• Knight Transportation
• Schneider National

Both of these carriers offer dry van freight out of that area. Later on, you may find still others nearby...that are willing to hire/train a new driver.

SPECIAL NOTE: Schneider does not offer -- or allow the use of -- the "split sleeper" DOT clock technique (not sure about PC -- inquire within, but you really shouldn't need it there). For non-reefer freight, however -- this is satisfactory.

Best of luck...

-- L