Advice For Newbies: Changing Jobs

Okay, you have been with the company for awhile and have fulfilled your contract to stay with them for a year to get your training paid for. Now you are probably looking for another company to work for that has better pay, nicer equipment, dedicated runs, regional work, or whatever will satisfy your personal needs better.

Changing companies can be a bit more of an undertaking than many ever thought about until they did it for the first time. I have changed companies a few times over the years, and I will outline what I have found to be the easiest way to do it.

*Make a list of companies that you might like & are qualified to drive for, do your research (talking with thir drivers, reading comments about those companies on internet message boards, etc), & narrow it down to a few companies. Completely fill out those applications & submit them. Ask that the recruiter DOES NOT contact your current employer until you are ready for them to do so.

*Once qualified, try to get a load going to or through home to get most everything other than the bare essential items out of your current company's truck. The idea is to have to carry as little home as possible. Try to have just enough stuff to fill a suit case, and no more.

*After you've gotten the "green light" from a prospective company, then give your current company a week notice that you wish to terminate your employment and want to be routed to a terminal or other mutually agreed place to drop off their truck and associated equipment. Make it a point to not "burn any bridges" with your current company, and try to leave on good terms in case you decide you want to go back to work for them in the future.

*Once you have an idea when you will be at the drop-off point with the truck, then ask the recruiter at the new company where they need you to go for Orientation, and how soon you can attend it. Then, you can make travel arrangements to get there, or to your home. If going directly to orientation, the new company may offer to provide you a rental car to get there.

If you're carrying very few items with you and live far away from where you're turning in the truck, it is more practical & convenient to catch a taxicab to the airport, get a plane ticket, and go home or to wherever orientation for the new company is taking place.

"Pack Rats" like myself will be better off renting a car one-way with AVIS, Alamo/National, or any other rental car outfit that does one-way rentals to where you need to go. It's best to do this as far in advance as possible so you can be certain a car that meets your needs is available. Some may need a small or mid-sized SUV as a Toyota Yaris likely won't have enough room for even a hamster, let alone your road gear.

Keep all receipts associated with your travel, as some companies will reimburse for these expenses when you're being hired on. This includes air fare, cab fare, rental car, fuel, motel rooms, and meals. If not reimbursed, you can deduct those expenses at tax time.

If you went home before going to Orientation, many companies nowadays are providing rental cars or air line tickets at their expense for you to get to Orientation. If not, then you can rent one on your own, as many people are not too big on riding a Greyhound bus with a bunch of strangers for 2-3 days on end! If renting a car, you can carry more of your stuff to be prepared to stay out for a longer period of time before heading home for time off.