starter companies

I know if you read enough threads in the forum you will see a lot to stay away from. However, Schneider will hire new grads. You will have to still go to an orientation and show them you can drive, and then spend time in the truck with a trainer, but you can go there with no experience. I am not certain if they still train "from the ground up" but it seems to me it is better to have your CDL in hand first, so you aren't locked in to a specific company anyway.

 

You're in a location where the majority of goods come into the eastcoast. I would get out and go knocking on the doors to find a company I like. Some guys live in areas where one or two truck terminals are and you're not too far away from a ton of them.

I suggest you make a list of what you expect and want out of a company. Make a good list that will benefit you in the long run and not just now. You can search this site and find out what you should be looking for. There's more to driving than just pay or a nice looking truck.

I would go into the terminal if you can and talk with management. Nothing impresses more than a sharp looking driver asking what it will take to work for that company. You're just starting out so your negotiating skills will not be like a driver that has many years driving. But you still have some. Pay,benefits,safety,hometime, are just a few that everyone will ask. But don't go mess up and ask the first question "How fast do these trucks run".

You main objective is to gain experience so you can find the very best job for you. You never know, you may find it the first time. We had a driver that just retired with over 30 years and never work at another company anywhere, that's any job. Some will require experience but it's better to have them tell you face to face than over the phone or on-line. Besides that some companies may know of another company that will give you a chance.

There's so many drivers applying for jobs they do it by phone or e-mail. If you want a better chance then you have to go see them. Even if they tell you that you need to apply on-line that's fine, atleast you get to look at their operation to see if you like it.

So on your spare time go out in your car and start looking. Go down to the docks or even to the chemical plants. Set your goals high and work down. Then you'll know you gave it your best shot. Don't give up and talk to a recruiter until you've been to atleast 50 companies. I say that just so you won't give up after two or three. There's no doubt that a good truck driving job is very hard to find these days so you'll need to be different. And remember a good company has no need to advertise. Good luck.

 

What you say makes a lot of sense until I got to this:

So all companies that are advertising for drivers are companies I should avoid talking to?

 

Best advice Ive heard yet.

 

Just beware. A company that has standing advertisements everywhere means they need drivers all the time. It's not because of growth, it's because they have a high turnover rate. They may be the only ones you can find work but wouldn't you rather try to start at the top and work down. Don't you think if you land one of these low paying jobs and you turn out to not likely the way they work you'd wonder if you could have found a better job? I know I would. I'd want to expend every means I have to find the best job I could. That to me means going door to door then using the phone then using the computer.

Also a smaller company or even a big company that keeps their drivers just may need a driver when you walk in. I've seen it before. The best jobs out there have waiting list and drivers that stay on top of their applications. They check every so often and update them when changes occur.

 

Training companies will always have high turnover. Their business model is to train drivers, not move freight. They use freight as a vehicle to accomplish their model.
So training companies will generally expect new drivers to leave after a year or two.
They don't generally don't pay as much as other trucking companies, but they are where most drivers have to start.
Make a list of what you want, look at each of the potential companies and pick one.
Odds are you will move on within a year or two.
Just the way it is.