Career Development Advice Needed

I’ll start with some background information. I started my trucking adventure about a year ago. I was operating equipment (a log skidder to be precise) for a logging company. My training was to ride with an experienced driver. Over the course of about 6 months I gradually spent more time in the driver’s seat; my weekends were spent practicing maneuvers in the yard and I went solo after getting my license in December. I’ve hauled chips, logs, stump grindings, and heavy equipment (Feller-Buncher, Log Skidder, Log Loader, Grinding Mill, Wood Chipper, and a D5 Dozer). Gross weights ranged from 85,000 lbs to 130,000 lbs. With widths up to 12 feet. My most common load was around 98,000 lbs. gross weight. I’ve driven on and off road, spent lots of time on two lane back roads, mixed in a bit of divided highway (but stayed within a 100 air mile radius). Limited city driving, but we did work in a couple of cities. I’ve never bumped a dock, but the hoppers at the chip plants are the same in principle.

The equipment I’ve used: Mack trucks with 13 and 15 speed transmissions, RGN Lowbeds, Chip Vans, Log Trailers, and Walking Floor Trailers.

It’s been a great opportunity, especially for a rookie, and I’d like to stay. However, I’m getting nervous, very nervous. My boss keeps saying things like: “It’s the worst economy I’ve ever seen.” I’ve noticed that maintenance is getting worse, and if a truck goes into a shop, it sits quite a while (speculation- waiting for payment?). Every driver is spending more time at home, waiting for calls to work; it’s getting longer between jobs.

What I’m getting at is the writing on the walls doesn’t look good. I’m thinking that it may be time to move on.

So I’ve come up with a list of companies (local, regional, and OTR) and I’ve started calling and filling out applications. I’ve polished my resume and considered my responses to interview questions.

I’m concerned with several roadblocks.
-I live just outside of many companies’ hiring areas.

-I did not go to “school” for driving. (I’ll argue that I received better training, but have no paper for the bureaucrats.)

-My six months experience is with local trucking and most seem to want OTR experience.

Another concern of mine is that most seem to offer a lease to own program. Reading several accounts of those on here, it seems like they put a lot of pressure on company drivers to switch to leasing. I have no interest in lease agreements. So, how high is the heat turned up during that sales pitch? Will they really find ways to punish someone who wants to stay company? Cut miles? “Lose” paperwork? Endless pestering messages? Tell you there are no trucks available, unless you lease?

As I work my way down the list of companies, memorizing my 10 years of work history through the repetition, making sure I’ve got recent character references, and finding clever wording for my experience descriptions, does anyone have any career development advice for me?

I didn’t intend to be looking for a new job so soon, but it’s the situation I may be facing; will I still be seen as a “job-hopper”? (My guess is yes, since you know the saying about good intentions.)

I’ve enjoyed hauling equipment and would like to continue in that specialization but my mere 6 months doesn’t count much with any outfit I’ve contacted so far. Which is understandable, but somewhat disappointing. I'm not too worried about the type of trailer or freight I wind up hauling but the equipment was fun. Refrigerated also appeals to me (That's the sector that my old man was in, so probably because of childhood memories bouncing around my brain.)

Got any tips for getting around the roadblocks I’ve identified or see any I’ve missed?

On the odd chance that someone looking to hire glances over my post, I’ll be glad to send you a copy of my resume and fill out an application. On that note, I’ve also got customer service experience, keep a professional appearance (collared shirts, jeans, and work boots while trucking), and an Associate’s Degree. Which is not related to trucking, but it gave me discount on my pickup insurance, so maybe it helps the trucking company there as well?

If anyone has a company recommendation, I’m glad to hear it.

If anyone wants to tell me to tough it out a bit longer, well your advice is a valid part of the picture too.

Thanks.

 

I've gone through my application list with no positive results yet.

The companies who've contacted me cited the roadblocks I've mentioned already.

(I did have one company say they'd overlook the local vs. OTR problem but not until I had one year's experience.)

There's a few I'm still waiting for a reply from and a few whom I'll be making follow-up calls to.

 

It looks like I struck rookie gold.

While I was pounding the pavement, going into every place with trucks in the yard and filling out an application or leaving a resume, I found my way to a chrome shop. My thought being that truckers talk a lot, and the guy working the counter there might hear if someone is looking for a driver. The chrome shop guy gave me the name and address of someone who just had a truck lettered.

I swung by his shop and talked to him for a bit, and to make a long story short, I start on Tuesday, riding with one of his guys for a day or two to learn the run then I'll be solo and trucking once again.

It's a very small outfit with older trucks but they seem well maintained. I'll be doing a variety of loads- scrap cars to start then I might get into flatbed and lowboy work as I prove myself. It's a mix of local driving and 5 day runs, depending on the freight.

I'm very excited and hopefully this will work out better than my last job and I'll be able to stay here a few years.

 

I've been wicked busy this week. (Which is a change in a positive direction).
I drove with the boss for a few days, drove two of my dream trucks (a Pete 359 and a KW W900), hauled 106,000 gross through Boston rush hour, learned how to float the gears, learned how to tarp and fold tarps, and helped out in the shop.


I've started learning flatbed procedures, as my new boss decided to put me on that run rather than the crushed cars. I'll be helping in the shop tomorrow (and more flatbed training) and my first solo run looks like Tuesday morning.