Hard time finding a job, MY STORY

So I have been involved in the trucking industry for over 20 years, I finally got my CDL in 1996.

I went to a CDL school, Fort Scott Community College, for a large carrier and had to drive for them for a year.

After that, I got a local LTL job.

My dad, also a driver, called me one day and said, a friend he knows got a contract with a huge company to train local CDL drivers because they lost a bunch of local drivers over a union contract, (another long interesting story). I said, I have only had my CDL just barely over a year, why me? He tells me because I went to the school, I should remember everything I was recently taught and be able to pass it on.

I was hired and doing this CDL training for a year and I got good at it. One day (January of 1998 ) the Safety Manager of the company we were training at comes up to me and says, "We like how you train, interested in a full time job with us?"

So, I had been working there 13 years and had many changes in managers with "better ideas" how to save money. I get a call, the CDL Training position is being eliminated because they are out sourcing the job. 16 CDL trainers across the country lost their jobs for this company.

Now, don't get me wrong, they provided us a nice severance package, with one catch, we had to sign a no competition clause that lasted a year to keep getting our pay. It was full pay for 1 year, I couldn't pass it up! They also offered me a driving position, but it was less pay and I thought the severance package was a better deal (BIG MISTAKE, ANOTHER LONG STORY)

My year was up last month, I started looking for a trainer job but there were few and far between so I said, I will drive.

I could not believe the responses I was getting. Because I was a trainer I was told I do not have enough driver experience for a local driving job and every company I applied for said I have to start at the bottom of the pay scale and drive with a trainer OTR. Some were as little at 2 weeks up to 2 months.

One carrier wanted me to go to a 4 week CDL refresher course then spend 2 months OTR with a trainer. While I was at their school and driving with a trainer I would get paid what ever my states minimum wage was, $8.25 an hour in Illinois, paid when I was behind the wheel only.

I offered to take a road test with each one of them to prove I can drive! None would do it.

I have nothing against OTR, I am just at a point in my life with a grand child that I want to stay home.

I have been pounding doors looking for a job, I got a call, a company was interested in me but wanted me to drive first. Finally, a chance to prove myself.

I get the keys, hook up to a trailer and perform a pre-trip. They send out their guy to ride with me on the road test. We get on the road and are on an open stretch and I ask they guy, would you care if I try a few downshifts to get used to this truck. He tells me that the truck has transmission problems and does not down shift very well but I am welcome to try. After I drop some smooth as silk down shift from 10th down to 5th, he is looking at me with the biggest eyes I have ever seen. He said, HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT? So there I was, wondering what I should say. I mean, I didn't want to upset the guy by saying something that sounded smug. I just told him I learned a trick from an old timer and could show him if he was interested. He was, so there I am, on a road test, showing their company examiner how to down shift. It was a good day. We arrived back at their yard and I shook hands with their examiner, then met the driver manager. They said they would call me after the new year and let me know.

I took advantage of being in an industrial park and started filling out apps at a few more places.

30 minutes later, I am filling out an application and I my phone is vibrating like mad.

I get done with the app, go to my car and I have 3 voice mails. The place I was road testing at called me and offered me the job. I start my local driving job December 26th!

To all drivers, protect your CDL at all costs, take pride in your work, get good at what you do, you can open your own doors. Don't let some recruiter make you feel useless.

 

I am not saying I wouldn't have drove with a mentor/trainer, the recruiter who said a 2 week ride along is required was on my "accept" list. They had to get me approved by the driver management team first. So I kept looking while they approve me. This local job offered first. Since it is Sunday, I will call them ALL back tomorrow and let them know I was hired elsewhere.

Never burn bridges

Thanks for the nice comments.

Good luck with Swift, that was the company that sent me to the truck driving school in Fort Scott Kansas. They treated me good, I ran dedicated Kmart out of Manteno IL.

I just had the opportunity to work near home locally , so I left Swift.