I'm so confusedI

Everybody bellyaches about their job. It's just the way of the world. Get on with SOMEBODY and get your first few years experience, then go from there. Try to stay away from certain companies, but let's face it, you have to get hired to get some experience.

 

If you're not worried about money that's a good thing. Don't settle on the bottom feeder companies since you are not desperate. Look for one that will treat you right, get you home, and runs nice equipment. As a student these companies are not easy to find but if you go knock on doors and put a face to a name, some may give you a chance.

 

The first is always the worst.... usually. Just go to one, take a job and get on down the road. Take it seriously because you should, safety is what you make of it. When you get with your trainer tell them what freaks you out the most and that's what they need to know about you right up front, don't be embarrassed, be honest but with as few words as possible. Let them know you want road time and you also want big-open-parking-lot-with-no-trucks-or-cars. buy yourself a cheap set of orange soccer cones on ebay and setup . Practice. It sounds silly now but it'll help you in the long run. The old guys are going to laugh no matter what you do or say listen to them because what they know is what you need to know. Have fun, enjoy the road my friend.

 

You have to use youre judgement on the company you pick you gone hear alot of things it dont matter what comp you go with

 

Think of a company like Schneider. There must be fifty or seventy five people on here that speak badly about them. They have thousands of drivers so they can't be all that bad. A job, any job in this trucking business or any other is what you make of it. If you have a bad attitude then every little thing is going to make you angry. If you have a good attitude and try to work out your differences instead of simply thinking everyone else is wrong you can enjoy this business. You have to start where new drivers get jobs and get some experience to get the really good jobs. It will be a much more pleasant experience if you make it so.

 

Ignore the whiners, if trucking is so bad, why are they still driving?
You're in a good location near I-80 which is a good freight lane.
Try these companies, they have online applications or Fax applications:

Sherwin Williams - they're right there in Reno.

TWT Refrigerated Services - run most Western states. From their website, download an application and Fax it to them.

Watkins & Shepard - probably a good chance to get on there.

Central Refrigerated

Holland Enterprises

Schneider National

Ignore any "experience required" on trucking company websites & apply anyway.
Check Careerbuilder website.

 

Take the bellyachers with a handful of salt. No matter what company you choose, you will have good days and bad days. It's all part of the job. For all the bad mouthing of "bottom feeder" companies, they do train, have ongoing training, and they have drivers that have been with them for years. The fact that drivers stick around says a lot. High turnover rates are often due to new drivers that are simply getting their first year under their belt so they can start applying at companies that require a year's experience or new drivers that really didn't know what they were getting into and hated the experience.

Whichever company you choose, plan on sticking it out at least a year. Job hopping isn't great for the resume.

 

This job is a location location location. industry. If you are not in the right area. The better companies won't hire you, because it is to difficult to get you home. Sadly the bottom feeders will hire you and train you, but they do this in hopes of getting the cheapest labor they can from you. So you have to beware, because they have all kinds of lease purchase schemes. Or even let rookies train other rookies. In this industry a clean driving record is the key to get better jobs, but bad training and inattentiveness to your surroundings can keep you knocking on bottom feeders doors for the rest of your career.

Most of the people you see complaining are from other industries who seen those commercials saying 50,000 dollars a year. Those commercials didn't say all that you had to put up with to make it. Like being home only 2 or 3 times a month. Or logging illegal and working 100 hours a week. Sometimes even though you have a love for the road. The crap that you have to put up with from your company, other truck drivers, and the motoring public is not worth it. Only the Strong and or Insane survive. Truck it up!!