Need advice on getting hired......Experienced advice please

This can't be stressed enough!

To the OP- Here's the condensed version of my story-

-Made really stupid/immature decision
-lost CDL
-was out of driving for 5 years (unemployed the whole time)
-had to go OTR for the 1st time EVER (Western Express: to get recent experience)
-lasted 1 month (refused to drive unsafe)
-came home, found a local job, and started 29 days later, work 5 days a week, off on weekends, and work all the overtime i can legally, and its union..... after I saw an ad that gave the option of filling out an app online or dropping in for an interview (i "dropped" in for a walkin interview)

What im leaving out is the countless number of "online apps" that i was rejected from..... what i needed was an opportunity to "explain" my situation (which you cant necessarily do online)

Anyway, like tony already stated above- if you can- GO SEE THESE PLACES IN PERSON- it really could be the difference between you getting the job................... or a rejection email.

Good Luck

 

I catch a lot of grief over my lists, but the lists work. I try to picture myself in the other drivers situation, and solve the problem. Not everyone will agree, but it works. When I was in the military a long time ago, many of the misfits were sent to my division because I requested them, and I could 99% of the time get them back on track. Usually, they just needed someone to listen and show some respect.

 

I believe you should invest in getting your DAC report to see if there is something on it that is causing your rejections. You may have a company that has put something as innocent as "ineligible for rehire" on your DAC. That will kill you from a lot of companies. But not the smaller ones. As to your various other jobs, include the word seasonal on your applications. You should also know that it isn't someone with actual brains who is reading your application. It is a minimum wage person who has been told to count not to think.

Go in person and overcome.

 

I tell all new drivers to stay at least one year with the same company. So they don't look like a flake on paper. Also shows a winter under your belt.

 

Just go in person and talk to trucking companies near you first. Unless you have some major problem. I don't see why you wouldn't get hired. There's so many company's looking for drivers. I once filled out some sort of application(multiple applications from one app.) from a trucking magazine,i got at the truck stop. I had like fifty offers in a couple of days. Some still send me postcards,years later.

 

I am in charge of hiring at my company and have been doing it for many years. You have the right to ask them why, they will try to avoid telling you because if it was based on something bad they found in your background checks they would have to do a special letter explaining it, just like when you get declined for a credit card. We don't like doing those. Here are some possible reasons: your PSP, it shows 3 years of your roadside inspections - if you had a lot of violations or OOS rates they might be declining you. Criminal history, you say you have nothing but that doesn't mean nothing is coming up. Your looks? If someone comes to bring me an app and is dirty, long haired, and growing a 2 ft beard, well I just don't want him representing my company that way. Sorry. I would have no problem with a tattoo covered guy/gal (assuming it's not a swastika or something), but a dirty disheveled person who can't even bother to present themselves well while trying to get a job isn't going to do it for my customers. Your job history, I'm not sure what history you have (your post was confusing), do you have at least 2 years experience in a tractor? 2 years experience with the type of equipment they're using? Are you filling out the apps completely and correctly? Also, could just be they found better qualified drivers and went with them. But like I said, ask. If incorrect info is coming up you need to know so you can stop getting rejected. I once had a driver who showed a positive drug screen at a previous company, it turned out to be a mistake.

 

Whooly, not always lol. I make a couple dollars more than minimum wage, and I even think. Maybe recruiting companies are like that. Personally, all the good companies use smart people. If I hired just off paper I'd get some really bad drivers. I like to conversate with my guys. You can get a feel for how someone operates based on a 15 minute conversation. If they're an O/O I like to check out their equipment. I do love my job, and my co-workers. We try to work like a team. I know not all companies are like that, but sometimes you get lucky and find a good one. The owner of my company used to be a driver. He started this company to a better company for drivers. He makes less profit and gives it to the drivers. I took a pay cut to work here because of how highly his drivers spoke of him.