Hiring Side Questions/ The Best of the Big Carriers?

Your legally bound to provide a full ten year employment history. The company is not bound to verify it. But in practice most pull your DAC then get back with you if they have a question.

 

Since you are new and do not have a driving record the answer depends on the carrier. If it is a entry level mega carrier then they could be more lenient than a mom & pop because they need meat in the seat and don't expect you to spend forever with them. However, a carrier that bases its success on the rates provided by increased performance or specialized service (flats, tanker) and not load volume will certainly look at your employment history.

As a tanker dispatcher I often voted "pass," on any driver with more than 3 jobs in two years or 5 in ten; especially if the reasons for change were based on personality conflicts or the applicant chasing the dollar. There is nothing wrong with improving one's place and income through free agency - but a company is investing time and resources to not only vet your application but also in training and developing you as an asset. If it appears that you will jump to the next carrier as soon as your signing bonus or reimbursement is paid they might not want to waste the money. Best advice - full disclosure and plan on sitting tight for six months at least.

 

All the starters are just that. Pick one close to your home and get some experience. You aren't going to pick the perfect one no matter how much you look cause you have no practical experience and everything else is going to look better. After you've job hopped once or twice you'll understand all the gigs have caveats.

Pick one that has inverters so you can get a fridge/tv/microwave (or he'll one with those things already).

Ps I worked for safety at Werner, employment gaps were one of the main reasons we passed on drivers. If you were unemployed you have to put it on your app. If they find lies and feel it was intentional rather than oversight well....

 

Better jump in before the start company jokes start firing away lol. Steven's wasn't too bad starting out. Safety oriented, decent equipment, decent training. Low pay, long waits, 5+ weeks out at a time, will spend the majority of your time on I40 and I80. What area you live in will be a major determining factor as well. I have yet to find the "perfect" company. I have a feeling if I do it means I froze to death in the truck. Don't rule out local companies either if you need to stay near home. Some will hire fresh out of school.

 

It's been my experience that there is no such thing as a great company. However, there are great fleet managers. The FMs that take the time to learn how and where a driver wants to be ran can make a mediocre company seem like a great company. I drove for a time under a great FM and was loving the job. Then the company changed their procedures and made it so the FM was merely a secretary. It went downhill in a hurry from there and I moved on.

Just keep in mind, that finding a great FM is like finding a two headed flea at a hundred acre dog park.

 

I got lucky with mine and that did make a world of difference. I actually had 2 good ones back to back with both 1st and 2nd company. Maybe I'm just easy to please but never had trouble running where i wanted when i wanted and made the money doing it.