DOT Foods

Discussion in 'Shippers & Receivers - Good or Bad' started by Swedish Chef, Feb 22, 2016.

  1. Macawdad

    Macawdad Bobtail Member

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    Apr 25, 2016
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    Ooops messed up
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2016
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  3. Macawdad

    Macawdad Bobtail Member

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    Apr 25, 2016
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    Hi Greg,
    Thanks for getting back to us. I was wondering how their training was, home time, different positions available, and your overall opinion of the company as a whole. I have been researching them a lot and I like what I see. I'm kind of in a weird spot where and maybe you and the other members can provide their opinions. I am a paramedic. I have been one for 9 years, I was an EMT for 7 years before that except for a short time that I quit and drove trucks for Covenant. I now work in the jail in Chicago and it is out of control in here. I have the "great county job" but I am miserable going there. I drove trucks in 2005 and I think I was too immature. I was 23 and dumb. No issues at Covenant. Left with 2 weeks notice but I just quit after only a few months. (Never had been away from home and I was always sheltered etc.) Now I'm 33 and I am at that pivotal point that I think all people get to eventually. Stay where I am or change it up. I have a family now so I want to be able to support them but I also want to see them too. 75% of me says go ahead and take the plunge. The other 25% of me says play it safe and just suck it up. What do you guys think? I'm sure there has to be someone out there that has been in my position. Thanks for the input. Glad I found this site.
     
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  5. GregH65

    GregH65 Light Load Member

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    Sep 16, 2011
    Modesto, California
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    Hey,
    Our career tracks are eerily similar. I was an EMT/Paramedic in California from 1989-2011, though my reasons for leaving are probably far different. I too drove truck for a short time in the 90's then went back to ambulance. After I left I realized I probably should have gotten out earlier.
    Anyhow, I've been back in a truck since the beginning of 2012, and with DOT since 2013. I have a clear head, far fewer worries, and feel much better. I know I'll sleep every night and only my alarm will wake me up.
    DOT is a great family owned company with outstanding pay and benefits. It's not a 3rd party freight hauler, we are the nation's largest food redistributer. The products we deliver and pick up we own. Our largest customers are US Foods, Sysco, Shamrock , Roma etc but we also deliver to small customers.
    DOT has 3 types of drivers , delivery, transfer, and team. Everyone is home weekly at a minimum. I do delivery so I get home more, but California only delivers in this state (though we do some border Arizona). If you do delivery you will break down freight to customer specs, but it's all docks, we don't do restaurants..
    Transfer drivers move freight between DOT DC's or set transfer points. Teams do the same, just faster. Both usually have set runs and lanes.
    DOT just purchased an existing facility in Chicago and will be transitioning the Joliet yard soon, so you are well within the mileage parameters.
    Training depends on your level of experience and how fast you pick up the procedures. They will treat you as brand new, and they are very thorough. Pay is $500/wk for new, $1000/wk experienced and they buy your food.
    Slip seating is minimal until there is a truck bid for new drivers. We drive assigned trucks, automatic volvos. Teams have the bigger double bunk trucks. DOT retires their trucks at 750k and maintain them well.
    You can PM me for more info and reference listing if you apply. I can let you know pay and bonuses.in depth. I made 65k my first full calendar year here.
     
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  6. Macawdad

    Macawdad Bobtail Member

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    Apr 25, 2016
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    That is awesome. I will send you a message. The path we have is DEFINITELY probably closer than you think...
     
  7. Endorphin

    Endorphin Bobtail Member

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    May 16, 2016
    Middle Georgia
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    Just wanted to throw my two cents in since I just finished the exhausting interview process yesterday and can tell you what in entails. I graduated from CDL school on 11 May 2016 and already had 7 or 8 pre-approval letters from various trucking companies that will hire recent graduates. After extensive research over the period of my school of two months, I had decided on Abilene and May as my top two favorites. Both got four stars on the Indeed job site and the driver's testimonies were very positive compared to other companies. Then a fellow classmate reported one day that a good friend of his drove for Dot Foods. I had never heard of them, there were no posters on the wall of the school and no recruiters came out to explain the company even though there was a DC located 90 miles from me in Vidalia, Georgia. So my classmate did a run with his buddy to south Florida over our one week spring break and got to drive the truck. He came back so pumped up that I began nosing around to find out more about the company. One thing that really caught my interest was that they have a program available where you drive four days and are back home for the next four. I retired the end of 2014 and really don't need the money so that schedule really intrigued me. I was not looking forward to going out for weeks and not seeing my family. That put Dot at the top of my list of companies.

    The hiring process is a little different, I was fortunate that after graduating from school I didn't have to rush right out and get hired by the first company just to start seeing a paycheck. The first interview was quiet interesting. After I completed the initial paperwork required at the DC, I was given a math quiz; 30 complex math questions in 5 minutes using nothing but a pencil and paper....no phone. Then there was a short test on regulations. Once I passed those, I was escorted to another building where my first interview took place. Real laid back guy, very comfortable atmosphere, a few scenario questions thrown in there which were a bit challenging so I really had to reach back to give examples of situations I was involved in that I could provide as examples of real-time scenarios. I was provided information about the different driving jobs and I explained that I'd prefer a transfer job with no touch freight. At my age, I'd rather not screw up my back which he completely understood. I also told him that I preferred the 4 on/4 off driving schedule. So after about 30 minutes, I was taken to a conference room where my next interviewer was sitting. Again, more questions for me and a little about the company from his perspective. He was happy with the results of that interview and asked the next person to come in (yes, three interviews!). This one was also very comfortable with probably 10 or 12 scenario questions but it was also the shortest, probably 20 minutes. I was finally cut loose and escorted to the gate, told that if I was approved I would be getting a phone call.

    About a week later, I received a call asking if I would like to set up a time to come over and perform my driving test. Well heck yeah I was interested! At the same time, I've got companies calling me constantly to set me up for orientation. So I think it was probably a week before they could put me together with a student instructor to take the test. The guy was great, we hit it off and he let me drive his truck which was a brand new 2016 Volvo automatic. I was really excited to drive the automatic so I could concentrate on the road and not on shifting and downshifting. Well it was everything I had hoped for, you just press the button on the top of the shifter and pull it back a notch until the P changes to D on the dash and off you go. The test wasn't bad at all, I drove the tractor over to another yard where I coupled it up to a trailer only to find out that it had one flat tire and one of the tandems was missing an entire tire. So I uncouple and head to the maintenance barn to get assigned another trailer. Off again to grab a trailer, we do a walk-around before coupling up this time and we're finally out of the road. The test took about 10 minutes on the road with several railroad crossings, a few turns and then back to the yard to park the trailer. Backed it in where I had picked it up, uncoupled and drove the tractor back to it's assigned parking space. Test complete.

    A couple of weeks go by and I was getting a little nervous because I had not heard anything from them but from what I read, the process was slow and also one of the women who worked in the HR department was out on maternity leave so that contributed to me not hearing anything. Before I left after the driving test, my evaluator told me I would hear something regardless so that was reassuring. Meanwhile I'm getting a physical for Abilene, I'm scheduled to drive to Dallas this weekend to begin their orientation but will call them today and nix that plan. I get a call from HR to inform me that at this time, there are no 4 on/4 off transfer positions available. There is a 4 on/4 off customer delivery position meaning that I'd have to unload the truck and there was also a transfer position open but it was a regular schedule, not the 4/4. So I told them that I'd be happy to apply for the no touch position to get my foot in the door and asked if I could put my name on the list to get the job I wanted to I could be home more and they were good with that.

    So I get the call to set up an appointment for a physical, drive to Vidalia for an 0800 appointment after waking up at 0200 all nervous about my blood pressure. Fill out all the paperwork required, takes about an hour. The PA sees where I had a total shoulder replacement in 2013 and has me call my orthopaedic surgeon and have them fax a copy of a return to work letter to them. Waited and waited and finally was sent home without even beginning the test. I did provide a urine sample so at least the results would be back by the next appointment. Before I had even gotten halfway home, the fax was received and my next appointment was scheduled.

    So after 4 weeks, I'm finally going to knock this physical out of the park. Very thorough BTW. Lots of motion tests, agility tests, duck walk, stepping up on a box three times, touching your toes, moving boxes with 25, 45 and 65 pound weights in them from the floor to a table 90 degrees to your right three times each. Lifting those same boxes with those weights and carrying them down to the end of the hall and back and then placing them back where I lifted them originally (yeah, my legs are very sore this morning). So the PA signed and approved the paperwork and had me take it all back to the office where I originally began the entire process. Now all I do is sit and wait for one of the managers to call and offer me a job. Glad it's over!

    So yeah, it's been a long month; especially knowing all the time that other companies are cranking out drivers like crazy. I'm certain that all the guys I went through class with already have jobs but I'm very glad that I was patient and made it to this point. Hope that wasn't too lengthy but I really haven't seen where anyone had left a detailed post about their interview process on this site and as a new graduate, I was looking for that information either on a website or a YouTube video.
     
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  8. Kw1090

    Kw1090 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
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    Type of drug screen?
     
  9. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

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    Feb 1, 2011
    Dallas, TX
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    One that detects illegal drug use.
     
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  10. Kw1090

    Kw1090 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
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    What kind of drug test do they do? I've heard with hair they shave a spot on top of your head. Is that true lol?
     
  11. GregH65

    GregH65 Light Load Member

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    Sep 16, 2011
    Modesto, California
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    Urine
     
  12. Kw1090

    Kw1090 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
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    Okay thx. They offered me employment. Went on a truck trip today. got back and offered me the job. Go to take my physical and everything Monday. My uncle drives and idk if he was messing with me or what but said some places do hair and they shave a spot off the top lol. Im a young guy so I don't know any better and never had a hair test before thats why I was wondering. Hes prob just messing with me though.
     
  13. GregH65

    GregH65 Light Load Member

    192
    119
    Sep 16, 2011
    Modesto, California
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    What location did you ride?
     
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