Saia and Estes in Springfield, MO

I went to the Dayton service center/terminal on July 25 and spoke with the service center manager and gave him a copy of my resume (even though I had submitted one with my online application). Nice man. He told the Dockworker position had already been filled. He did look my resume over again and noticed that I had my CDL-A already which seemed to interest him. I asked about the dock-to-driver program and he said (paraphrasing) that I probably wouldn't have to go through the whole program depending on where I was with driving. He asked me some questions about what shifts I would be available for (dock work), and made some notes on my resume. He said he would be keeping my resume on file, and to call him in about a month to see if there was something available for me. I left with one of his business cards.

I then went over to the Saia terminal with another resume in-hand. The secretary told me that the person in charge of hiring was not in. If I understood her correctly, the person in charge of hiring (terminal manager?) would not be in till the next week (this current week). She wrote my contact information and what position I was applying for on a sticky-note, attached it to my resume and said that she would leave it on his desk.

The reason I'm questioning in my mind if it is the terminal manager (at Saia) who would be looking at my resume is because I had talked to a Saia linehaul driver a few days prior and he had given me the name of the terminal manager. The name the secretary gave me wasn't that name (unless I heard her wrong). I should of clarified that when I was there in person talking to her. She was nice...but I had a rushed feeling...that I should state my business and leave...don't know if that makes sense. Now that I think about it, it probably wasn't the TM since it was a Tuesday that I was there, and I don't think the TM would be gone for the remainder of that week...but maybe he was on a vacation. Anyway, I felt a lot more relaxed at the Dayton terminal.

I plan on calling Saia today to see if my resume has been looked at.

 

@motocross25 , I read somewhere recently that Estes wants you to sign a 2 year contract with them if you go through their dock to driver program. Any truth to that?

 

Understood.

I was at the terminal around 3pm (?). Might have been a bad time of the day. I had been at the Dayton terminal about a half hour before. From what I have heard, it's best to try to contact terminals around 10-11am or after lunch (around 1:30-2:30pm).

I know I've only been to the 2 terminals so far. I wasn't offended at all, I just noticed the difference between the 2.

 

@MBurkart , I was just re-reading back through my thread and forgot that you had posted in it. Did you have to sign a contract before going through the Estes driving school?

 

The thing is that I don't have recent verifiable experience. The last time I drove a truck, that I can remember right now, was about 11-12 years ago when a buddy let me take a Super B load of grain to the local elevator when I was visiting his family farm. I'm guessing Estes would want to put me through training since it's been so long since I've driven...I don't know.

I just checked the Estes website this morning and saw that the dockworker position is no longer available. Dock Supervisor and Terminal Clerk I is what they have available for the Springfield terminal.