Frustrating

Have you paid attention to what happens to these newbies ? Some of them rejected at orientation and get sent home without a job . Others get hired but get sent home to wait 3 to 5 weeks for an available truck . Then they get a truck , often one that was abandoned and trashed by another newbie and they might be lucky to get 1500 miles a week . You're not missing anything not getting hired by these carriers .

 

Companies on the west coast seem to be hiring, you might try some of them.

 

It might be that the companies youre applying to is not hiring out of youre area. Good luck and did you try knight i know they are hiring.

 

heck shadowed,i was grandfathered in to my cdl in 1991 ithink or early 1992 and started w/a Ga.class 5 in 1985 although no otr until 1988.Anyway, i had to take about 3 years off due family issues,a death of one parent and alzheimer's in the other, and finally may be going back to regional next week.
Not all companies will make you take a refresher or whatever.I did drive a log truck for about a month recently but it was temporary and i knew that going in,but anyway,my point is to knock on the doors of the smaller outfits(really who you need to be w/anyway IMHO)and let them know you want to work.That calling,faxing,submitting apps and all did not work for me either SO i went to a place that I had worked for in 2004-2005 and they had 1 truck open for something that I have done for a LONG TIME and remembering me stated to be there monday morning.RIGHT PLACE/RIGHT TIME? or lucky timing? heck i don't care as long as it works out.
ihope it happens and it looks promising but #### I feel like i am jinxing myself by even typing this to you.that is how down i have gotten.It happens to the best during trying times like the present but you can't let things get to you.your 4 years is worth something and they will pay off.
MORAL-physically visit the companies close enough to you and best of luck to you.

 

I can relate to what your saying. I've been driving since 1995 myself. The last 4 years I worked as a Safety Manager for a large company. I have since left and found that when companies pull my DAC it only showed the time that I was driving for them (about 1.5yrs). The problem for me is trying to get someone at this company to confirm my employment.

I've been applying to smaller companies and private fleets but it's still pretty tough in this market. Companies are wanting specific experience such as reefer, flatbed, etc.

It just makes it frustrating when you have all this experience but no one seems interested in giving you a chance - not even a phone call. I have a ton of certifications and what not for classes & training that I've completed, but I guess it "over - qualifies" me for a job.

It really is like starting over again. One company I was considering actually told me that they would have to bring me in as an inexperienced driver due to the lack of "recent" experience. I guess no matter how much I try to understand it I just don't.

I would definately stick to the smaller companies and or private fleets. I would stay away from the big name companies unless it's a last resort. Good luck everyone!

 

"Better" is hardly a word to describe a student driver mill . It's like saying better lot lizard . They're both going to do the same thing to you only a lot lizard does it a lot cheaper .

 

That is what blows my mind.I was merely put in a truck w/my Ga.Class 5 and went to driving.No school,no training,no nothing but my naievity(misspelled?) and my gut reaction to duck as i drove under each overpass all the way from near Rome,Ga. to Salisbury,N.C.
I know truck driver training schools have been around for a long time but i did not know or realize full well, the sheer numbers of wannabes attending them until about a decade or so ago.
i suppose back(as in mid '80's) then it was easier for a company to establish your credentials that i really did not possess.But anyways.
I am unable to understand the complexity and indepth issues that many of the new drivers actually have to endure before even getting in a truck simply because i did not make the transition to driver in a like manner.
I have advised many a wannabe,a cousin among those,to NOT go anywhere near a truck.None have listened and all have horror stories.
I imagine that i am attempting to understand just why and never will.I have read hundreds of the newbie stories now and can only offer my most sincere apologies and congratulations.The first for your nightmarish experiences and the latter for your perseverence in completing the task.
I hope it all becomes worth the effort that you have,or will,exert because i most certainly would not consdier truck driving IF I knew then what i now know.
But isn't that the old hindsight is 20/20 deal?

 

I know exactly what you mean there! I had a couple of choices in front of me back in 95 & I decided to go with trucking. I can't say it's been all bad though, it has put food on my table, clothes on our backs, and a little money in our pocket but I have truly seen the industry decline year after year. Unfortunately I don't see it getting any better any time soon, regardless of what the economy does.