New CDL driver looking to live on the road?

Hey man, I know this is an old post but I just got my AZ last month and thinking about going with Highlight, could you tell me their whole process from how did you apply to getting the job? Also what's their training pay and how long is it? Lastly, how long did the whole process take from you applying to getting hired and on the truck?

Also it's been 4 months for you, how's the job, dispatch, any pay discrepancies ever? Because I read some really bad reviews on Glassdoor by ex drivers that highlight was stealing money from their pay or that they would be staying at the truck stop in US waiting for loads etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

So I just got hired by Canada Cartage in Ajax. It's quite a commute for me but gotta get my foot in the door and gain experience you know. But hey at least it's local work and you're home everyday.

 

Been trying to apply to Canada cartage for a while but their #### recruiting never picks up the phone.

Good for you man, how was the road test? Hiring steps? Maybe another driver can benefit from the information you provide.

 

Well I applied through Revolution Staffing. I filled out a paper application for Canada Cartage and they said whether a position opens up, they will forward my info.

So after a couple of weeks I get a call from the agency and he said they got something in Ajax if I'm interested. I took it and he set up a road test with them. Although I got referred by the agency, I'm getting hired directly by Cartage as a company driver.

Road test was pretty straight forward. The examiner tells you to start with PTI of course. Then he explains if you go over the curb or yellow line, that's an automatic fail and you head out on the road. This was my road test for a job so was a little nervous. Even went over the curb once lol but he passed me. Once you get back he asks you to back up to a door and that's that. If you passed they get you in the orientation very next week Monday Tuesday, and depending if you need more training or not, you'll be out on the road by Wednesday.

 

Congrats and well done, look forward to hearing your review after a few months.

Also with the way freight is crashing, its a much better idea than by the mile OTR.

OTR is hurting BAD, but companies don't care, since they don't need to pay you to sit and wait; just in case a load comes up.

I'm truly blessed I took the big risk, and jumped to Linehaul from Open Board. Its not easy switching companies as an O/O. But I would prob be in trouble by now if I had waited.

 

and not being paid for all the time spent on the road is not going to change anytime soon.

Carriers get positive ruling on sleeper berth wage compensation - FreightWaves

 

have you jumped from Challenger? I'm in their SCD division....I fluctuate between 1800-2300 depending on the runs...and, I'm likely to stay put for awhile because I like the pace and it's been relatively smooth to operate....

But I have heard that drivers are dropping like flies from here....of course, I'm a newbie(going into my 5th year of driving) and even I always heard that Challenger was one of the lowest paying for the market.

 

Yep I left challenger 3 weeks ago, I'm doing local LTL now. Challenger claims their turnover rate is 26% but I seriously think it's much higher than that. Nearly ever OTR driver I talked to at challenger wasn't happy. I know 2 on this forum @TheStopSignGuy and @Tazziee who got fairly screwed by challenger one way or the other.

The last straw was during my last month when they kept giving me crap runs like <200 miles and <300 miles. Told them to give me more and got more for like a week before it dipped down again. No point in living on the road for $700 a week. They tried to give me crap saying I kept turning down loads, of course I'm going to turn down 150 mile loads. Told them to pay me hourly and they disagreed. They're gonna have some fun when they find out the BOLs for my last week had no signatures on them.

I was interested in scd but they wanted a year with challenger. How long you been at challenger so far?

 

yikes. sounds not-so fun. I had heard to stay away from the dry van side of things.....and it does seem like there are many more short runs than not with dry van....

i knew a driver at another company who had been owner op with challenger....he felt that they tried to make him lose his truck in the last year...but he made it, finished paying for it and then left. It's hard for me to imagine that a company that large would have the time to throw monkey wrenches around like that but what do i know?

I've been with the company since april....I came into it with flat deck experience and a few years of regular driving already though...

nice one, to catch a local ltl for yourself.