About to graduate, got 1 ticket, no-one will look at me!

If you sit back and fill out applications on-line or go to a recruiter what more do you expect? Download some trucking companies and go see them. The better companies do not advertise because they don't need to. Explain what happened face to face and you have a much better chance. And don't believe that it's all controlled by insurance companies because the smarter bigger companies are self insured. You never know until you've tried it and I would say spend at least 30 days looking. Stay away from the bottom feeders and the companies that go to schools for drivers. I think you have a better chance if you find a company that does not make their revenue from the truck. I've hired drivers just because they looked sharp and could prove what they were saying. You've got to think outside the box.

 

This is a very common misconception these days with the job market the way that it is. Everyone is choosing trucking as "a backup plan" and odds are they aren't going to like it. Trucking is not really a "backup plan" kind of job.. Honestly you either want to do it, or you don't. If it was your 2nd choice it's probably because you were lied to by recruiters and CDL schools.

Trucking is hurting just as bad as every other job market right now, and it's not an "any idiot can do it" kind of job.. We do much more than hold a steering wheel, sadly most students don't realize this and when they go through the hassle they don't last but 6 months once they realize that there is actual work involved.

You guys should have done your research before dumping a bunch of money into CDL school, it's probably too late now, so i'd try some smaller companies around your area. Policies might change once the economy picks back up, probably after winter when all the rookies who can't handle the cold and bad weather quit.. Until then i'd just stick it out and do what you have to do.

Some part of me feels sorry for you, but every time i see a CDL "mill" truck drive by my house full of people with dollar bills in there eyes pulling a trailer that claims you will make 50k your first year.. well, frankly i just shake my head because enough is enough.

Good luck to you, though.

 

I am currently living in Alberta, Canada and the school I went to was called CCA Driver Training. Before I even started the driver course, I talked with no less than two of the instructors, and the manager about my concerns regarding my bad driving year. I even got a copy of my driver's abstract and showed them my two infractions. All of them, and I mean ALL of them said that I had nothing to worry about, and that most companies will overlook said infractions. Even after I enrolled, I once again brought up this issue, and once again ALL of them said that I should have no problems finding a job (this was after I had a bit of driving experience and was just about to get my CDL).

I got my funding through the program via student loan, which is about $3500 that I have to pay back. That's not the kicker because, I also had to take out a personal loan, which unfortunately was much higher, not to mention an almost criminal interest rate, (I was ineligible for unemployment, and needed living expenses). That's how much I wanted to drive.

I am not giving up, because there has got to be SOME company willing to take me on. My biggest concern though, is that the longer I go without driving, the harder it is going to be to get back into it should I eventually find a job.

 

There's some good pointers I see here on working til you get what you really want to drive but I also wanted to add something. I have seen people, including myself, overcome what seemed to be insurmountable odds in this life. Don't give up. Sometimes it helps me to believe that there is a good reason for things happening(and sometimes I just think life stinks)the way they do What I see is someone that "got caught". We all screw up, but don't always get caught. You maybe were accused falsely. But more than that, I see someone that got through school, completed the task, and earned their CDL license! Congrats and you will go on to succeed

 

If you had listened to Mr Gashauler, you'd probaly be employed by now.. There's not many jobs on here, actually about zero. You go knocking on doors, the old fashioned way- you may be amazed at what WILL happen. That poster is older than dirt, only kidding, and may just know what he's talking about. Good Luck......

 

this is excellent. I'll remember it for when I begin my search, thanks GH.

 

the school I went to (5 minutes from my house) is running stronger than ever. I see their rigs on the road/hiway around here all the time. they've even gotten a lot nice trucks/trailers since I went there. I'm not sure if the owner has traded in the shiny new Cadillac he was driving for a Bentley yet.

needless to say, these schools should run a prospective student's MVR, and insist on a DOT physical and drug test before they are allowed to apply. but unfortunately these schools (like most every other business these days) have no ethics whatsoever and will lie to people in order to steal their money. also, a potential driver should call potential employers BEFORE they go to school to see what the company's requirements are (they do require more than just a CDL.) I know I didn't do that, and evidently most others don't either. of course I had a clean driving record, no criminal record, good credit, stable job history and no drug use.

starting to sound more and more like we need to get insurance "companies" OUT of trucking (and automobiling,) just like we need to get the insurance "companies" out of health care. matter of fact, we need to just get rid of the scam of "insurance" all together.

 

I just can't agree more with you on the insurance company "ripoffs". I so wish people would stand together more.

 

Hello DrDoc

I will send you a pm with some information that may help.

Best to you!!

 

I agree with you 100% Cheif, I've been paying close attention at the amounts of posts regarding things like this, and the physical that they give there is sub-par at best... It makes me sad to see what they are trying to do to this industry for the sake of lining their own pockets, and to see all the people that they decieved struggling.

That's how you know that something is a scam.. Look at this economy, not many good, legitimate business starting up with this economical climate that we're going through, but at least once a day i still see an add on TV for some new insurance company that just came out of nowhere, some new truck driving school... Yeah, they are all unethical scams in my opinion, if it wasn't a scam they probably wouldn't be prospering and launching by the dozens up where I live.