CDL in hand... Now What ? Decision time, that's what...

...beyond those posted previously.

- Details of job, orientation schedule, and rates of pay included in offer letter, as well as pictorial of pre-work physical capabilities process, and suggested gear list.

- Company will pay for airfare or a rental car to get to orientation. I chose the car option since I am not a fan of the airline industry or its imposed security agency. It is about a 12-hour drive. Looking forward to it.

- Phase 1 orientation - 8 days - Hotel and 3 meals covered daily. Drug screen, physical capabilities screen, classroom, yard skills, road driving, trip planning, logging, satcomm, policies/procedures, and protective driving. Lump sum payment for Phase 1.

- Phase 2 orientation - up to 13 days - performance based OTR training. Non-smoking employees are put with non-smoking trainers. CDL-style written and skills exam at end of Phase 2. Daily wage for Phase 2.

After successful completion of Phase 2, I will be assigned a tractor and get on cpm rate. Then head toward home with a load and take 4 days off.

So far it has been a well-organized and reasonable process to go from initial inquiry to offer. My recruiter has been pleasant to work with and able to answer all my questions. He is a former driver, so that was helpful.

Thanks for reading and stay safe out there...

Perpetual.

 

Thanks Wedge - I appreciate you.

Perpetual.

 

Thank you Roy Lee and best of luck with the exam and then onto driving the trucks. I hope you enjoy yourself as much as I have.

Perpetual.

 

Oh and by the way, Thank You very much for your service.

 

Sitting at the medical exam facility waiting for my turn...

 

About an hour after accepting the job I received a call from both the Schneider hiring manager and the CT Transport recruiter. My intent was to let each company know that I had accepted an offer. I just hadn't had time to call yet. It was almost as if they could sense it.

The Schneider guy was courteous, though curt. There was quite a dwell time in between his attempts to call so it didn't bother me.

The CT recruiter was a bit on the rude side. "So who did I lose you to?" she asks. I tell her the name of the company. "You'd rather go over the road than be home every night, huh?" "Yes ma'am I would." "Well I wish you would have called me..." "Well things have been happening very quickly and I have not had a chance." "OK fine. Let me know if you change your mind."

The funny thing is, I called her twice the day before to ask questions but just got voicemail and no call back until the next day. And of course there remained a large diparity between her description of the job and the terminal manager's...

So it seems you can get a feel for the company culture to some degree during the recruiting process.

 

Thanks for the welcome! I am looking forward to starting.

Since I am going flatbed, I believe my orientation is in Gary, Indiana.