Considering CDL, what’s the best path for a job with no exp?

Some of the causes for such bad odds are that the applicants are not adapting to the company, lying on application, failing medical exam standards, failed drug tests. Thing that are easily under control of the applicant with very moderate effort. Please do not think of the orientation phase as Navy SEAL obstacle course. It is certainly not. In the last decade the reasons driver are not getting hired are comical & sad as they are so basic & easily avoided for someone not high on drugs. If your record is clean, you understand English, pass a P test, don't threaten employees, etc you will be a shoe-in.

 

Despite all the heresay out there... that trucking is an "easy" job (& with "great" pay)....

Surprise! Not everybody is cut out to be a big-rig truck driver....

-- L

 

The only 2 companies that said yes were Schneider and Western Express. Most companies didn’t respond at all except for an automated email, and they aren’t calling me back. I got hard no• from quite a few also. I’m going to start at western express I think. I had my hopes up for Schneider but at this point I’m just going to do my 6 months at western and then it’ll be a new year. I’m expecting to be paid less than $25,000 for those 6 months, according to what I can find on the internet right now.

 

interesting thing is this comes from some youtube video training logs made by drivers that Melton sent me.

And yeah, it is like 50 ways to leave your lover. Starting from day one with drug test. Lost 4 there, that alone is 7 percent of the class. Road/skills test, more. Some higher BMI ones decided they didn’t like the ladder and climbing test and bailed. Others bailed on working outside in the heat during the securement training. On and on. Apparently a number asked to be let off at truck stops during the road phase with a trainer. Just decided this was not for them.

I was a little surprised at first that Melton sent me these videos, but makes sense, set applicants expectations in advance.

The securement and tarping is a major part of the job, very informative for an industry newcomer to see the reality of it all. It does help me understand the different challenges of flatbed vs dry van drop and hook positions and whether I am all in on that or not.

They sent me those and specifically checked back later to ask if I had watched all of them.

 

I got my CDL one day before you on 7/31. Similar experience, put out 20-30 applications. Lots of automated responses then crickets. Hard nos from 7-10, including Schneider who said not recruiting in my area. Several others said the same. A number said not enough experience.

A couple gave cryptic reason(s) like due to info on your application we are not moving forward with you. I do not have any negatives, no accidents, convictions, etc so sounded like it was written by a lawyer to give nothing away.

Going in, I did not understand how this apprentice phase at OTR starter companies was such a big part of the industry and in a driver’s career development. A surprising amount of local jobs want to see some OTR experience.

 

Where to next -- after only 6 months with Western Express?

Given how bad things are (as prev described)....do you think things will get that much better -- on that 2nd job hunt -- with only 6 months under your belt? What if the CDL job market gets even worse, during that time?

Honestly -- unless you just really want flatbed experience -- Schneider would actually be a MUCH BETTER choice.

There, you could get experience in:

• dry van
• smooth-bore tanker
• intermodal

....all under the same name, without having to change carriers.

Also...it's been a while back....but I spoke at length with a driver at a truckstop in Tallahassee, FL; he was pulling a conestoga trailer -- for Schneider!

But whatever. You do you.

-- L

 

You will do ok with Western Express flatbed. Stick it out for 6 mos. and you might even decide to stay around longer.
@bryan21384 gives a better description of Western Express flatbed than I can. He gives a good, straight forward and honest description of the company.

 

Well I doubt much would change in 6 months except, I would have a little experience. From what I saw on the internet (gotta love the internet) many companies that were previously starter companies are now hiring with 6 months experience. And I definitely thought about Schneider over western but after a lot of consideration I think it would behoove me personally to go the western route. I’m also not going to be making much money at Schneider currently (according to the internet) my recruiter said TOD pay is $10 an hour! So with all that in mind I decided western because that way I won’t get my hopes up. I know I’m not getting anything good no matter what. And if it’s good at all, then that’s a bonus. I told the recruiter I’m doing flatbed but conversation with her is basically like talking to a wall, that sometimes responds. Yikes.

 

I’m supposed to be flatbed, but impossible to confirm anything with western. They simply don’t respond. I’m not dead set on 6 months, but that would the working theory going in.

 

Melton did a follow-up, which means they're interested in you. Not a done deal yet, but definitely interested in hiring you.