Did I just screw myself?

I do not believe that anyone with experiance on this forum is going to tell you the answer, and how could they? Each driver is different, each company is different. I'll share this with you, a lady that did the some of the hiring for a very large hospital told me, if you take the job, any job, keep it at least one year. You cannot expect that any one wants to bear the responsibilty of selecting your next job for you, it's mostly about the research anyway. You will hear good and bad about every company, well, almost, this is a decision that only you are qualified to make. LOL

 

Stay for the full year... This will let a lot more doors open for you, and you won't have to go through "training" again if you sign on with another big company.
Schneider will send you through their own school if you only have 6 months experience, which means a NEW contract with another company. As SNI does, so do others, unfortunately, so I'm sure it'll be the same story with others as well, not all, but some of the big ones for sure.

If you can manage to stay for TWO years, then you have a golden ticket which can be used to get you a job anywhere, provided there's no accidents and/or tickets during the first two years.

A lot of the smaller companies experience requirements are actually set by the insurance provider they have, so some require one year, others 18 months, and others still 2-3 years.

Best advice, if you can stick it out, do so. I understand that you have a life to pay for back home, so if it's bankrupting you, then you may have no other choice. If you're still doing ok though, you will be glad you stayed for the full year. I would always say, complete the contract at least, that way you don't owe them anything when you leave.

 

I think it's sad that you're just about locked into a job that is not the best for you. You can stay there a year and then when you leave and go onto another job you'll be freaky out because you can only drive an auto. If you do stay there and if it's at all possible try to get some experience with a stardard shift truck.

I also feel that the longer you stay the more it's going to hurt you job wise. I would look twice at your employment application if I saw one year experience with one type of tranmission. You'd have to ace the road test. So if you've got the chance to better your life and the company is willing I'd take it.

I'm sure you've gone over all the costs and what it's going to cost you if you get up and leave. But sometimes you've just got to do it and get on to being happy with a new job. So your options are limited, do nothing, try to learn on the job, or quit and gone on.

 

I am driving for US Express JR (aka Arnold trans) you may look into it. much of it would be the same for you since us owns them but we don't have the problems with the shop and dispatch seems to be a bit better but I do sometimes wait for a load. other times I have a preplan just after I start out with the last load.
I'v done a bit over 3k miles this week and they are busy, have freight backed up. They just bent me over a barrel tonight though I was supposed to go home and they liead to me about picking up a preload to bring to the yard where I could get my load home. That preload is a live load and I've been hereabout 5 hours now and they just started it and I ran out of hours 11 minutes ago
they all suck, I don't know how people work for any of them

 

I would have to disagree. You can train people to drive a stick, but you can't fix stupid. If he has a good driving record for the first year or longer, then he can get into other places. He was trained on a manual, so he knows the basics, it won't be that hard to pick it back up.

Just MHO.

I would agree that if he stays there too long, it will be more difficult. But switching, after only 6 months, shows a "job-hopper" trend starting. Being labelled as a job-hopper is the worst thing you can do for yourself.

Finish the contract, then change.

 

switching AT 6 months doesn't show a job hopper. switching again shrtly after that does though so he needs to choose his next company wisely. They pretty much expect you to jump after 6 mo.
if u.s. ever moved in to run Arnold I'd be out the door and down the street before the door shut

 

I'll step up to the plate.

No, you didn't screw yourself. You currently have 6 months experience, and over half the companies out there will hire you NOW. At a higher rate of pay.

The basic "claim" of a need for a year, to show you aren't a quiter. The actual truth of the matter, many experienced drivers rarely last 3 months, if a company sucks.

By staying a year, you show dedication to yourself and what you are trying to accomplish. Even without the year, many companies understand that drivers frequently change jobs, and will hire you.

Staying a year implies 1 of 2 things.

#1 You originally liked the job and held on, hoping it would get better.

#2 You can easily be "cow towed," and were munipulated into staying with a bad company, thinking they could ruin your career and life.

While many people push the give it a year (I do too). Once you have the experience, I firmly believe in quiting as soon as possible when you realize the company/job sucks.

Why? Insurance and vacation pay. If you stay only 11 months, you shot your vacation pay for that year. And will have to wait another 12 months. Having only worked at possibly 2 bad companies.

If you leave within 30-60 days. You have a chance to "test" up to 8 companies per year. Then finding the one that treats you good, stay. You're out only 1 year of vacation and benefits.

I know some will argue with that. And, I do agree it can be a dangerous game (job hopping). But if you do your research, and speak to the right people. You should not have to change jobs more than 3 times before you land a good company.

 

When I looked at hiring someone, I cared about 3 things.. In this order of priority.

1. Experience: What kind of skills do they have, can they do the job?
2. Job History: Will they be reliable enough to stick around? I don't want to have to train aother person in 3 months. Training IS expensive.
3. Professionalism: Appearance and attitude have to be consistent with my business model. We dealt with people in their own homes and businesses, so someone who looked dirty, grungy, hippie, emo, goth, etc.. did not make the cut for on-site working positions.

If I thought someone wasn't going to stick around for AT LEAST a year, I didn't hire them. While some disappointed me, most stuck around for longer than a year.

I don't fault people for finding a better job, but I need to know how long it's going to take for them to get "used" to what they have and start looking for more. It DOES matter.

I didn't close up my store by having bad employees, I got squeezed by a large company with a huge advertising budget and little VW Beetles to run around town in...

That's why, despite being a company driver, I understand what the independant guys are going through, I have BEEN there.