Did I just screw myself?

You lay out some very valid points. I agree with 99%.

But reality clearly shows if you know how to drive a truck, someone WILL hire you. Even if you had 8 jobs within the past 3 weeks.

Job History regarding truck drivers, is at best a myth and irrelavent per DAC. The larger companies have made it almost impossible to find a good employee by checking his history. As most of the information is based on fairy tales written by control freaks.

Even the "stastistical" experts have shown the average professional changes "careers" (not jobs) every 5 years now.

Professional attitude, for a trucker would be a neat and clean appearance. Period. If he's clean...he has a good attitude

I could tell you that I did not have a shower, nor did I change clothes for the past 48 hours. What does this say to you about my level of professionalism?

Where as, if I told you why, you would reconsider everything that crossed your mind the first 3 minutes of our meeting. And offer me the same job with a raise.

But, based on your post. We would not have gotten that far today...a job offer.

 

My 2 cents (about what it is worth) is to stay for a year. It definitely looks better on an application if you can show steady employment at 1 company for a year or more. Safe, compliant driving is the key though. Keep your mvr clean. No accidents and preferrably no bad marks on your dac and you can leverage that year into a much better paying gig.

 

First off, I would ask how long you were out before coming in to see me. If you had been away from home, running hard for the last week, and spent your 10 hour breaks at customers the last couple days, I would understand it. May be a rude way of starting the interview, but I prefer honesty to posturing and "office politics."

Now if you looked and smelled like you hadn't showered in a month, there'd be no interview.

If I was hiring for a driving job (OTR) it would not be anywhere near as important to have the short hair, no piercings, etc...

There are plenty of great guys out there driving trucks who do a great job, that I would hire very quickly to drive for me. Based on their appearances however, I would not have hired them for my computer business.

I don't personally judge people on appearance, just professionaly. I understand the difficulty in getting a shower out here, I have been there too, lol. So, there has to be some allowaces depending on the position that is being filled. A UPS man has a different set of requirements, versus an OTR driver. The UPS guy has a uniform, the OTR guy can "usually" wear whatever they're comfotable with as long as it won't offend too many people.

Basically, professionalism is more than just appearances, I was using that as an example because of the business model I had.

P.S. I have seen many "clean" drivers with very bad attitudes. lol.

 

Keep a box of baby wipes (poor mans shower), a maintenence free hair cut and a clean set of decent clothes. and youre good.

 

That would be me. Proudly raising my hand

I'll make my defense on this one. Please note: The use of the word "you" is not directed at you personally. But is meant to address any "company" I have worked for in the past, present, or future..

You pay me the same as the guy with 5 years experience, 3 moving violations over the past 10 years, and 2 avoidables on his record. Yet, I have none of this on my record in the past 20 years. Where's my respect/money?

I always present a good attitude, and act respectful toward our customers.

My attitude toward my supervisors, is based on their treatment of me. If you disrespect me in any way, I will return that disrespect 10 fold when you least expect it.

Since I do have more than one supervisor. And, they all get treated differantly by me. Why not ask what they perceive the issues that trigger my attitude might be. Rather than assuming I am a poor employee.

Now, how do we resolve this situation.

Never lie to me.
Never try to mislead me in any way.
Never "think" you know what my current situation is, at work or home.
Never try to be my friend. I am your employee, hired to do a job. Give me work to do, since I am paid by the work I get done ONLY.
Never assume that I will do as I am told. Asking me nicely is more effective.

Say what you mean, mean what you say.

Believe me when I tell you, I do not NEED the job you have given me.

You say you provided me with a job. I say I offered my services (driving skills) to you and your company, for a fee. Any additional services, will cost you extra.

My "salary" has not kept pace with the cost of living over the past 20 years. As a matter of fact, as an industry, trucking has not seen a meaningful raise in over 10 years.

This by very definition is a bad attitude. And it is my attitude toward trucking companies as a whole. Believe it or not, I actually LIKE driving a truck. That's why I still do it.

 

Like I said, if you stick around for that year, you'll find jobs with other companies that pay better. 6 months isn't going to get you into very many places (contrary to popular belief) because their insurance carriers won't cover you. Switching to another truck-zilla company isn't going to do you much good.

After you have a year, you can find a lot of medium sized companies that will be willing to hire you. Just remember, no matter what size company it is, they ALL have their down-sides.

NO company is perfect.

 

Awesome post Danc694u!!!

We apparently have the same "bad attitude" and demand for respect with no toleration for BS from the management types. I have had to recently "fire" a new dispatcher because he though it was his "job" to micromanage me. BIG MISTAKE! This guy ticked off so many drivers that some even quit. I spoke with the Ops manager and explained I would not work with this guy 1 more day. His response "you do not have to, he is on his way out." Sure enough within 2 days he was no longer dispatching at my company.

It is truly nice when the top level management does indeed recognize the contribution of the driver to the continued financial health of the company. The fact is it is a symbiotic relationship in which we are supposed to work together. They locate and book the freight and we haul it. Ideally we both share in the profits at the end of the week.

I equate our professional skills to those of a mercenary. A mercenary offers his "skills" to the highest bidder with little care of wether the employer is good or bad in others estimation so long as the money is good. I have the same attitude. You want me to stay on "your team" you better pay me well and treat me well. Never make the mistake that I am your friend because I am not. Danc694u said it very well here.
"Never lie to me."
"Never try to mislead me in any way."
"Never think you know what my current situation is, at work or at home."
"Never try to be my friend. I am your employee, hired to do a job."

I will add one of my own to that list which is "Never try to cheat me."

 

That should have been my FIRST comment.

I will walk SO fast it would make your head spin if you even cheat me out of a nickel. And I catch you at it.

While some folks think thats a stupid statement. Multiply that statement by 5000 employees, then again by 52 weeks.

How many nickels did they STEAL this year?

I will NOT tolerate a company that tries to steal from me. And that is what shorting my check is. You get until the next payday to correct it, then I'm gone. Want to see me walk NOW, short my check by more than $100 and fail to call me back THAT day and explain, it's fixed it WILL be on the next check.

Many people make mistakes. I understand that. But if I make one at the wrong time, people die. If I can get through the week without killing anyone. I'm sure payroll can correct an issue using the same computer program they hosed it up with...mistake or not.

 

Well, I simply put it this way in my situations. I only treat them with the respect they treat me with. If they treat me like an ### then I'm going to do them the same way. If they have a problem with it then I'll tell them why I'm being like that toward them. "You only get it if you give it." I live by this every day. If they tell me sorry we can't hire you and it's because I got an attitude with them, well there was a reason for it and I'll #### sure get in the last word before I leave. If I really want the job then I'll stay to reconsider but if I don't care much for the job even still trying to get me to stay, I'll still walk. Most place's will walk all over you if you let them, so stand your ground. This doesn't mean be ####y, just stand your ground. If they raise some tude toward's you show the same amount back.

I hope no one takes me the wrong way just because I have a few piercing's and trying to drive a truck. I wear a hat over my mohawk but I mostly did that for my current job to help stay cool on these really hot day's and my goatee. If they don't like that then I don't know what else to tell'em. I'm going to do what make's me comfortable unless it's a job that requires extreme safety to wear you can't have earing's, long hair and loose clothing. As far as my pant's. I like room but that don't mean I'm walking around with my ### hanging out like a thug but those *** huggin' wrangler's are uncomfortable. (sorry ladies) But I'm going to dress comfortable. The only time I dress really nice like that is if I'm going on a job interview or a hot date. That's it.