FFE (Frozen Food Express) and Leonard's Express' very dumb no good recruitment process

Just had to get this off my chest, it's probably not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things and I hear those companies are good to actually work for, but their recruitment process just made me DNF with them.

Leonard's Express: applied Monday, they responded Wednesday saying they'll run my reports and get back to me Friday. Messaged me Friday saying they'll have to get back to me Monday. Did not get back to me Monday. I left a voice mail. Did not respond on Tuesday. So both days I called once morning and afternoon, in case the recruiter was unavailable. Each time sent to voicemail. Wednesday I finally called the operator to confirm if my application is actually getting processed, they said they'll make sure to get the recruiter on the line. Did not get recruiter on the line. Did not call me back. At this point I'm just wondering if they threw out my application and blocked my number lol.

FFE: insisted I give them proof of employment of a company I worked for 3 years ago (CDL B, school bus driving). That was weird enough because aren't *they* supposed to do the detective work? But they also wanted a Diploma or Certificate of graduating from my trucking school. First of what do you mean, a printed certificate? The only thing I got from the school was my CDL lol. That's my graduation! I can't get the school on the phone or email. They're a mom and pop outfit that I don't even know if they're still open. I called FFE back saying 1. Nobody keeps their certificate from a trucking school when they have a CDL to show instead 2. I've never heard another company ask for it. 3. I simply can't get it. Recruiter was sympathetic and said she'll see what she can do, but then no response.

I ended up going with my third choice, Holland Enterprises, despite a lower CPM. They immediately got my reports in half a day, conditional offer, and set up drug and physical. (I had already talked conditions on a previous phone call so didn't need a rehash). Sure, CPM is lower, but at least the company gives me the impression of actually having a care for a system that makes sense and doesn't give the driver a runaround or ghost them when they just mean to reject. (I've been rejected from 4 companies this round of job search, every single one sent me a message very promptly, one even gave me the courtesy a direct call to inform me. Companies are able to do this! It's not hard! Just common courtesy.)

 

Generally speaking....the CDL job market is pretty nasty right now -- & your experiences of late are just yet another fine example of this trend.

Hope springs eternal -- given recent events, I expect the market & the industry to make a comeback over the next 12 to 18 months, or so.

-- L

 

Yeah. It's unfortunate that every company that offered a CPM equivalent to my last employer ended up not working out. (Well, one did, Double J, but I'd dug up so much bad vibes on them in my research that I decided to stay away) Looks like I'm going to have to take a cut in pay scale. Hopefully their promised miles will make up for it.

 

Holland should prove to be a good gig for you.

They certainly have the miles.

-- L

 

I hate to burst your bubble, but another member on here posted this about Holland yesterday. This guy had an issue with the safety department.

Holland Enterprises, the real deal

 

That's unfortunate, but I don't anticipate this to happen every day. Also what was the adverse consequence of the whole thing? Like, it's not like the driver had their pay docked or a score dinged, right? I think I'd survive.

 

I would consider being cursed out by the owner for such a stupid reason to be a dealbreaker as I would refuse to be treated in such a way, but your results may vary. Do what you want.

 

Well both of them did eventually respond today lol. But I'd already done my drug screen, physical, and booked a plane ticket to Fargo for Sunday to Monday, and I didn't much care for dragging my feet any longer so I declined.

 

Yes I get that. Did you not read the part that they had already told me they will be responding a week ago? I had applied more than 2 weeks ago.

I'm not expecting them to respond to my application right away. I'm expecting them, once they've responded to my application by saying it looks good and they'll get back to me by Friday, to not keep me hanging with no response until next Thursday.