Hello! Meeting on Monday w/ recruiter

Hi! I am new on this forum.
I am 33, ZERO years ZERO miles on a truck and without a CDL. In my "civilian" life since I got my DL I had zero car accidents, zero arrests, zero fines (not even parking tickets) and not a problem with authorities probably because I am obsessed with safety.
Now, on Monday I am meeting with a recruiter in Fort Worth. His company provides OTR training (30 days), CDL training and a job after I got my CDL. Of course I am very excited as much as I am scared!!!
My question is "simple". In your opinion, what should I ask to him? I have checked the company and I saw very few complaints. They serve local, regional and interstate.
Thank you!!

 

Home time, average miles weekly, starting cents per mile, what benefits are offered.

 

What company is this?

 

You definitely need to have your questions answered and feel comfortable before you sign anything. And you would be wise to look at other options as well to have a wider view. Is the school/training and the job from the same company? Or is this a school that then offers interviews with companies that are hiring? If they are the same then they probably have you agree to a one year contract of employment to pay back the cost of the training. If the school and the future employer are different companies then many employers have a tuition reimbursement program similar to the aforementioned plan, again for an agreement from you to work for the trucking company for at least one year. If you quit before the contract ends you owe the remaining balance of the school loan. It can be confusing so get the details in writing. Who is the school and the future employer? Ask here or search the forum for info on those companies. While many programs are legit, many have bad reputations and you should learn all you can about each.
Good for you to be obsessed with safety and keeping your license clean. That clean CDL MVR is your future and your paycheck. Allow it to get dirty and your job options narrow, keep it clean and your job options are many (read higher pay!). Good luck and keep asking us questions!

 

Thank you for the quick replies!!!
So far I have this info:
1) Company: Raider Express
2) School is 0-down payment, then $75/week until $3000 are covered with an external school (Continental)
3) OTR training is paid 0.11/mile
4) Starting OTR solo pay is 0.28/mile + $12 pick and stop pay (however it works) + detention pay $12/hr (however it works) and a fuel bonus (however it works). There are also pay increases, bonus etc.
5) hometime is fuzzy. They claim 1 day for each working week, every 15 days or so.
6) Benefits: Health, dental, 401k, vision, AD&D

Thank you!

 

Try and guide the conversation to make the recruiter do most of the talking. If you give away too much in what you're focused on in your line of questioning, the recruiter will quickly pick up on this and tell you what he/she thinks you want to hear. Make him/her sell YOU on the company first, then you can cross examine the recruiter and his/her "facts".

Then, take their positives and divide by 2, and take their negatives and multiply by 2 and you may be pretty close to getting a real sense of what they can/will entail ... I'm serious BTW

 

You could also check with Millis.transfer. they have a.school in burleson Texas and.have.much the same deal. Training pay is salaried. instead.of.mileage. school is 20.a.week and you pay 2500 but it goes up to 5000 if you do not make a year with them.

 

Entering the trucking workforce has several avenues. What's good for one person might not be the best for another. Zero money down is a good deal for someone with a tight budget or unemployed. Another good company in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area is Millis Transfer, but you need $500.00 to attend their school.

Average annual pay with Millis Transfer is $50K, don't know what it is with Raider Express. Either way, you're on your way to a new career. Just do what fits your situation right now.

 

Put a few more Irons in the Fire... at least 4 more just to get a good perspective of your options in you're new career

 

thank you again.
Another newbie question. What is a reasonable daily mileage? Since the pay is on mile the recruiter might shoot for a 5000mi/day just to get me in.