Help a trucker wannabe out!

"Getting" dramatic?
Haven't you been readin' what you've written?
It got "dramatic" quite a while ago. ....... snip .......

Why do you doubt?

Ahhhhhh -----
Recordings are like recruiters, they aren't always right.
SOMEtimes, a company will have certain policies in place so they can give a reason to an applicant.
We'd really like to hire you, but we have a policy of not accepting drivers with _______________ .
Call it an excuse or a reason, or convenient, what a company says they do, and what that company CAN do, if they want to, are two different things. Companies CAN, and DO make exceptions to policy rules when they have a good reason to do so.

Those in charge of hiring want to hire the best, that's just good business sense. They aren't anxious to take a chance that an exceptional applicant will find another company, be satisfied, and remain there rather than coming back in three months. All the other companies are in direct competition, so, in essence, they just sent a much better than average candidate to Brand X which, I'm sure, Brand X will be grateful for.
I'd call that a blunder.

One rule of thumb for any company is to Never give a customer a reason to want to try Brand X.
Keeping the customers satisfied is a top priority. One way to do that is to have the best employees who treat the customers right. It's not unusual for satisfied customers to be willing to pay a tad more for better service, and remain loyal as long as their needs are met and they don't have to worry if things will be done properly. Good employees make that happen. As a driver, you're who the customers see and deal with. How you come across as an ambassador for your company is very important. I don't care if someone can drive circles around all the other drivers at the company, if they lack people pleasing skills, they're worth less.

Look sharp, be sharp, communicate well, demonstrate concern for the customer's needs, follow through, solve, or better yet, prevent problems for the customers. When we tell you that there's more to drivin' a Big truck than holdin' a steering wheel and wiggling a stick on the floor every now and then, the above mentioned skills are what we're talkin' 'bout. Not everyone who's good at the drivin' part is able to handle the harder part of people pleasing. Customers are people and pleasing them is paramount.
And something tells me you excel in that department.

Believe me when I tell you that you ARE what the better and best companies ARE lookin' for. What you may lack in driving skills (that you'll eventually learn), you more than make up for in other areas that are even more important. You, sir, are capable of making a company look good, plain and simple. Attitude is sometimes preferable over aptitude. A good attitude will develop aptitude.

I don't want to hear those negative vibes. Schneider, or any other GOOD company needs you. All you have to do is make them aware of the benefits that you'll bring to the company.
HaiL!
All the person in charge of deciding who gets hired would need to do is read this thread to realize it would be a mistake to let you slip away and be hired by Brand X.

OK, I've never revealed what I'm about to divulge here, now, but I think you need to hear it.

When I was attending driving school, I researched several companies and decided that Schneider was my best choice. Other students, and even some of the instructors, shook their heads, no, --- informing me that Schneider was one of the most difficult companies to be hired by. Schneider is very picky and rejects seven out of ten applicants. They also told me that the LA terminal had an interviewer that, if interviewed by him, chances of being rejected would be almost certain. To that, some of the instructors agreed, suggesting that I aim a tad lower and choose a company with a better average of hiring green newBees, reasoning it would be "easier" for me.

NutS!
Like you, I worked my patootie off and it wasn't "easy". I came to class early, before class, and left late, after classes were over for the day. I popped in on weekends and volunteered to help in any way I could, --- even washing the Big trucks. I made it a point to make friends with the instructors and other staff. I studied hard and researched by going to the local truck stops and talking to as many drivers as would accept my offer of buying them coffee, and even a meal. I read every truckin' publication I could find and watched the school's instructional videos, --- by myself, by the way, --- as none of the other students was interested in doin' that. They were satisfied with the bare minimum, --- I wasn't.

With that in mind, I sat myself down and asked me, was I doing all that just to be hired by some average, or below average, company with a good reputation for hiring ANYbody? Even the worst students?
My answer to me was "NO". I wanted more. I wanted the best.

Next I asked me if what I wanted is worth taking a chance of rejection? Myself answered "Sure, why not"?
And I applied with Schneider --- when the Not Currently Hiring Drivers sign was in their window, which was repeated inside orally. However, I was invited to take the open book test with two other applicants if I so desired.

ShuX HowdY!
That's what I was there for.

After we all completed the test, (The other two had a head start), the test conductor told the others that one of them missed two and the other missed four.
They left right after that.
Now she was about to grade mine.

How do you think you did on the test, AfterShock?

Well, .............. a couple of those questions made me think.

Think?
Think about what?

Well, ........ I thought about what if I fail the test and wondered if I'd be allowed to take it over and use the book next time.

Her attention flashed over to the table where she put the book before the test for me to use during the test, but I didn't ---- the book was right where she had put it, .......... and then she began to sharpen her pencil used for grading tests, --- vigorously.

In a few minutes she put my test down and asked me what I'd guess my score is.
I answered that my answer wouldn't be a guess. I knew that I aced it.

With that she asked me to excuse her for a few minutes, then left that office.
I must have impressed them favorably, because they called me aside to ask me if I had time for an interview, --- (by the dreaded interviewer I was warned about).

ShuX HowdY!
That's why I'm here.

I gotta admit, he is a good interviewer.
Immediately after being interviewed, I was hired.

But that's not the whole story.........................................

Before I continue, ....... I'm gonna check out that place where you eat.
Be back after dessert.

 

Just calling it like I see it buddy but, you're welcome!

I'm also greatly humbled by the remarks you've made about me. I truly enjoyed getting to know you and I'm sure we'll keep in close touch from here on out.

I tried replying to the PM you sent but it seems I need 50 posts in order to do so. So perhaps, with your permission, I can join you here and we can post our application process results together?

Like you, I have a LOT of them put in going back as far as 3 weeks before the end of school. I'm sorry to say that I'm not having much luck as of yet though. Having been self employed all my life, this is all so very new to me and I'd rather just go meet folks in person. When I hired guys for my crew, there was no "application". A talk, a handshake and let me see what you can do is all it took. A few hours on the job is all I needed to see if he was a keeper or not..LOL

My question to some of the fine folks reading here is, how long does the process usually take for a company to say either yes or no?

Am I being impatient by expecting an answer in a day or two? I spoke with a very nice woman in safety at WS and after sending her some more info (a PDF file via email of my certificate and GPA) a couple days ago, I've heard nothing back. I left a voice mail yesterday but still nothing.

Anyway, I've been up all night as I can't sleep so I'll call you later this morning in regards to the PM you sent me.

 

Well, where do we start? Okay career changes are directly proportional to several things. If you intend to take trucking seriosly, then you don't need to start out with issues..Women...Kids....Debts...those sort of issues..You will need 124% focus if you intend to succeed in the world of trucking...
Trucking is tough from top to bottom and inside out...You'll see your share of the "open road", and lot lizards..lumpers (same classification as lizards) bad brokers..bad dispatchers..bad companies..tough cops...bad roads..broken down trucks...and flats on wagons...Thats enough of that for now...
For the most part, I believe I would pick 1 or 2 driving schools fairly close to wherever you call home..Check them out with everyone you can think of, Chambers of Commerce, Better Biz Bureau, and anyone else you come upon..
It sounds like you have already got a good start in school selection,so we won't waste time there...
Learning to drive a rig and handle a wagon will be the easiest part of truck driving..The hardest part, you will have to learn all by yourself..Your driving record tells me you pay attention to others around you and given where you live, I am certain you've driven on snowy roads and every thing that goes with winter weather. Driving a car and driving a tractor-trailer are thousands of miles apart in training manuals, but knowing how to correctly drive a car is a great start.
Keeping good log books is an art-form that you will mostly learn on your own..They haven't developed a course for all the variables that will mess with your book...The school will teach you the basics. You will find that loads of freight are scheduled for pick up and delivery in one fell swoop. This is where trucking starts to get interesting. You will spend a small bit of time collecting information from your dispatcher or broker; then more time looking at your atlas and GPS; looking at your last 10 days or so log sheets; and then you go to pick up your load.
When you arrive for your 0600 pickup you find that 25 or 30 other drivers also have the same appt. time as you and there are only 5 or 6 docks.. This is where the fun begins...You finally get your load and go scale it out..You did not really know how to load the wagon, so you figured the warehouse did (wrong)... Keep your eyes open for a load-out sheet, it tells how to load various kinds of freight with different skid counts... You finally get loaded, so nows time to scale her out... You remember passing a place that had truck scales, so away you go...One of several things may happen now..,you are over-gross; your axles won't scale out; the pin won't release on the trailer anyways; and, its getting late. You go back and find that the shipper is closed and long gone..We'll skip the part about conversations with your dispatcher/broker that is if you could have even reached them, or available parking without hassle from the local law about idling & its either 90 out or below freezing, so you head for the fuel stop...
Nothing to do now but set a new plan in motion to try to get some sleep, maybe a shower. If you managed to get back to the fuel stop (by now eveyone is creatively parked and you can barely get into the place) so no parking here...Luckily theres another small fuel stop you saw about 60 miles back, it looked kinda cruddy but it said there were showers (it'll cost ya seven bucks,but what the heck) and a DQ, the place is practically empty, God is watchin out for you.. The next morning after several phone calls, eating a lot of bull from everyone because somehow this is all your fault, you head back; hit the dock unload/reload ,get the load straight and hit the "open road"..
Your cell phone rings or your Qualcom won't stop beeping and heres the news,they can't change your delivery date which means somehow you have to make a 5 day run in 3 1/2.. Noone hears your cries about how do I log this? This load is HOT!!!, this freight has to move and thats all there is to it...
We'll assume you have an okay trip to the receiver,you miss all the scales; roadside check-points and backups. You arrive all puffed up and feelin good and then you notice a few of the same truckers who were at your shipper. You stand tall; walk up to the receivers window; lay your bills down; a person glances up but does nadda; finally ,after what seems an eternity, he/she looks at bills and tells you that your load goes to a different warehouse only about 50 miles from there.. You guessed it, you arrive, they're closed; you have no cell phone bars; and the Qualcom is down for overnight updating.. Its 90 degrees outside, and you don't remember seeing any other place to go. You paid attn. on your way in cause you're starting to catch on, after all, this is almost your first trip without a trainer. They did'nt tell you in school that most companies want their newbies to run with another driver for a while just to check you out (sometimes you get paid and sometimes you don't).. So, its a wet ones bath; pb &j with cool milk..You gamble and catch up your log book(s), and get ready to get some shut-eye...
You just get to sleep & knock knock..I'll leave you in suspense here..It could be a Cop; a lot lizard; a local gang, you see one and theres six more between the tractor and wagon; some pregnant girl who's car ran out of gas and she's only 100 miles from home..Oops I'm off on another trail...
To Be Continued...shakey1946..Happy Trails..

 

All sounds GREAT!! Now who will hire me so we can just get rolling!!

 

Howdy Chris!
A warm welcome to the forums.
After following these adventures of ORG, I feel like I already know you.
Imagine that.

No doubt about that.
I don't know how familiar you are with how posted threads progress, but this thread has also come a long way since the first post, and quickly grew into what I think is going to be a classic that I, among other posters, will recommend to anyone thinkin''bout gettin' into the Big truck truckin' industry, and/or folks who are just curious. This well written and easy to follow play-by-play accounting of the days in a life of a wannaBee learnin' what it takes to make the Big truck's wheels turn has something for everyone.

I'm being sincere when I tell y'all that this thread is the absolute best I have ever had the pleasure of readin', ....... ANYwhere.
It's twue!
It's twue!

You're still in training and already you're able to sleep in a moving Big truck?
Have y'all considered runnin' as a team, at least for awhile?

Sorry.
Your opinion doesn't count because you're a player in this play-by-play accounting, so it's natural that you'd feel that way, Chris.
However, although your opinion doesn't count, you should know that your opinion is correct. -----------
In my opinion, for whatever that's worth.

Many of us have already figured that out. And a few of us have realized that for a while now.

There's just something about some posters that stands out and experience readin' posts provides insight capable of recognizing those poster's potential to be better than good and closer to remarkable.

Well said.

Man-0-Man!
How 'bout that, folks?
This adventure play-by-play story just keeps gettin' better and better. A fiction writer would never be able to make this up. This is too unbelievable not to believe.

This is ORG's thread and therefor his decision. But, if I have any influence in that decision, the only way I could be more enthusiastic about that possibility is if I was twins.

How 'bout it, ORG?
I'm thinkin' the two of you will complement each other as y'all educate and entertain us, --- all at the same time. This thread has already gone waayyy beyond expectations. Why not take it to the limits, then go a step farther? This story ain't over, and the fans aren't ready for this story to end at a sign reading
Bridge Out
Road Ends.

You're the kind of employer I prefer to be employed by. And by observing me for a few hours should convince you that retaining me is a good decision. Unlike some folks who detest scrutiny, I want to be watched.
No brag.
Just fact.

For me, it was immediately. I credit my sincerity and eagerness to please, along with a good attitude, for being snapped up that quickly. Schneider saw what they wanted in me, and what I wanted from them, and wise enough to snap me up, pronto.
As it turned out, we were both right.

When the interviewer asked me which truckin' company is second on my list of potential employers, I answered,
"All the rest are second. But I'd rather not find it necessary to apply to any of the lesser companies. I prefer what can be seen from the top.
That's why I'm here."

And now I'm here to tell y'all that I'm still convinced that pickin' Schneider is one of the best choices I've ever made, and why I believe that Schneider is an excellent company to continue learning, and even to remain with for many years.

There are so many students who plan to leave their first truckin' company in a year, maybe two, that it makes me wonder why. Instead, why not shoot for the top and remain there for several years, gaining more and more experience while climbing the pay scale ladder?

If one year gets the better companies attention, imagine the attention and interest that five years with one of the better companies generates.

Yeah.
But that's also normal.

Sometimes the wait is because you've made a good impression and the person you've talked to is aware of an ideal gig opening soon that's right up your alley.
Y'all never know.
As long as they don't tell you to go take a hike and get lost,
it's all good. If you really want to drive for that company, and another company shows interest in you, .......... well, ........
it's decision time. Whip out that special coin, ........ and flip the dad-burned thang.
Heads ---- you wait.
Tails ---- you take the other gig.

So simple, ---- even a caveman could do it. :smt045

MAYbe she's real busy, or waiting for word from someone higher up with the powah to make decisions.
If I were you, I'd continue to check in. If you keep buggin' 'em, chances are they might hire you just to get you to quit callin'.

Truth be knowed, I'm kinda glad you can't sleep. It gave me a chance to catch your ear and talk it off.
It's been a pleasure conversing with you, Chris.
I'm lookin' forward to more of the same in the near future.

I wish y'all the best of success, amigo,
'cause I'm selfish.
All I really want to do is read about
success stories.

 

axzaxzaxzaxzaxzaxzaxz

 

I think somewhere near the beginning would be good.
But before you get started I gotta ask you, .......
should I grab a snack first?

You got that right, amigo.
I'm already havin' second thoughts, ............. and I'm retired.

I'm glad that you didn't mention all the road kill and serious crashes that a Big truck trucker will encounter out thar.

Listen up folks. Y'all are hearin' 40 years of experience tellin' y'all the way it is.
I don't know 'bout y'all, but I'm takin' notes.

That's an understatement, Shakey.
(BTW, Shakey, I think your handle is waayyy cool.)

Man-0-Man!
What a hectic, normal day it's been.

Thank You, Jesus.
Without Your guidance, I'd surely go insane.

But, .......... but, ............ but I, .......... why can't?, ....... but, ........ but, ............ OH, all right.
I'll git-'er-dun.

HuH?
:smt015Whozzat knockin'?
Who?
What time is it?
Do I want a WhaT?!! :smt104
Company?:smt008:smt052:smt058
Who's?
Your's?
Who are you?
Do I know you?
Well quit callin' me sugar and honey.
No, I'm not gonna let you in.
Why?
Because I'm tired and tryin' to sleep here. :smt012
HuH?
NO!
I don't think you're ugly.
Why can't you just go away?

Awwwwww, geeze ------
My alarm just went off.
I gotta go.

WhaT?!
Not again?!
Say it ain't so.

Sooo many trails ----
Sooo little time.

Toota-Lew.
Catch ya on the flip-flop.

 

No such thing as a HOT load !!!!!

 

Congrats ORG! The sad part is school is over. I really had a blast in school. However, orientation is a hell of a lot of fun too! Prepare to observe the most diverse, dysfunctional people you will ever meet in your life! All you experienced drivers can chime in but I absolutely love orientation! The really should make a reality show of it. Hey ORG while you are in orientation try to meet and mingle with some of the drivers that are coming and going. This is a great way to pair up with a trainer that you might like. A lot of times it works out good this way. Prepare yourself to watch lots of movies and do lots of paperwork. Once that's done though you will be on your way! Another month or so and you will be driving your very own truck! Keep posting man! I think a lot of people, including myself, enjoy reading your chronicles. Actually now that you are done with schooling you should start your own thread! "The Greatest Trucking Adventures of ORG". You should have been a writer not a trucker. Anyway man, I enjoyed all your postings, keep it up. If you need any help with anything feel free to pm me. Good luck to you! I think you are going to do really well in trucking!