Help a trucker wannabe out!

Why wait to gain experience to go to a better company? Why not just do it now? Don't feel as if you need to sacrifice yourself because you are a new driver! Do your research talk to the recruiters and land yourself a driving job in which you will stay. You seem to be a very positive person in all of your posts except when you talk about getting experience and then being on your way. Trucking is like any other career and the more jobs you hold the less likely you are to be hired at a good one. Hold your head up and go for the good one now! I have confidence in you just by reading your posts. So don't settle for less! If you need help to be steered in the right direction we are here. Pm me! Pm some other experienced (positive drivers). I am not bashing swift but just because they pay the schools to send you to them doesn't mean you have to go there. Try looking into companies that aren't advertising. These are the companies that don't have high driver turnover rates. This means their drivers are happier working for them. Please don't just jump at the companies that are calling you back first! (everyone else does) I believe you can do it! Do you? Come on guys chime in! Back me up!

 

Understand I'm only limiting my expectations due to not paying a surcharge and as a result having my driving privelages suspended, unbeknownst to me. It's funny because I see others who start out their posts with similar issues to mine and they are told they'll need to settle. I understand we have this cool thread and we are all learning a lot, and believe me I'm enjoying it as much as everybody else. But in the end, we might learn another lesson on this thread, and that might be, it doesn't matter how well I write or how much of a nice guy I am, or how intelligent I am, or whatever....it may boil down to how the HR department stamps their applications.

So far the only company I've applied to and was rejected by was Werner. But um, that can't be good, can it? We'll see, I have some companies looking at me now, and I'm about to send some applications over to my school so they can fax them and I know I'll have some options.

However, I expect those options to be limited in the beginning mainly due to what I referred to above. I would expect this to be a temporary situation. I can assure you I'll land on my feet and I *will* get what I want. You just don't always get what you want when you want it. Sometimes you just get what you need (to start out).

 

Wow, I just realized something. I have myself down as a student still. I need to change my status to Truck Driver, 0-1 years. Some very mean people who will not be named might refer to me as "just a CDL holder", but those people would most likely drive overpriced motorcycles anyway, so that doesn't concern me.

 

Are you looking into the smaller companies! All these mega-carriers have pretty strict insurance standards and this very thing is what you are up against. I had 9 points on my license when I got a otr job for a smaller company straight out of school. It was a floral carrier exactly like Armillini and I was taking home no less than $1000.00 a week! Keep chuggin, I have faith in you!

 

LOL...WOW! Was that a shot at me??

Darn...you're "almost" starting to think like a trucker! What's next ORG? Flying feathers and CHICKENS??

 

I agree. This is what I've been doing. Oh, don't get me wrong here, I'm still pumping out the apps for the bigger meat factories as I'll take what I can get to try and save that motorcycle. (Only trans I have as I had to sell my 4x4 to pay for school). But today was spent talking with several smaller outfits. Far more approachable and easier to talk to. But we'll see what happens in the end. Also, I'd think things were a tad different 14 years ago...no?

 

I am only speaking from experience. The companies that you need to put forth more effort in trying to get hired are the ones that are far worth it! Don't just turn your app in and cross your fingers. Call them EVERYDAY! Sqeaky wheel gets the grease! DO NOT SETTLE FOR LESS! Both of you seem above average as far as I am concerned, so prove it!

 

I have your speculative possible explanation, ORG. At least I think it's speculativable.

The (not so) Swift recruiter who dialed your number was actually tryin' to order a pineapple and peperoni, deep dish, stuffed crust, deluxe, party size pizza, but dialed your number by mistake. She tried to hang up before you could answer, but being on edge like you are, she under estimated your lightning fast reflexes, so you were sayin' "hello?" before she could go stealth.

Now, she could have admitted that she mistakenly dialed your number, but remember, ----- she's a trained, professional recruiter who has learned the fine art of coverin' her tracks well. By combining another of her learned talents, yarn spinnin', she's quite able to concoct a likely story that even some of the seasoned drivers would believe.

Many dispatchers utilize yarn spinnin' to convince green newBee drivers that a load picked up in Gary can be delivered to Albert Lee in about six hours, ....... tops.
But I digress, ............................................

Another highly likely possibility is that the (not so) Swift recruiter did, in fact, dial your number by mistake while tryin' to contact a driver lost out thar --- somewhere betwixt shippin' and receivin', who she told that she'd get right back to.

She's a good dispatcher though. It's just that to her, all the (not so) Swift drivers look alike. The Grand Swiftmaster insists that all drivers be treated equally, so it stands to reason he'd expect them to be faceless

 

For which we are most grateful!

Not only is that one of my favorite old time expressions, it's exactly what our classroom instructor said. Now I haven't been calling them "every" day but in truth, if I had a dollar for every button pushed on that phone I wouldn't need a job...LOL

In the beginning (3 weeks left in school), we were handed a bunch of apps that were pretty much all for the larger carriers. Not knowing any better (I've never applied for a job before this), I did just what Chompi refers to. Sent them in and sat waiting to hear. On our last day of school we had a pretty slow day so I used the first half to play with the trucks in the yard and then I went to the school, parked my butt in the office and started calling all those companies. Werner denied me, Shaffer did as well, USX claimed they never got the app so I had the school fax it right then. They told me to call later that day to verify they got it. I did but got the old voice mail. I have 4 times since and still get the voice mail.

I'd like the advice of you more experienced folks on this. So what I'm doing now is calling companies FIRST. After talking with them to build at least some sort of personal contact, I'll then fill out and send in the app. This gives me a chance to at least form that "first impression" of me and in some cases, also gives me a name to put in the "referred by" line. Now I only started this approach yesterday so the jury is still out on any results but it just "feels" like a better, more personal approach.

That's what I'm all about, the PERSONAL side of interacting with others. I don't care much for the "cookie cutter" blind automated approach. So I had a few really nice conversations last night and I'll start with the apps this morning.

 

IMO, you should send that information straight to the circular file and quit slummin' 'round the run-of-the-mill truckin' companies. They're not in your league and I doubt ever will be.
Quite frankly, ORG, you're not cut out to be deliverin' freight, all kinds, to places like grocery warehouses. Those drivers are featured in TV shows, like Lifestyles Of The Dull And Boring.
Some experience. How to arrive on time for an early delivery, sit for 8 hours twiddling your thumbs, waiting for that elusive dock door to back into, ............ and wait. By the time they get around to you, all the lumpers have gone home, and your floor load requires fingerprinting, and put on pallets after separating the product. Of course each different product will require a different tie & high. Expect to goof-up and have to re-stack several pallets. Unloading by yourself ---- plan to be busy for the next 4 to 6 hours doin' the dock worker's job.

On ShuX
Will ya look at the time.
Your next load is scheduled for an hour from now, ---- 85 miles from where you are, ---- and your paperwork still hasn't been signed and returned to you. Better call dispatch so you can be taken off your next load. Now you can relax while sittin' and waitin' for another load to materialize. Tomorrow.
Maybe.
All depends.

But HeY!
You gotta learn to sit. It's part of the job to know how to sit and wait like a professional. You'll probably be doin' a lot of waitin', and bein' taken advantage of by lazy dock workers. And when you finally realize that the lumpers that you hire, and pay for, are makin' more money than you, .................. it'll make you slap your forehead Homer Simpson style. DoaH!!!
It's twue!
It's twue!
They do.

On your way where?
Out the door?
To another generic truckin' company?
Then what?
Another 6 months of abuse and on your way again?

Six months with (not so) Swift isn't gonna impress the companies you should be drivin' for. Two six-month stints with two different companies and Congratulations!
A new title is bestowed upon you.
Job-Hopper in the making.

You are a shining star, ORG.
But the route you're planning to take could tarnish and dull your shine. Man, you're slippin' into averageness, just like a majority of drivers with lackluster abilities. You'll all look the same.
That's not what impresses the better truckin' companies that are lookin' for the cream of the crop.
It's hard to soar like an eagle when you're flyin' with turkeys.

Don't make that call.
See what happens.
Will they call you?
Or just figure that you're not worth the effort?
They don't know that you're a cut above the rest.
HaiL!
If they were aware, they'd probably turn you down.
(Not so) Swift isn't real interested in drivers with potential to achieve. Drivers capable of thinkin' outside the box worry them. Might even get'cha black-balled, starved out, and forced to quit.

Hired by the wrong company appeals to you?

I understand the need for income.
I understand the need for experience.
I understand the importance of movin' forward, too.
And I also understand that goin' with companies that make bank as training companies that are depending on empty seats for trainees to fill, aren't concerned with keepin' drivers capable of excelling. Those drivers command better pay and lower a company's profit.
Don't look now, but you're headed for black ice.

I believe that you believe that you're doin' the right thing.
But I don't.

Who convinced you that if you don't go with the first company that shows any interest in you, you'll just sit around and wait? Sounds more like you're imagination is workin' overtime, dwelling on what if's while selling yourself short.

You've never done this in the truckin' industry before, so you can't base your decisions on prior experience.

While attending school, you exhibited excellent abilities to learn. You demonstrated an amazing ability to analyze difficult situations and discover unique methods to git-'er-dun. There aren't very many who can do that, and those who can, are nowhere near as creative as you've demonstrated.
Believe me when I tell you that you are not an average student.
You will not be satisfied and/or content with averageness. But the company that you say you hope will hire you, has a ceiling too low for you to grow. You'll feel held back, and when you make mention of that, you'll hear the same words over and over, ....... like 'relax', 'chill out', 'don't worry', and the ever popular, one dimensional, 'we've always done it that way. Why change'? 'Too much of a hassle', 'why are you so intent on improving things'?

Don't be surprised if you encounter a group angered by your stellar work ethics. You'll draw attention to their lackadaisicalness. Put bluntly, you'll make them look bad compared to you. And rather than rising to the occasion, it'll be easier for them to set you up. The results could get'cha fired.
How do you reckon that'll appear to the better companies?

My advice?
Relax
Chill out
Slow down
and
THINK.

What I'm seein' is someone intent on excelling while in school, who now is willing to settle for average.
WhY?
What are you afraid of that has caused you to do a complete 180.
Why was it so important to you to score high grades while in school, to just fall in line with the lemmings doing things the way they've always done things.
Something ain't right here.
I'm perplexed.

Up 'till now, you reminded me of myself, ---- only better.
I don't understand the change, ....... but, ........ I'll assume you know what's best and have things all planned out this way for a reason unknown to me.

Please understand that my questions are rhetorical. I don't want you to think I'm trying to pry into your private business. It's more like I'm thinkin' out loud in writing. Your abilities and achievements have amazed me, but I'm not surprised. I knew that you had it in you before I finished readin' the first page of this thread. And I know where talent like yours can take you.

I guess it's selfish on my part to want to watch you take it beyond the limit. There are innovators and imitators, and there's no doubt in my mind which of those two you are.
Your contribution to The Trucker's Report is much appreciated. I wonder if you can fathom how valuable what's contained within the pages of this thread is and will be for countless others. Nothing short of outstanding.

I respectfully remove my well worn NASCAR cap as I stand at attention and offer up my most snappy and sincere salute --- to you.

You were right, right from the beginning.
You said you could
I knew you would
And, by golly,
You did.