Hiring problems and I'm not new...

@Chinatown

 

@MeanSaltine --

Help us help you....

• Give us your zip code (or the city your nearest, in Arkansas)...?
• In what type(s) of CDL work are you specifically interested? If tanker--be specific: fuel, chemical, petroleum, vacuum, or something else?
• How much home time do you want? Daily? Weekly? Less?
• Any geographic areas that you are trying to avoid?
• Do you want/need any pet(s) along with you? A dog? A cat? Something else?
• Do you have a TWIC? Can you get one, if requested?

What you may be experiencing is a CDL "dead" area. The CDL job market in many locations right now is indeed in a slump. It isn't really any reflection on you -- just the business cycle....and the one where you've been looking for work.

The above....combined with any recent, LONG gaps (say, over a year) in your CDL driving history....may be giving you your troubles.

-- L

 

Where are you in Arkansas? I’m in the Little Rock area. There’s plenty of jobs. Pretty much all of the LTL outfits are in Little Rock. In fact, pretty much any type of driving you want to do is in available around here.

 

If you are interested in cryo duty, you might give this carrier a look:

MacCarb, Inc -- no cryo exp needed -- travel nationwide -- out 3 weeks, then home one week -- lather, rinse, & repeat

Note: I have no experience with them, and don't know anyone else who does; they may be the best driver experience going for now in the cryo world -- or hell on earth instead; caveat emptor.

The following illustrates the problem right now with 3rd-party cryo carriers -- because the freight world is in a slump, practically everybody (else) in this group is trying hard to (instead) run teams:

Hazmat team driver -- LGT Transport -- cryo duty -- out 3 weeks, then home one week -- lather, rinse & repeat

Do you have W-2 forms from the tanker company where you worked? Depending on what follows later -- you may need at least one W-2 to prove you were there.

Because of the current dramafest going on over at Yellow Freight right now -- the rest of the LTL world probably has the jitters; thus -- I'm not surpised that Southeastern and XPO haven't called you back (yet).

And yes -- if you had no issues getting your hazmat, you should see smooth sailing to get a TWIC.

They may not admit it when you ask them about it -- but I have seen (of late) job ads from LGT Transport for solo drivers, in lieu of teams; you might put in an app with them, and ask for a solo position, and see what happens. The private carriers simply can't keep on enough drivers to keep up with the cryo world's demands, so the 3rd-party carriers are staying busy. While the rest of the world (maybe) sits and waits for loads--meanwhile...over in cryo.....instead you'll stay busy running.

-- L

 

Have you tried ABF? They’re right off 40 & 440. Also, Tyson has a variety of jobs all over Arkansas. I know for a fact they’re hiring tanker drivers (no tanker endorsement needed) to drive their fees trucks.

JB Hunt has local jobs.

There’s a building supply outfit near Conway (right on 40) that’s hiring flatbed drivers (local).

ABC Block hires flatbed (local) to haul bricks, shingles and other building supplies.

You could also ring up Precision Packaging in North Little Rock and find out who’s hauling their products & and then call that outfit.

 

@MeanSaltine --

"Hope springs eternal"....as they say.

With my latest gig (hauling fuel)....I sent them a completed application on February 1st (2 years ago).

I did not hear back from them....until May 1st. That's 3 months....

And....keep in mind....this was back when the freight world was not in the slump that it is now.

Your takeaway: just because you haven't heard from a carrier you've solicited within a couple or three weeks or so of submitting a completed application -- doesn't necessarily mean they are not interested in you.

Love's -- as a fuel hauler, I can tell you that they are easily one of the most sought-after gigs in that part of the tanker world; you are/were competing against other drivers who already had at least several years (or even more) of fuel experience -- and with the safety records to back them up. Nice try....but your odds with MacCarb are much, much better.

Suggestion: unless a carrier has flat out told you "thanks -- but NO thanks"....consider yourself still in the running; call them back every week or so (persistence pays!).

If you haven't heard back from MacCarb....or it's been a week or more since you've talked with them, you have nothing to lose by calling them back -- and asking about the status of your app (again -- unless they have already told you a straight-up "no").

I've even seen testimony here on the Forum where a driver thought a carrier went ahead and hired him....just to shut him up!!!

The bad news: from where I stand (or sit? ) -- to really get a good gig right now...you're just gonna have to real-ly work for it.....

A footnote: give LGT the VER-RY BEST that you've got! I've searched; it's hard to find anything truly negative about them on the internet, or any other feedback from disgruntled drivers who were there, and now elsewhere -- but still grinding an axe about them.

-- L