I thought Swift & Prime wanted drivers. Doesn't seem that way.

You have to do what you think is best for your situation. However, you could drive to WI grab the recruiter's momma and slap her in the face and you will still get hired 2 weeks from now. That's how the mega carriers work. Schneider is one of the better of the mega, but still a mega nonetheless.

 

Haha true..the recruiter was cool. Said it does happen all the time when I had rescheduled once before. I just applied at Great Plains Transport. I must have put in over 20 applications over the past month. Some I need to actually call myself. I know the previous poster was concerned about local companies. I'm not. I'd love to work locally but most want 1 to 3 years experience. Winco foods wants 2 years for example.

 

It can be a case of better the devil you know. The shortcomings of the mega carriers are well documented here, you *know* what to expect from them. "Ma and Pa Trucking Inc"?. Sure they know you know you and your kid's names and their HR department is Ma's kitchen table where you sign your contract, but how is any of that beneficial if one of their 3 customers closes shop and the miles dry up?.

Some drivers are happy to "just be a number" as long as the money makes it's way to the right bank account each week. I work to earn money, not to garner respect or find friends. My family is at home, I don't need my employer to be an extension of them.

 

I've talked to both Prime and Swift. I've never had any troubles with either company's recruiters. At Prime i got my recruiters personal phone number and while he might not answer every time I do get a call back within 15 minutes every time whether I leave a message or not.
As for Swift, the recruiter gave me her personal number as well. She has never not answered my calls or emails.

Prime is extremely busy. My recruiter was definitely rushed and talked a million miles an hour.

At Swift, my recruiter has been great surprising as that may be. Had time to joke around about my application with her as I was asking questions. Even had a bull shot conversation about what kind of coffee she likes lol. She's been there 15 years she says and I believe it with how quickly and smoothly she took care of everything for me. Definitely knew her way around the system and even contacted my potential DM with me about getting me home for a prior obligation.

 

I think you are not getting what is meant by a "small" company. My first company was a "small" company. Meaning 150-200 power units and 1500 trailers. They had and onsite shop (15 bays 7 FT techs) 5 dispatchers and a 60 year history in business. No trailer was older than 5 years and 80% of their trucks were 3yo or newer. They offered decent benefits and there was zero worry about paychecks being good. They didn't accept internet applications. I actually had to meet with someone, have an interview, and sell myself as a potential employee. More than a pulse was required.

However, compared to the mega carriers that most new people flock to like lemmings, they are absolutely tiny.

Small doesn't mean 3 trucks and a kitchen table contract.

 

Very true, that example was just to make a point. Your "small" company could be just as much of an unknown ss the Mom and Pop though.

The kitchen table contract thing I got from something I read on here where someone mentioned that as one of the characteristics of good trucking outfit and I have always remembered it and found it amusing. The other thing that gets me is the owner knowing your name and shaking your hand whenever they see you.

 

That's the kind of place I like best... It's what i liked about my previous job because all the higher ups knew me. (granted, I climbed the chain like a monkey for that, but they did know me.)

It's most definitely the type of place I'd be looking for when I leave SNI.

 

I am the exact opposite, couldn't really care less who knows me by name. I would also much rather the owner spent their time more productively running the company than wandering the corridors smiling and shaking hands. .
I used to work in a warehouse where the manager would sometimes come out, whip his tie off, roll up his sleeves and help us load etc. I get the impression he did it to show he was willing to do the "dirty" work or something like that, but it always made me think less of him. As important as his job was and as much as he got paid, only a moron would waste that valuable time finger printing boxes when it wasn't necessary.

I wonder if the Financial Controller knew that the company's processing cost-per-piece sky rocketed when that tool was out in the warehouse playing at being "one of the boys".

 

Yeah, we are completely different in that respect.

I love it when a manager comes out and helps out. To me it's a sign that they know what they are doing and they know what their underlings do. As for them doing their job, I was more willing to pick up the pace and help them out with a job that I wasn't hired to do in return.

Welcome to the trucking industry. "I didn't think it would take this long" applies to much here. (Getting loaded in the dock, traffic, ect.)