Need info starting to worry after reading the boards

You have good solid questions that I will be happy to try and help you out with. The work history shouldnt be a big worry at this time but dont make a big habit of it in the trucking industry. It will be a problem with some good companies but wont be a problem with the others. The moving violations you have should have the clearance of the trucking companys safety dept BEFORE you leave the house. Ask for it in writing and have them fax it to you. They should have no problem with this at all. In my experience with recruiters, I only found one that was completely honest and he didnt work for that company too much longer after I was hired. Good guy but he had traits that they didnt like obviously. Recruiters have to make quota's and 100% honesty wont help them but its sure appreciated by me. BTW, thank you for your service to our country and good luck!

 

My advice is not to worry so much. Go to orientation, be absolutely, completely honest with them, and hope for a good outcome. You won't know the outcome until they give it to you. But worrying about anything will not help you or your attitude. If they say no, there are others. Get prehires from as many companies as you can. Trucking is pretty competitive now and the hiring regulations are pretty strict--a company might also make them more rigid.

Get into the system and deal with it.

 

Read around the forums . It's a fact 80% of CDL graduates don't make it . I posted Werner's quarterly report stating they have downsized their fleet . If their fleet is smaller where are all these trainees going ? They are going to replace trainees that were in the truck and quit or were terminated . Do some research on your carrier of choice . What is their fleet size compared to last year . How many new drivers have they hired in the last year ?

 

Your recruiter's job is to get you "in." Once you are in, your recruiter is out. After that, you deal with instructors and trainers and such. RickG is right. Most applicants don't make the first year. You can be different and it all - ALL - depends on attitude, right from this point on. You made it through Army boot camp, right? This ain't that bad but it requires the same kind of attitude and attention to duty. Use the skills you have developed and take full advantage of the tools you're given. Thousands have failed and thousands have made it. Which group you are in is all about you.

Good luck!

 

Amen and amen. Well said!

 

This is the key. A lot of what you read on the boards about people being sent home after 3 days or even a week is because they don't disclose everything and I mean everything. Most of the company paid training schools do a quick glance at your overall record some they get rid of right away. Others they approve on the spot. Then there are those that are in the gray area. Could be hireable but have a few concerns and wonder if they know all there is about you. The recrutiers job is to ask you some follow up questions and to try and decide if you are being totally honest with him or not. If he thinks you are then you go on and get in.

Why do they do this? Because it's cheaper for them. If they spent the money to check out deeply every single person that applied they would go broke. If they have 20 prospects that are good they send you off to school and check in depth while you are there. If they get at least a dozen out of the 20 then they are good. Ever wondered why the first 3-4 days of company training is spent doing a bunch of nothing with old retired instructors who don't care. Because they are checking out you background. The doctor that comes in gets a nice pay to "look" over people but mainly is there just to sign medical cards. The classroom instructor is usually older and a retired driver his job is to teach you enough to pass you written exam (that you can do on your own) and to keep you interested enough for them to check out your background. the idiots that get sent home are the ones that think they can beat the system. So don't sweat it if you are truthful with them thats all they want so they can see if the insurance company will hire you. I f they say yes then your in if you stay in is up to you.

 

I can understand his concern, especially if he is just making sure that he has his bases covered and that there is not a problem. If the recruitter cops attitude, then it would make me worry. As far as making sure that you are cleared by the Safety Department, that is correct. Hoefully Injun will jump in here. She can really advise you.