New driver frusterated

You may have to work for a company that ya do not like!!!! CT is NOT the greatest place for newbies. To be honest, take what ya can get, and feed your family. Best of LUCK !!
Think your frustrated NOW, JUST WAIT .......................

 

I'm guessing you will need to go to these companies that you have read so much about. These are the starter companies that many of us got our start at. Just put in a year and go on down the road if it's not a match. Also, just because one company didn't work out for somebody else, doesn't mean you and this company can't get along. You need to get employed before that brand new CDL looses its value. I hope this helps,,,

 

I know you probably don't want to hear this but, the best thing to do is get on with someone who will take you. Run with them for a good year and stay clean and you will have a better shot. Most of us had to start with a job that wasn't the greatest but you have to get some exp. Good luck to you

 

Yea, what tommy said....I didn't even read that before I posted....oh well...hehehe

 

Your post indicates you are looking for companies in your area, however, these are only the ones with good reviews from this (and possibly other) forums. Understand your frustration with the hiring process right now, however, it sounds like it might be self induced. Apply with anyone and everyone you can. Sit at a truck stop while filling out applications and write down the names of all the trucks that stop in and apply with them. If you want it, go get it...and good luck!

 

Keep trying, thing's ill work out.

 

I agree with the above mentioned... The only doors that will get slammed into your face are the doors you allow to get slammed into your face. Just because you read that one driver had a issue doesn't mean that you are going to have an issue.... Let's take SWIFT for an example. Some drivers like em, some don't. But they also have 18,000 truck or more & I pass many of them on the highway on a daily basis... Beggers can't be choosers.

 

Rome wasn't built in a day.

I second, third, fourth, and fifth the sentiments going around in this thread. To be honest, Im a fresh face out here in the industry. And word for word you pretty much sound like I did when I broke in. I believe the post directly after your first post summed it up best. "You think you're frustrated now, JUST WAIT!"

The industry is slow right now.... I dont have a "clean," record...... It took 4 full months to find a company that would even hire me and I basically did what someone else in this thread suggested.... See Werner trailer, fill out online app, dial werner recruiter, See Schneider trailer, fill out online app, dial number on back of trailer, see Swift trailer, etc.....

If your record is clean, you're in a better position than I was, one of the starter companies will give you a shot without a doubt. You didnt mention any schooling, but if you a a certificate from a school and your within 60 days of graduating your chances with one of these companies just increased ten fold.

I completely understand the needing to feed family, but the money sucks out here for the first 6 months-1 year. There is some good news though, you spend the complete majority of your time on the road "working," The giant secret is that its pretty easy to save whatever you do make out here by simply not spending anything. Its a cesspool of needless overpriced #### at truck stops, this includes food. If you are undisciplined, I suggest leaving your wallet/ATM card/checkbook/etc at home. Chances are you will be using ComData or another similar form for getting paid. You can in turn send the wife to any truck stop and register a check for her to cash so she can maintain the bills...... there are many variations on this, more of which you will learn through whatever company hires you.

What Im really seeing from you though is that you are looking for a big payday right out the gate. I can't speak for everyone, but I know enough ppl at this point to know that in general it aint gonna happen for you the very minute you accept employment with someone. Simply obtaining CDL A with all the goodies isnt a license to make outrageous demands for money, but believe me I had your mindset at first too.

The question you need to ask yourself, is the lifestyle something you can enjoy, because that's all your gonna have for about the first year. Its a rollercoaster ride out here, some of the more fortunate ones out here liken it to slavery, its stressful, communication with your own company sucks, the O/O's look down on you, the LtL's look down on you, you work harder than they ever have, you make a sweatshop wage, you shower less. Your a lemming, a sheep being herded or a Jew being shuffled into a concentration camp, by the hundreds, led to slaughter, thrown into mass burial grave, left to die.... And thats what most of them do. Can you survive it?


I aint dead yet


The bottom line is simply, this profession has to be something you want to do, something you understand or rapidly gain understanding as you progress through your "starter," company. you have to block out the monetary issue for a while. These big guys with thousands of trucks are predators and they are going to abuse you, you gotta be OK with that. In reality any company with 100-10,000 trucks doesnt really know whats going on out on the road in every one of their trucks at every minute of every day. You gotta be able to take care of yourself. Everyone says the word "experience". The word itself is worth alot more than the amount of money your going to make this year breaking in.... Knowing what to do with that word once you have it, priceless.

The joy of doing this job is what gets me through. There are a million smiles on my face every single day because Im a "truck driver," Ive never had that at any of my previous jobs. Maybe after a year or 2 Ill go diving for more money and more hometime. Ill start looking into good, reputable compaines. Companies that pride themselves on community service, family values, and all the giddy shi.t that gives the american society butterflies in their stomachs and provides a decent life for their employees. But I really aint spending my time staring into a crystal ball, Im enjoying what I got right now today. If you cant do that out here from the get go, you probably need to seek employment in another industry