New Grad, 1st Job Search, Application Frenzy

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Güera, Feb 10, 2018.

  1. Güera

    Güera Light Load Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2017
    Messages:
    68
    Thanks Received:
    75
    Location:
    Belleville, IL
    0
    Update!

    I was having no luck, or so I thought with my quest for a local job.

    As a result, I committed to a big OTR flatbed company’s orientation. I figured I’d get the experience in and then try once more. I truly admire and appreciate you OTR drivers, it just wouldn’t work for me long term, but I was/am willing to do it to get my local golden ticket.

    A few days before departure I got semi decent semi local offers and was really kicking myself. But, I committed to at least going to this orientation and was going along with a CDL school classmate - so I asked them to keep me in mind for future opportunities.

    When signing the papers for the rental car to get to orientation (my choice, the co offered bus tickets, I took the partial reimbursement for renting, just my preference) I recieved two more calls for decent local jobs. I forged ahead and went to orientation anyway, bc I am very interested in flatbed and my classmate was counting on me for transport.

    My 3rd day into orientation I was called by a very local and small company (something on my wish list) offering me flatbed work w what sounds like great benefits. Good pay, the benefits I desire, nights and weekends off.

    I called back on the lunch break, spoke with the owner and his secretary to give details for background checks - and was hired 40 minutes later to start on Monday.

    I told the orientation’s instructor what I had decided and was sent home graciously, with well wishes and a Greyhound ticket (by this time I was through with spending saved money and figured ‘WTF I can handle a bus’). A great company, albeit large and OTR, they were first class about training, a dietary limitation, accommodations and getting me home despite quitting - feel free to PM me for the details.

    Keep the faith, stay patient and it will happen!

    I got another call for yet another local job today.

    For those in my shoes - I discovered the smaller businesses seem to take longer than the big ones.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2018
  2. Jwhis

    Jwhis Heavy Load Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2018
    Messages:
    862
    Thanks Received:
    1,356
    0
    How did you get random calls for local work? Places you had applied? I’m 4 weeks out from licensing and looking for first job myself
     
    Güera Thanks this.
  3. Güera

    Güera Light Load Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2017
    Messages:
    68
    Thanks Received:
    75
    Location:
    Belleville, IL
    0
    I applied to anything and everything I saw on Indeed, Craigslist, etc. Additionally I googled local companies and drove around industrial areas (wrote down company names and went to websites or found numbers to leave messages with).

    The thing is, these smaller companies don’t employ recruiters while you’ve got bigger ones calling you back in literal minutes wooing you with pretty promises.

    I was getting discouraged.

    Without experience I really wasn’t thinking clearly about that and figured I didn’t stand a chance.

    Plan about 3-4 weeks for the smaller ones to bite on your bait. A little patience as previous posters mentioned goes a looooooong way.

    My rando local inquiries came from snake charming (why not, they do it to us!) a local bigger company’s recruiter who in turn gave my number to smaller companies whom he socializes with. What a small world!

    The non random ones came from applications a few weeks ago. Smaller companies take longer.

    The local job I am starting Monday was a connection from school - an office lady heard I was trying OTR, her husband works for this company, they had a safety meeting mentioning this position and she thought of me instantly bc I was very vocal about not wanting OTR and interested in flatbed.

    Voice your needs to the school, hit the streets and be nice with everyone you speak with. I had many opportunities to go local this week and found the right first one at the last minute.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2018
    Vic Firth Thanks this.
  4. Vic Firth

    Vic Firth Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2016
    Messages:
    1,831
    Thanks Received:
    4,272
    Location:
    Indiana
    0
    Congrats and best of luck!
     
    Güera Thanks this.
  5. Ian2175

    Ian2175 Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2017
    Messages:
    27
    Thanks Received:
    28
    0
    Congrats on the local job! I start school in April so trying to figure out the best route.
     
    Güera Thanks this.
  6. Güera

    Güera Light Load Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2017
    Messages:
    68
    Thanks Received:
    75
    Location:
    Belleville, IL
    0
    Ian2175 and Vic Firth Thank this.
  7. Airborne

    Airborne Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2016
    Messages:
    354
    Thanks Received:
    137
    Location:
    KY
    0
    Beelman welcomes cdl grads, I'm a new driver and they're starting me as soon as they have everything in, DAC and drug screen which come clean on both. The terminal manager where I'm starting said they need the help and are over looking the distance from the terminal to the house, its more than 60 miles away.
     
    Güera Thanks this.
  8. InfantryTrucker

    InfantryTrucker Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2018
    Messages:
    18
    Thanks Received:
    9
    0
    What's your thought on melton flatbed. What companies stay west of the Mississippi
     
  9. motocross25

    motocross25 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2010
    Messages:
    3,843
    Thanks Received:
    11,656
    Location:
    Overland Park, KS
    0
    Where did you end up @Güera ?
     
    RedRover Thanks this.
  10. 1badtruckdriver

    1badtruckdriver Light Load Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2018
    Messages:
    60
    Thanks Received:
    27
    Location:
    Mesa Arizona
    0
    Dang Maverick sounds nice, but Im in Az.