Northern Californian looking to get into trucking

swift has a terminal in willows(small) and lathrop.
swift also has a flatbed sivision

 

Try this company......Sierra Pacific Industries - Trucking

They've been around a long time and they're decent to work for.

 

If all of the above suggestions somehow do not pan out....you might consider looking into this one (they offer both van & flatbed options):

R E West -- truck driver student/trainee -- TN

For more details....read up on them here:

Get your CDL at R E West training pgm

Call 'em to verify -- but I think they also have room & board there while you school for the CDL.

-- L

 

I would not rule out Swift -- simply becuz of a bad phone call.

Why?

There's simply just too much opportunity there.

Swift & Schneider are huge companies.

They have a lot of recruiters.

If things went bad with one recruiter...simply talk with another recruiter.

If you have a regular driver's license with a clean driving record, no real criminal history.....can pass a DOT physical...& are reasonably fluent in speaking/writing the English language -- you should still have a decent shot with Swift.

If your gap in employment is largely due to one or more health issues....that have since been resolved....make sure the recruiters you talk to understand this.

-- L

 

Nuttysquirrel,

Some things you should consider....

If the US later slips into an economic recession (we're almost there now) -- you will then want to be in a fleet that will still have enough freight to keep you moving (& thus, making money) -- even in the leanest of economic circumstances.

Swift & Schneider are arguably the fleets with by far the largest amounts of freight -- that also routinely hire & train novice drivers.

Also.....

As you start driving & running loads on your own, one of the biggest problems you will face BY FAR -- is finding safe, legal, truck-friendly parking at the end of each work shift.

This will especially be the case when you are in or near urban areas.

Swift & Schneider have...without question...the largest networks of terminals & dropyards -- for you to safely park your rig.

This may not seem like a big deal now -- but trust me....later on...it will be.

Another big advantage that Swift &/or Schneider can offer you -- because of their incredibly large size -- with either fleet, you can try out different types of freight -- & without the usual hassles of changing carriers/employers.

Getting real experience with different freight types will make you a MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE job candidate -- with other carriers, later on.

With all of the above in mind -- plus the state of freight of late -- I would concentrate the bulk of my efforts with/on those two carriers.

R E West can be your "plan C".

-- L

 

Since Swift apparently has a terminal in Willows -- which is very near where you live -- that's an attractive situation for you.

If you can park you tractor at a nearby company terminal...& then have a very short commute to (& from) your place of residence, for hometime...this proximity offers a lot of convenience/advantages for you....later on:

• You waste much less time driving to/from you tractor for hometime
• If you park your rig on company property for hometime -- the rig is then their responsibility -- & not yours. If something then bad happens to your rig -- they can't blame you for it
• Assuming the nearby Willows terminal has a shop -- your truck can get company maintenance &/or repairs -- while you are at home. This saves wasted repair/other down time when you are back at work, &/or out on the road

Think about it.....

-- L

 

Make sure you submit applications before any phone calls. This is important.

 

Submit an application to Swift anyway. The clown that brushed you off may not be the next person you talk to After you submit the app. first (see Post #9)

 

I 2nd this......either go refrigerated or to their flatbed division. People always need food so refrigerated is steady money. Also, flatbed usually has a higher demand for drivers than dry van or even reefer, mainly because of the physicality of the job, and most drivers prefer to bump docks.