Relying on your school for a Job?

Wow I can only answer the 1st question and I would use my school on a app for different companies and if you go to a place like swift or werner they might put you thru there training program but I'm not really sure about that . I would also look into local work and call around to diff co just to see if they would hire new grads with no exp . Good luck !!!!!

 

You may apply anywhere you like especially if the school is accredited.

If you do not need much home time then you can work for any company in the country! If you have a secure place to park the truck you can get home time more easily also.

I applied to NewTruckDrivingJobs.com and one other. Someone here told me that some companies do not use anyone from those mass mailing sites... But I got ten replies from it.

My top three choices were: (in no particular order)
Maverick
Roehl
KLLM

I chose KLLM since they had the best, meaning quickest, tuition reimbursement plan!

One of your questions to the recruiters will be, how many female trainers do you have? I have heard some stories about jerk guys when they are training women, but you mostly hear the bad stories only. I would not worry about a male trainer until you need to worry about it. Chances are it will not be a problem.

Good luck.

MIkeeeee

 

get as many pre-hires as you can for as many companies as you can....both through the school AND doing your own research and applications......

i had multiple offers and orientation dates setup and scheduled before i ever graduated due to the reputation of my school and their contacts, as well as my background and class standing but found very little in the way of acceptable offers from the recruiters the school courted.....this was mainly a personal preference, because the school used alot of companies that only run automatics and i'm not going to be stuck in an auto......as well as the usual bottom feeders recruiting slaves lol........so i was able to do my own thing as well with regard to applications.....

there are many stories on here of students who went to an orientation and were sent home for various reasons.....for that reason i suggest taking the route i did and get as MANY pre-hires as you can, weed that down to 3 or 4 actual orientation offers and try to line up the dates a week or two apart......that way, if the first one doesn't work out for whatever reason, then you go on to the next one.....and won't be left starting the process all over again if for whatever reason company A doesn't look to be a good fit once you get to orientation.....

i got lucky.....and so far the first company I went with is looking to have lived up to expectations....but i had/have a plan B just in case......and be sure to respectfully delcline the offer(s) from your other choices if you do setup multiple orientations and don't go with them....better to act professionally out of the gate and not burn bridges (or orientations lol) you may need later.....

best of luck to you

 

I wouldn't just do the school apps I'd do apps to all the places your interested in working. Even if there the same place. The place I work now never got my app I completed in school.

 

If it were me I would have a list of what I want out of a company then I'd go out and find it. Just about everyone files on-line and that's fine but when you walk in the door face to face it has a much better meaning to the company ( if they are any good). We bent over backwards for this driver once that came in once a month just to say hello and would change his application if any of the information changed. It showed us this driver really wanted the job and he worked out just fine. It also allows you to see their operation too.

Be very careful about your trainer if you can. The first and most important reason you're there is to learn how to drive for the company. Social information should be limited and always protect yourself. Don't tell anything you don't want out there because in a few months the trainer may be a bad guy. If he or she can not teach you the basic defensive driving skills, as a minimum, then you need to ask for another trainer.

You'll need to go above and beyond the normal driver because there'll be drivers that are watching you just because you're a female. It's not fair but it's real. Treat everyone the same and always be on your toes. Even other female drivers can be nasty at times so just be careful and good luck.

 

Keep in mind the placement dept at some of these schools get a kick back for sending you to these companies so they might not send you where you would be the best fit...

I remember the schmuck at NTTS when I went there years ago *made* us fill out apps for JB, Werner, Swift and the rest of the bottom feeders whats that tell you ?? If your school does that just list a false phone number and email addy on the apps for companies you don't want to work for because they will bother you to no end.......good luck

 

I'd do my own looking, and applying. Pick out a company and CALL them, see what they have to offer. Notice I said OFFER, don't argue if they may not be a fit for you. The companies that send recruiters to the school I was never impressed with, and even I could see the BS. One company that has dark blue T2's and haul reefers, made the statement that their stripped down trucks were the Rolls Royce of the highway. Lie #1 from them, and many others followed. Don't let the make and model of truck be a deciding factor, that was only an example.
I suspect those companies may offer a kick back or something to the schools, I could be wrong. The el primo companies, don't need to send a recruiter out, drivers come to them. I could offer a couple decent companies names to you, but it's just my opinion, and only one of them I drove for.
Don't worry about being female, not ALL men are pigs, most maybe in the trucking world, but not all. The training companies have female drivers/trainers as well, and they tend to accommodate you.
You don't start until July? Don't wait, start looking and calling now, just be totally up front and honest, and if it seems like someone is telling you what you want to hear, just say thankyou and have a nice day. NO company, big or small. is utopia, the trick is finding one that YOU can put up with. Sounds hard, but I've been with a couple like that, yep, one of the big boys,per my sig, and one a bit smaller. Good luck to ya.

 

I went to AIT with no issues. Got hired by Knight.

Your graduation date will be when you finish class and finish your externship. Usually takes 4-6 weeks to finish orientation from the start date of your externship.

You'll have fun at AIT. Which course are you taking? I'll probably swing by with my truck during July/August..