Some solid advise to the "newb"

bowmeyer1 · Dec 10, 2008

i must say...this has been one of the best posts i have read in the time i have been a member of this site!

FredFlintstone · Dec 11, 2008

GATROR06 said: ↑

Hello All.

During my years of bouncing around I once landed at a company we all know and love (sarcasim) Covenent. In 2000 they had there own training school down in Arkansas. After 2 weeks with the company I was ready to leave and expressed my desire to do so. When I spoke with my BM on the phone he said he and the operations manager wanted to talk to me in TN about an exciting opportunity for me to advance and they were going to route me to Chatt TN. to make a long story short. When I arrived I was asked to be a trainer. They said I could really put my years of experience to good use and help other drivers become successful. Trainer? Why not? this was a new concept to me. I went down to Arkansas to there training grounds. ( the old Harold Ives terminal for those of you who have been around a while) I was to over see there training so I knew what the trainies did or did not recieve in training. After two weeks of seeing what they do and dont do in training I was horrified! I keept asking: this is it? this is the training they recieve before getting in the truck with me? You want me to go to sleep knowing one of these people are behind the wheel? Im thinking not! I left and havent looked back since. I do know that Covenent has since terminated there training programe do to accidents. Why are we all not suprised?
One good thing that DOT has done is to get involved with companys that offer training. Longer hours, more drive time ect ect ect. My advise is to all of you just in the looking stage. DO YOUR HOME WORK! Dont settle for a company because it has the shortest program. pay your dues in the begining so you dont pay them later! trust me on this one. Get all the training you can get!
I have talked to alot of schneider drivers on the road both experienced and students and it seems to be the norm to hear how satisfied they are with the company. From what I have heared there training program is supurb.
Good luck to you all! We'll see you out there!

Gator
I speak from experience when I talk jumping from company to company....big mistake i made in the early years
Click to expand...

I graduated from school near the end of October and looked for local jobs through November and I finally got an interview and it went very well but it didn't work out and now I have been looking for most any job that I can get since December 1st. Just today when I phoned up Conway to follow up on my application there they told me that they do not take newbees more than thirty days after they graduated. I don't know whether I am about to get entirely unemployable from having a diploma that is more than thirty days old? No one had told me that it was about to expire in thirty days (and also I don't think that I have forgotten how to drive a truck yet). Does anyone know anything about this matter?

bowmeyer1 · Dec 11, 2008

i dont know alot but have heard the longer you wait the harder it is...not sure but also have heard if you wait to long they will want you to take a refresher course which if i've heard right "could" cost you more money.

GATROR06 · Dec 12, 2008

chompi said: ↑

Gator has it! Jumping from company to company especially nowadays will kill you. The job market in trucking is over flooded right now(most companies not hiring at all) so they can afford to be very picky as to who they want driving for them. Keep your record clean!
Click to expand...

Been doing this along time folks. If only even one year ago someone would have said to me that the day is coming that the trucking companies would have the upper hand in hiring drivers I would have told that person he or she is just nuts! Well my friends and fellow drivers... That day is here! My very good friend and neighbor with 7 years driving, clean MVR, no accidents cannot find a job driving truck! He has " to many jobs" in the past 3 years! I spoke with him just last night and he told me of all the horror stories and his conversations with atleast 15 dif driver recruiter. We all know of Celadon. A company with 2000+ trucks. Can you believe they have a hireing freeze???? Us express wont hire because of his "to many" jobs!! The days atleast for now are gone of being able to jump outta a truck and be in another the next day.
Alot of things have changed with the trucking industry! One being the market is truely flooded with drivers. In my opinion I think its due to the wages that drivers are now earning. 5 years ago if you made 40k you had your self a heck of a driving job! Today with just a little experience a driver can earn 60+ a year without any real effort. So think about it. The avg Collage grad comes outta collage with an avg yearly wages of 45k and thousands in debt because of student loans. Doesnt take a math proffessor to figure out where the true advantage lies. And this is just one example.
So I tell you that if you have a driving job do what you have to do to keep it!!! You might even wanna start putting in a little more effort to keep it. Trust me in todays market DMs Have the the ability to boot you if your not producing and always complaining! Believe it or not there is for the first time a line behind you waiting for that drivers seat!!!

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Lilbit · Dec 12, 2008

Gatror - My hubby drives for Celadon, and there has been no word of a hiring freeze. The last time he was in Indy, 2 weeks ago, they had a group of over 50 in for orientation.

GATROR06 · Dec 12, 2008

I promise you if you call for a job they are on a freeze untill Jan 15 2009.

bowmeyer1 · Dec 12, 2008

ive been told by three different companies they are not hiring due to a hiring freeze but not by celedon due to the fact i havent really looked into them.

jlkklj777 · Dec 12, 2008

Lilbit said: ↑

Gatror - My hubby drives for Celadon, and there has been no word of a hiring freeze. The last time he was in Indy, 2 weeks ago, they had a group of over 50 in for orientation.
Click to expand...

I believe Celadon just purchased Continental Express of Little Rock Ar for 24 million dollars. This may explain why they do not need any more drivers for the time being (well... The economy too).

Lilbit · Dec 12, 2008

jlkklj777 said: ↑

I believe Celadon just purchased Continental Express of Little Rock Ar for 24 million dollars. This may explain why they do not need any more drivers for the time being (well... The economy too).
Click to expand...

Especially since they supposedly picked up about 200 of that companies drivers too. I'll be able to have a certain answer shortly, as my hubby is on his way to the Wax, TX terminal right now. He's going to ask about it.

Distantone · Dec 13, 2008

Good advice and good comments. Been researching and thinking about starting a new career. (out of construction work) Glad to read some possitive advice.

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Find Trucking Jobs

Some solid advise to the "newb"

bowmeyer1 Light Load Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

FredFlintstone Bobtail Member

bowmeyer1 Light Load Member

GATROR06 Light Load Member

Lilbit Road Train Member

GATROR06 Light Load Member

bowmeyer1 Light Load Member

jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

Lilbit Road Train Member

Distantone Bobtail Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Find Trucking Jobs

Some solid advise to the "newb"

bowmeyer1 Light Load Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!

FredFlintstone Bobtail Member

bowmeyer1 Light Load Member

GATROR06 Light Load Member

Lilbit Road Train Member

GATROR06 Light Load Member

bowmeyer1 Light Load Member

jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

Lilbit Road Train Member

Distantone Bobtail Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!