starter company for someone with a less than stellar looking application?

Powder Joints · Aug 25, 2014

Red Wide Glide said: ↑

Im from central PA and finishing up my 320hr cdl class a course at central pennsylvania institute of science and technology. I will have my license by the end of next week but am starting to realize as i fill out applications how horrible they look. Im afraid that even though im doing stellar in the classes i wont even get call backs because of the application.

The issues?

28 years old with absoloutly no job history and it seems half of every application is space to list job history. I had children young and the woman threw a fit every time i mentioned hiring a babysitter so i could go to work. i was a stay at home dad for the past 8 years with 2 little girls. Im not proud of being a stay at home dad but i dont feel like a piece of crap for it or think it should be held against me either. Either way, i dont think companies would count that as work history so i dont even try to explain on the applications.

The next roadblock that really makes the apps look bad is that i was arrested for growing pot in early 2010 and charged with a felony. And yes while it was only pot in most peoples eyes, in the eyes of the laws im no different than someone cooking meth in a trailer park.

So all in all on paper i look like the worst possible candidate even though during the 2 month 8hr a day m-f class i've had perfect attendance, showed the most determination, and picked everything up much faster than any of the others and get superb reviews and countless compliments from all my instructors. i've also got a near spotless driving record, i had one speeding ticket in my life that was like 8 years ago for doing 41 in a 35. only wreck was when i was 16 and still driving with a permit 12 years ago.

Are there actually any companies out there that would be willing to take all that into consideration, hear me out, and give me a chance?

as for what i'd like in a job:
i dont mind long hours but i'd like to be able to make an appearance at home more often even if its only long enough to grab a shower and say hi. i'd like to bring home atleast 700/wk

is that unrealistic?
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May Trucking, or CRST

CrappieJunkie · Aug 25, 2014

First of all I hate druggies like you. Lost several family members to drugs being laced with ####. BUT you say your clean so im going to give you benefit of the doubt and say congrats on the sobriety, keep it up.

Now issue at hand....Had some friends with a checkered past that worked for PAM Transportation and USA Truck. I'm with USA and like them alot.

CrappieJunkie · Aug 25, 2014

Oh and be #### proud of being a father. I would wear that title proudly if and when God blesses us with children

MACK E-6 · Aug 25, 2014

crappiejunkie said: ↑

First of all I hate druggies like you. Lost several family members to drugs being laced with ####. BUT you say your clean so im going to give you benefit of the doubt and say congrats on the sobriety, keep it up.

Now issue at hand....Had some friends with a checkered past that worked for PAM Transportation and USA Truck. I'm with USA and like them alot.
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My condolences on the lost family members due to the laced drugs.

It's important to remember that while we may not have to defend his past decisions, we should support his current one if that is to clean up and walk the straight and narrow.

Red Wide Glide · Aug 25, 2014

managed to get applications filled out and sent to about half of those on my list today and got a call back from super service. apparently they missed the part where i mentioned the felony and only realized after they finished telling me they have a north east regional position available for me as soon as i complete training and asking me when i could start. then she says "yea.... uhmmm we're not going to be able to do anything for you for a few more years...."

good news is it just happens that one of my instructors and one of the owners of the company that picks up milk from farms that i stopped at saturday are old buddies. the guy never said anything to me about knowing anyone at my school when i mentioned i was a student there but apparently called my instructor over the weekend and asked about me and told the instructor to tell me to make sure thats the first place i stop after i get my license. i know it wasnt "Your hired" but it sounds pretty #### promising and just happens to be the first choice of places i've had in mind since i started trucking school.

its 35 min drive from my house (5 minutes from the school). from what my instructor says, he has all pretty new equipment, gets me home every night unless i choose to pickup one of the dry van loads that go a little further, and id make right around the $700/wk i was aiming for with the option to make more.

if i do end up with that job i know one thing, it will make for one hell of an interesting winter this year. pulling tankers of milk through all these tiny little PA back roads for my first winter season driving.

MACK E-6 · Aug 25, 2014

That doesn't sound like a bad way to start out. It may not be the best paying, but it will be good experience for you.

Look into getting your hazmat if you can. Your record may come back to haunt you there, but if it doesn't it will give you a good stepping stone to something better like chemical tankers.

On a serious note, food grade tankers are nothing to fool with. They are smooth bore, as required by law, and MUST be respected at all times, ESPECIALLY in bad weather. A half-loaded smooth bore gives the highest load vs. room to move ratio and it WILL let you know it's back there.

Red Wide Glide · Aug 25, 2014

MACK E-6 said: ↑

That doesn't sound like a bad way to start out. It may not be the best paying, but it will be good experience for you.
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im more than happy with that number starting out with everything i have working against me. there is also the option to take on more for more money from what i hear. ill be sure to update with any info i get though. i should have a license in the next 48 hrs unless the school really screws me around.

MACK E-6 said: ↑

Look into getting your hazmat if you can. Your record may come back to haunt you there, but if it doesn't it will give you a good stepping stone to something better like chemical tankers.
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thats another downside to the felony. cant ever get hazmat or go to canada.

MACK E-6 said: ↑

On a serious note, food grade tankers are nothing to fool with. They are smooth bore, as required by law, and MUST be respected at all times, ESPECIALLY in bad weather. A half-loaded smooth bore gives the highest load vs. room to move ratio and it WILL let you know it's back there.
Click to expand...

yea dangerous for sure, especially considering ill only have a couple of months of driving be for the pa winter weather starts. if i make it through that first winter alive though i may need help fitting my head through doorways for a while.

Snowshoes · Aug 25, 2014

Sounds good! Keep us posted as to the outcome please

rda2580 · Aug 25, 2014

Check with any local farms also, it's harvest season and they work non stop till the crops are harvested. Even if it's to relieve a driver can always lead to more open doors.

Chinatown · Aug 25, 2014

I don't think your felony will stop you from getting hazmat or TWIC, but will keep you out of Canada.

So, when you can, apply for those because they're money in the bank should you decide to later go into hazmat tanker.

Hauling milk tankers will be good experience. Moving into hazmat tankers in the future will double that $700 a week.

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