why there are no jobs for recent grads

It's 101 degrees here in Las Vegas @7:37 pm Pacific Daylight Time.

 

Don't be so sure of that. Lot's of people are looking and not many LTL like they had.

 

Some suggestions for those struggling to find work, but with no prior experience....or no "recent" experience....

When I graduated out of CDL school, I went into the job market back when freight rates/volumes were still reasonable. My "weakness" was....I had some real gaps in my "regular" employment history. But....I had all the relevant CDL endorsements (tanker, hazmat....&....doubles/triples), a TWIC card....and also a new US passport -- pretty much everything any carrier might reasonably want.

Even with all that....I got shot down 3-4 times.....before I got a "yes" answer. And I had to sign up for OTR duty, as well.

Fast forward to the present -- the freight situation now is MUCH WORSE.

With all that in mind, I offer the following:

• Don't call a carrier of interest first -- instead, fill out a full application on their website; make sure it's accurate and complete. Submit it/send it in. Wait about a week....maybe a little more. Then call the company, and ask about the status of your application. Until you are told, "No thank you"....keep calling them back every week or so (but I would avoid more often than that), and asking about your application's status. If you simply call the company first, without 1st submitting an application -- that looks far less serious -- and more like you're really just "window shopping" for work. NOT COOL.
• Be aggressive! Don't just submit an application, sit back....and wait for the phone to ring. If you really want/need the job -- after about a week or so, pick up a phone, and call them (as described above). Persistence pays. I've seen a post here on the Forum somewhere....that a driver joked at how he thought that a company went ahead & hired him -- just to shut him up!
• Like it or not -- we indeed live very much in a "reap what you sow" world. If your driving record has clutter in it (yes, those speeding tickets do in fact matter A LOT to commercial carriers ), and/or you have a criminal history....don't expect most commercial carriers to take a shine to you -- especially given current freight market conditions. Depending on how much "junk in the trunk" you have....other carriers may (or may not) consider you. It's pretty much decided on a "case by case" basis.
• Consider the option of starting out doing food service/delivery work. In my area, McLane is hiring pretty much all of the time, & they will usually accept drivers right out of CDL school (at least, on paper). Other food service carriers to consider that may be in your area: Sysco, Performance Food Group, US Foods, Gordon Food Service, Core-Mark, Sygma.....among others. There may be other food service carriers near you that are more localized, that still take/train new drivers. Look around. Most of these jobs are home-daily gigs. Yes, it's hard work....but hey, it's a start. And that's just what you need. If your driving record is a bit borderline -- one of these may take you on -- when others might not.
• Google "CDL driver hiring events" or "CDL driver hiring events near me".....and see what results you get. In my area -- even with the freight market as sorry as it is -- Schneider STILL has recruitment events going through August and well into September. Those hiring events are golden opportunities to submit a resume, shake a hand or two, put a face with the name, and show the world you really do mean business. Be sure to get/keep business cards from the recruiters you meet/talk to, and follow-up with them later by phone (assuming you like what you learned from them). As one example -- I started out with Schneider. If I did it -- I would wager you probably can, too. No, they're not perfect.....but those other guys aren't, either.
• If you don't already have all the relevant CDL endorsements: tanker, hazmat...and doubles/triples, seriously consider going back and getting them. Those endorsements show the recruiting world that you're serious. Later on, those endorsements are door-openers -- and money-makers! The better carriers will often require them, as well.
• Consider/look for a "dock to driver" program with one of the LTL carriers near you. Examples: Old Dominion, ABF Freight, R & L Carriers, XPO Logistics, SAIA, Estes Express Lines, Central Transport (note: Yellow Freight is now out of business ). Work their docks, get some good forklift experience -- then put in for a CDL-A position there when an opening appears, and you qualify for it. Some LTL carriers have their own CDL school, or a list of CDL schools that they prefer.
• Avoid any/all jobs that are for so-called, "dollar store" accounts. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

The bottom line: believe it or not -- yes, there is still opportunity out there. You just have to be more patient and more resourceful to get in front of it.

-- L