| Author | Message | ||
     J2blue |
I don't know how many of you out there are drivers or work in the trucking industry in some other capacity, but you probably know how sleazy some of the large motor freight companies can be. I thought I had finally found my first driving job after getting my CDL with a "respected" company out of Utah. Turns out they were liars and cheats, and that is putting it kindly. Long story short, the recruiter failed to mention how much money I would need to pay their company to work for them. I let them take $50.00 for an unnecessary "administrative fee" but when they sent in a loan shark to finance the $500.00 "refresher course fee" I balked. After speaking to my recruiter he lied to me and said of course he told me about all of that and otherwise treated me like I was trash. That was enough. I got out of there. I left Salt Lake yesterday around noon and got into Canon City last night around 11PM. Set back? Yes. I'll keep trying to find a decent company that will take me on. What was the cost of my brief venture with this company? About 1,000 plus miles of gas and wear and tear on my vehicle, six weeks of time I could have been looking for work with another company, two nights of hotel charges, several meals I paid for including the meals served at their crappy cafeteria, and a fifty dollar "administrative fee" for a medical exam that I already had two months ago! Oh, I suppose I can't blame them for forgetting my laptop power adapter that I left behind because I forgot it in the mad rush to pack and leave. Thankfully I have another one. To hell with me for a moment, there were many more people there in worse need of work than me hoping that this employer was going to be their lucky break. The training facility had more the atmosphere of a homeless shelter. Most people arrived from all over the country via Greyhound Bus. To top it off, the company used armed security guards and metal detectors to shield the regular white collar employees, including the recruiters, from the great mass of people "wanting something for nothing" from this grand company. Sadly, most were waiting to get into the companies leasing program, which I knew from well informed people to steer clear of. This is a company who practices the tyranny of the many small decisions, bait and switch tactics, and general intimidation to cheat people. And sadly, I am aware of too many more large companies that have similar reputations. I cut my losses short reasonably quickly. I hope anyone who might defend these sleaze bags understands I did not accept anything from them for free up front. I spent my money to come see them at their invitation to me. I traveled in very dangerous winter weather to do so. My expectation was that I would spend a week in "orientation and testing" prior to being hired as something akin to an apprentice for a two month period. That seemed reasonable to me. If I had been informed up front, before agreeing to travel, that I was expected to spend an additional sum of money to "train" with them before being "hired" by them I may have said yes or no, but I would have been informed and had far less at risk. Ok, discuss: | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Have you ever looked into Estes Express Lines or FedEx Freight? They both have terminals in Colorado Springs. I ship a ton of stuff with them and they are both nation wide. I like dealing with Estes. Nice people all around and the take care of their customers. If they take care of their customers I'm sure they take care their employee's | ||
| Bill0351 |
My brother hasn't had too much bad to say about J.B. Hunt. He has been with them for about three years. He got hurt pretty badly slipping on spilled oil in one of their maintenance garages and they took good care of him when he was healing up. They seemed like a fairly decent company to work for. At least my brother has had pretty decent luck. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Go sit in your local truckstop & talk to the drivers, they know who's hot & who's not. Trucking companies worldwide still haven't got it into their heads, that this industry is one of the very few where their employees rub shoulders with their competitors employees every day, consequently there are no secrets in the transport game. Reputations rise and fall with monotonous regularity. I've been at it for well over 20 years, we don't have all the same cheats & swindles as you guys because the regulation is so much tighter, but by & large it's near enough. Dullorb & Doughnut on here did it, but I can't remember who with, various others too. As I said, talk to guys who have been at it for a while, get as many opinions as you can & don't be blinded by the headline figures. It may also be worth your while getting the yellow pages out & just driving round visiting your local hauliers. Best of luck, & remember, it's a way of life not a job! | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Every New Guy Lasts About Ninety Days That exists for a reason I guess. Anyway, lets get down to business. How much experience do you have? Many companies aren't hiring students right now because there are a lot of experienced drivers out there looking for work. Also, I've always heard that Colorado is a rough place to be, not a lot freight there even when things are good, and it's not good out here right now. Most figure the first quarter of next year could be even worse. Wolf, that's a good thought, but no LTL freight companies are hiring right now. Most companies are laying off. I talked to an Estes driver out of Cleveland last night on the radio and he said that they haven't laid anyone off, but they are pretty slow and some of their guys have been working 4 days a week to try to keep every one working enough to make ends meet. Back on subject. Check the online career sites like careerbuilder.com, monster.com and even the more truck specific ones such as http://www.hiringtruckdrivers.com/?display=Colorad o-employment, http://www.driverrecruiting.com/, http://www.bigtruckdrivingjobs.com/ I started out at Schneider a few years ago. I would have no problem recommending them, but from what I hear they're really only hiring experienced drivers. They do say they are hiring on their website in Colorado, worth checking out. http://www.schneiderjobs.com/cgi-bin/availableJobs _listing.cgi?statename=CO | ||
| J2blue |
Thanks Guys, I'll follow up on those tips. I don't have any experience that is accepted yet, only the school time behind the wheel. The small and independent types are squeezed by insurance companies to not hire anyone without experience and the big freight carriers that are self-insured or otherwise allowed to employ newbies have terrible reputations for taking advantage of their drivers new and old. This is what I'm finding out at least. The economy is bad and one company was straight enough to tell me that. I'm using Google and sites like "Ripoff Report" to research each and every company I may apply to now. I'm also looking at a site called "layover.com" that seems to be reasonable and allows for a single application submitted through them to be sent to multiple trucking companies. I do plan to file a complaint with the Utah BBB about England. That gets it on record, other than that I just want and need to wash my hands of them. I'm willing to work for a substantially reduced pay while gaining experience behind the wheel with a veteran driver as my mentor. I don't think that is unreasonable. I do think it is unreasonable for me to pay an employer to work for them when I have met the minimum licensing standards. If they want more training and experience from me they can pay to give it to me. Anyway, I got myself into this by committing my own cash to the school and licensing so I have to find a way to make enough money driving to recoup that cost before I can give up on trucking. I still feel a little embarrassed and naive about this whole adventure. Oh well.  | ||
| Indy_bueller |
I second Schneider National. I worked for them for about three years and have nothing bad to say. | ||
| Swampy |
Schnider +1 I remember the recruiter from my wrenching days. I have seen their facilities in Green Bay and all the time I see their trucks they look good (I notice things like that) Good Luck | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
J2blue, my son is a recruiter for Roehl (pronounced "rail") Transport, after having put in a driving stint for them after getting out of the Army. he has always expressed to me their excellent safety record and the respect they have for their drivers. let me know if you'd like his contact info. best of luck in your endeavors. Ferris www.roehl.net | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
J2Blue, good thing you got out when you did... England is notorious for training more drivers than they need, then charging them for staying at their "dorm" until they have work for them. I've got over 30 years experience driving truck, and it's gotten so bad I have a hard time thinking of any company to recommend. The country's in a recession and freight volumes are down. Heck, I've been temping at UPS every christmas season since I retired, and I haven't been called back this year. Usually I'd get a call from them around the first of october asking me to come back ASAP, and I'd be back behind the wheel by the end of the day. But not this year- they've even got full time drivers who've been bumped to helpers. So most companies, if they're honest, aren't going to waste their and your time hiring and training you whn they have no work for you in this economy. I'd be suspicious of any trucking company that told me otherwise. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Sorry to hear about those troubles man. Though, being you're in Canon City, CO and I'm in Colorado Springs, CO maybe meet up for a ride in the spring/summer? |
