Thinking of returning to the Road. A little advice please

[Jimbo56]

Call it crazy, or just a mid life crisis, and tired of the low pay in this area, but I am considering returning to the road. I have about 5 months of experience in the last two years with Swift, CR England and USA Truck. I drove for Swift and USA for about one month each, and completed the CAT program with CR England. I left Swift after 30 days due to a family emergency and USA and England due to problems at home. These seem to have been corrected, but with four employers in the last 2 years, I'm sure my work record looks to a future employer like writing on a bathroom wall. I'm 50 years young, have no tickets, accidents, etc, and I enjoy life on the road, but I've never met a driver who wouldn't rather sleep in his own bed than in a sleeper.

The 64K question is, Are there any employers willing to hire me with this work record? I'm open to suggestions from recruiters and fellow drivers on the board.

[Doghouse]

If you left the other companies without any DAC issues, and your license is clean, and you can pass a DOT physical,.....I can't see why you're not qualified to be hired. I was bombarded with offers a few years ago, and decided OO was for me, but I'm sure you can find a company to take you. At least long enough to get you road legs back, and then find a company you really like.
Good luck to you :wink:

[nickbtubas]

Im with Doghouse. From what you, JimBo56, said you look in pretty good shape to get hired with another company. One thing i would suggest is to make sure you fully disclose why you left the other companies and reassure the recruiter that all prior problems have been corrected!!

Good Luck

[firefighteremtb78]

I have 10 months OTR exp. with a very poor track record of jobs. Im not proud of this but things happen. I have had 6 diiferent employers within a year. I quit various reasons but no bad DAC reports and I just got hired on a different company. Im planning on staying here for awhile now. I really dont think you will have aproblem

[Cluggy619]

I hate telling you this only because of my bias for this company. But you might want to contact sheepdancer. JB might work out to be the best option you got right now. However, you will need to stay with them untill you get atleast 1 year in.

And who knows? You might like it there, and come back here, and call me a *****hole whiner.

[Triple Digit Bob]

I hate telling you this only because of my bias for this company. But you might want to contact sheepdancer. JB might work out to be the best option you got right now. However, you will need to stay with them untill you get atleast 1 year in.

And who knows? You might like it there, and come back here, and call me a *****hole whiner.

EH,Jb hunt no good. They have slow truck and pay only 150.00 week. Try this place call Prime. Tell them you want buy truck and you go fast and make good money. Yes?

[Jimbo56]

Sorry no Prime. I did two months for CR England and saw what they did to their lease drivers. The only way most, ( and most have very little experience) can turn a profit is to stay out 6 weeks at a time and be a CAT Trainer.

I'm a bit of a loner and want no one else in the truck to rely upon except myself. I am sending for a copy of my DAC report because I have no clue what it says about my time with England.

[golfhobo]

Sorry no Prime. I did two months for CR England and saw what they did to their lease drivers. The only way most, ( and most have very little experience) can turn a profit is to stay out 6 weeks at a time and be a CAT Trainer.

I'm a bit of a loner and want no one else in the truck to rely upon except myself. I am sending for a copy of my DAC report because I have no clue what it says about my time with England.

Jimbo, I don't think you'll have a problem. Now, you can probably get on with one of the "biggie" training companies, and take low pay for awhile, then get solo again, and your future is still ahead of you! Or....

You can find a mid-size or smaller company who needs drivers, tell your story, do a few weeks in a "team training" situation, and be on the road as a solo!

You've committed no "so-called" crime! Your record SHOULD be clean, but I agree with checking your DAC!

Blame ALL THREE moves on your home problems, that are now "settled!" Don't even "diss" C.R. England! Recruiters will see this whole episode as "hometime related" or home emergenies. Let them know right up front what was happening, and why it is no longer a problem! [And how it all happened AFTER you decided to get into trucking.]

You STILL have done your schooling for a CDL, DONE more than enough training between 2 or 3 companies, and DONE some time on the road! Your MVR is clean! You are a PERFECT "hiree!"

WALK and TALK with confidence about what you have DONE! They will respect that MORE than if you make "excuses" for not staying with those companies!

You will probably have to take a few "lumps," and they will be WATCHING you to see if your performance matches your "story." Show them! It can do nothing but GOOD for you.

As for your "work history" on an application: I think there is usually a space for you to add comments.... SOMEWHERE on the application. Use this space to mention the "home emergencies" that are now "corrected. Employer will usually give you a chance to explain your situation that came up AFTER you paid your money and began your "time" of experience.

As for:

but I've never met a driver who wouldn't rather sleep in his own bed than in a sleeper.

Hi. My name is Hobo. I'm single and 50. My previous business took over my entire apartment, so I now (and have for awhile) sleep on my COUCH! I have to "draw up my legs, to fit!" My Truck bunk is MUCH bigger and I can stretch out! I LOVE sleeping in my truck.... MOVING or not!

Best of luck to ya! Look at your OWN attitude about yourself! If YOU wouldn't hire you... no one ELSE will! But, if you present yourself as "hirable," I believe MANY would!!!

Trucking is not so different than other professions. ALWAYS try to get a "face to face" interview! Sell yoursefl, and you get the job! It has ALWAYS worked for me!

A couple of months from now, I expect to hear how it has worked for YOU!!!

[Jimbo56]

Golf hobo, Thanks, fort the words of encouragement. Its been a struggle to get my family to the point that I can return to the road without causing major concerns for the entire family, but I'm finally there. Hopefully, I'll be able to begin a life over the road and still have a home to return to. I've sent for a copy of my DAC and it should be here in a few days and I'll be able to verify that all is correct. I may not get the best choice of companies to begin with, but as I've said, I dont have the best resume so I'll take what I can get.........to a point.

[Jimbo56]

Ok all. I applied to JB Hunt today. The worst that can happen is they say no. I'm not hiding anything and I was straight up with the recruiter, so we'll see what happens. I haven't been given the "pre-hire" approval yet pending verification of my DAC, etc, but it sounded optimistic.

I've read a lot on this board about the pros and definitely the cons of JB. One thing that I've learned is 90 percent of your success or failure is dependant on your attitude, less that 10 percent is somebody else's fault. I'm not leaping into this with my eyes closed. I have a poor work record, too may jobs and a history of not sticking things out to completion, and if JB Hunt is willing to take a chance, I'll give them 110 percent.

Because of my record, they indicate that I'll have to do their "finishing program". I'm not looking forward to spending several weeks in a truck with another person I don't know, but I did it with a total of three people in a condo freightliner with CR England. I'm sure I can manage it with one. Three in a truck has to be the worst idea CR England ever discovered.

[Cluggy619]

Ok all. I applied to JB Hunt today. The worst that can happen is they say no. I'm not hiding anything and I was straight up with the recruiter, so we'll see what happens. I haven't been given the "pre-hire" approval yet pending verification of my DAC, etc, but it sounded optimistic.

I've read a lot on this board about the pros and definitely the cons of JB. One thing that I've learned is 90 percent of your success or failure is dependant on your attitude, less that 10 percent is somebody else's fault. I'm not leaping into this with my eyes closed. I have a poor work record, too may jobs and a history of not sticking things out to completion, and if JB Hunt is willing to take a chance, I'll give them 110 percent.

Because of my record, they indicate that I'll have to do their "finishing program". I'm not looking forward to spending several weeks in a truck with another person I don't know, but I did it with a total of three people in a condo freightliner with CR England. I'm sure I can manage it with one. Three in a truck has to be the worst idea CR England ever discovered.

Well, you won't be hired on then. They are the first step. You have to make it thru orientation after that. You shouldn't have any problems, though.

Just a few things you need to understand.

• You will be given a lot of 200-300 mile runs. Try to get the dispatch to give you two of them when they do.
  
  Get use to sitting. You would think with all of the trucks they have, they could keep them all moving. They can't.
  
  Be nice to your trainer. After all, he too, works for JB Hunt.
  
  Try to get on a account of some kind. Being OTR means very low miles.
  
  And the miles you will get have already been shaved by 10-20%. Don't think about that part, just know you will almost never be in variance.
  
  And when you no-longer can take their BS, come back and post your experience. Hell, if you do good, come back and post it. We all want to know either way.

Wish you the best. :wink:

[Jimbo56]

Wow Cluggy. You jumped on me pretty quick. From reading your posts, you obviously had a lot of problems with JB. Being a newbie, and never having worked for JB Hunt, I sure can't argue with the things you say happen to you and I have no reason to believe they are anything but the truth.

What I do know is that I screwed up a couple jobs in the past. Mostly because I let immature people effect my judgement and did not complete an obligation to my employer, i.e. CR England. Granted, the situation they put me in and issues at home clouded my better judgement, but the fact is I hired on with them and agreed to perform a job at a specific pay rate. I did not complete my end of the bargain and because of that, some trucking companies will not hire me. I have yet to receive a copy of my DAC so I don't know what England has reported. I do know that I did not crash any of their trucks, miss any loads or receive any tickets while employed with them. I simply did not return following completion of their CAT program.

JB Hunt has openings for truck drivers and has tentatively, pending verification from past employers that I have told them the truth, has offered me employment. I am not pre-hired, and have enough experience to know that nothing is guaranteed. Until I complete JB's orientation and begin receiving a pay check, anyone can release me for a number of reasons just because I don't hold my mouth right or because I'm almost 51, etc, etc, etc.

My point is, JB may not be the best company out their, and certainly England did not work for me, but if they are willing to take a chance on me, I am capable of giving them what it takes to be a good driver. If that means getting on my dispatcher's good side by dropping a friendly note around Christmas time or a gift card for Applebee's on their birthday just to get a few more miles or a better load, than I'll do it. I'll do what it takes to make the money and the miles.

[Cluggy619]

Wow Cluggy. You jumped on me pretty quick. From reading your posts, you obviously had a lot of problems with JB. Being a newbie, and never having worked for JB Hunt, I sure can't argue with the things you say happen to you and I have no reason to believe they are anything but the truth.

What I do know is that I screwed up a couple jobs in the past. Mostly because I let immature people effect my judgement and did not complete an obligation to my employer, i.e. CR England. Granted, the situation they put me in and issues at home clouded my better judgement, but the fact is I hired on with them and agreed to perform a job at a specific pay rate. I did not complete my end of the bargain and because of that, some trucking companies will not hire me. I have yet to receive a copy of my DAC so I don't know what England has reported. I do know that I did not crash any of their trucks, miss any loads or receive any tickets while employed with them. I simply did not return following completion of their CAT program.

JB Hunt has openings for truck drivers and has tentatively, pending verification from past employers that I have told them the truth, has offered me employment. I am not pre-hired, and have enough experience to know that nothing is guaranteed. Until I complete JB's orientation and begin receiving a pay check, anyone can release me for a number of reasons just because I don't hold my mouth right or because I'm almost 51, etc, etc, etc.

My point is, JB may not be the best company out their, and certainly England did not work for me, but if they are willing to take a chance on me, I am capable of giving them what it takes to be a good driver. If that means getting on my dispatcher's good side by dropping a friendly note around Christmas time or a gift card for Applebee's on their birthday just to get a few more miles or a better load, than I'll do it. I'll do what it takes to make the money and the miles.

I'm just trying to help you out. :wink:

When I started with JB, I didn't know any of those things. They kinda sprung on me in a surprising way, and I didn't care for it. I figured now that if I tell people, like you, what to expect, you can work around it, and not have it take you by surprise. Now if I knew what I know now back then, I could have done a better job for myself. Here is a couple of more things that will help you out.

• When you first start driving, they will start you out with a "new hire dispatcher". Their job is to get you adjusted to Jb policy, and give you some cherry runs. This last about 2 weeks. Then they place you with you dispatcher. Now, if your thinking of greasing the palm in order to get better runs, you better have a lot of grease. You still got a night dispatcher, weekend dispatcher (this person changes quite a lot), and a night weekend dispatcher (which also changes). I guess the best way to describe this is weekend guard duty in the military. Changes a lot.
  
  Now, you will run the northeast alot. I'm started in Dallas, and went to the NE section of the world to drive, with one load coming home for my home time. Now, unless things have changed, they pay those drivers in the NE more than they pay Texas drivers, which is another reason I got upset. To me, if I drive the same roads, I should receive the same pay as those with the same experience. If you find yourself in this mess, just try asking for a raise. Who knows, they might give it to you.
  
  Per diem pay is AUTOMATIC. Another-words, unless you request not to receive it, your pay will be based on this pay-scale. For some people, it works out, for me, it didn't. If your single, it does. That part is up to you.
  
  Your qualcomm messages will delete themselves. You will be told that they don't, and maybe they are archived somewhere, but you will lose the message as you go along. So if you receive a message you wanted to save, chances are, it will delete itself for new messages. And new messages will come in everyday. mostly on safety.
  
  And try to avoid OTR if you can. Ask for a ded. account. There seems to be happier drivers on accounts, like Walmart.

Come back and keep us informed.

Good luck. :wink:

[Jimbo56]

Cluggy,

Obviously JB did not work for you. I hope it does for me. But like I said, I'm not going into this with my eyes wide shut. I have a little experience, but not enough to get me on with the better companies. I spent the last few weeks studying JB Hunts web site, and countless others listed on this board. I talked to a few recruiters, and finally decided to apply here.

I am not a recruiter, so put that thought out of your mind, but correct me here if I'm wrong. Recruiters and dispatchers make their money off the backs of the drivers. Recruiters get paid when you stay on with a company for a specified amount of time and some even get paid mileage that your truck moves. Dispatchers also make money by having your truck moving. In other words, if I don't make money, their profit goes down. Granted they may have a hundred other trucks out their still adding to their bank account, but the general idea is to keep your truck moving. If they let all their 100 drivers sit at Joe's truck stop waiting on loads, than their net check isn't going to pay the bills or their child support payments at the first of the month.

I will have to build an amount of trust with the dispatcher so he will have enough confidence in me to know I can accomplish the task. It has been that way in every job I've had all my life, from the Federal Prison System
to laying ceramic tile for my Brother-in-law. It's how business works.

I've read a few of your posts and saw your driving Tanker in Texas. Your checks were pretty good. I talked to every tanker company here in the North Augusta/Augusta area and they would not touch me without at least one year OTR, and they prefer that experience is Tanker. There are a lot of Tanker jobs here and more fuel storage facilities then I can shake a stick at, but they only want experienced drivers.

My intention is to get hired with JB. If it works, then I will try for one of their regional positions, but not until I talk to more JB drivers that have actually worked that account. I have retired once from the prison system, so I'm not a complete vagrant, and my wife makes good money as a nurse. JB may be the object of more than one bad joke at Joe's Truck Stop, but it's certainly better than the retailer I work for at the moment.

[Jimbo56]

Woah, hang on to your skirts Martha. My computer is really acting strange.



Cluggy619 wrote:
I hate telling you this only because of my bias for this company. But you might want to contact sheepdancer. JB might work out to be the best option you got right now. However, you will need to stay with them untill you get atleast 1 year in.

And who knows? You might like it there, and come back here, and call me a *****hole whiner.



Your the one who told me to contact Sheepdancer. But I promise I won't call you an a@@hole and a whiner if it doesn't work, but you will be able to say I told you so.......

[omapilot]

"Because of my record, they indicate that I'll have to do their "finishing program". I'm not looking forward to spending several weeks in a truck with another person I don't know, but I did it with a total of three people in a condo freightliner with CR England. I'm sure I can manage it with one. Three in a truck has to be the worst idea CR England ever discovered"




Wow! Three people in the CAT training at England? Yikes, I could only imagine how that would be, and that is three weeks long too!

[Jimbo56]

The three people per truck was as a trainee. I was only with the Cat trainer during the CAT program. I didn't agree with their system and should have packed it in after the initial training program, but I felt I owed them something.

Enough said about England. I don't want too sound negative here and it was my failure for not sticking things through.

If there are any JB OTR drivers out there in www land, I'd be interested in hearing from you.

[Cluggy619]

OK...a couple more things you aught to know.

Dispatcher - paid by the hour. They don't care if your moving or not, they get paid the same. You place in line is done by the computer, after you send in your trailer empty call. Your best bet is to try to get the next load before you get to the dock to be unloaded.

Recruiters - I think they are paid after so many loads, and some some reason, I want to say after the first load. I think I heard that somewhere. However, their job is done when you are assign a truck. After that, you belong to JBH, and not their problem anymore. Going to them for help is useless. Find out what the chain of command is, and use it if you have a problem.

Good luck to you.

[Jimbo56]

Cluggy

You make it real tough to stay positive. You have had the experience with JB which I don't. The pay for dispatchers and recruiters that I explained was for CR England. Even the CAT trainer received a percentage of the miles if the trainee stayed with England and leased a truck. I presumed JB was the same way. Even that being said, my options are limited at this point and need to prove myself before I can expect the highway to be paved with yellow roses.

[Cluggy619]

Cluggy

You make it real tough to stay positive. You have had the experience with JB which I don't. The pay for dispatchers and recruiters that I explained was for CR England. Even the CAT trainer received a percentage of the miles if the trainee stayed with England and leased a truck. I presumed JB was the same way. Even that being said, my options are limited at this point and need to prove myself before I can expect the highway to be paved with yellow roses.

Pal, that highway is hard to find.

I know what I said makes it hard, but if you going knowing the few things about them, you will learn more quickly how to get around the hurtles, and be more successful. They are not a bowl of cherries. You need the information I have given you. Learn to use it.

Good luck.