Turned down again

[bigrigjoe66]

I have a previous post about my hiring situation,"Sorry kinda long" to which nobody replied. I am updating it here. I have been turned down by every company that advertises on this board. I have never had a ticket of any kind, accident of any kind and 4 jobs in the past 24 yrs. My only mistake was to go to and leave 2 companies orientations in 2007 and leaving JB Hunt. I left them after being told to call from home everyday to check on being issued a truck. I called everyday for 3+ weeks but no truck so I found another job to make ends meet. The company I just worked for went out of business. I did not relieze I was that bad of an emplyee. Be careful job hopping new guys..

[Uturn2001]

I replied to your other post and explained to you what your problem is and why no one is wanting to hire you.

At one time a driver could find a job even if he was switching jobs every 4-6 months, but since it is an employer's market right now drivers with more than one every 9 months to a year are going to have a rough go of it.

[A Smalltown Rube]

I have been turned down by every company that advertises on this board.

That's part of your problem right there. The best jobs I have had over the years is when I went out and met the boss , talked to him, and was hired on the spot on a handshake, before I filled out the application. These companies are recieving a gajillion applications online from a bazillion different drivers. You're one in a bazillion. Go out to the smaller companies and meet some people, and you might be at the right place at the right time.

[GMAN]

My guess is that it is the number of jobs that is really hurting your ability to find a job. Even though you never actually got out of orientation they are still considered employers by most companies. I don't understand why you would leave a company during orientation.

[lowrange]

My guess is that it is the number of jobs that is really hurting your ability to find a job. Even though you never actually got out of orientation they are still considered employers by most companies. I don't understand why you would leave a company during orientation.

This is incredible!!! Have things changed that much on the company side!?!?

What better time to leave a company than orientation? It is insane to penalize someone who is still in the investigative stage of a new job. JB used to tell you you were being hired, bring you into orientation, and only then complete the process off vetting you. Basically, they'd tell people they were hired, bring them into orientation, and then tell them they weren't being hired afterall and send them home.

I went to orientation for one of their dedicated Dollar General accounts. When I got to orientation and learned the accident rate, and knowing that every dented door goes on your DAC, I told them I was leaving and went home.

[GMAN]

Most of the larger carriers don't fully check out drivers until they get to orientation. From what some of them have explained to me, the reason is that there are so many who fail to come to orientation. They save money by not going to the expense of checking out every driver who says that they will come to orientation. Technically, every driver who comes to orientation is conditionally hired providing nothing pops up on their background check. I don't necessarily agree that drivers should be dinged for leaving during orientation.

[married to the road]

This is incredible!!! Have things changed that much on the company side!?!?

What better time to leave a company than orientation? It is insane to penalize someone who is still in the investigative stage of a new job. JB used to tell you you were being hired, bring you into orientation, and only then complete the process off vetting you. Basically, they'd tell people they were hired, bring them into orientation, and then tell them they weren't being hired afterall and send them home.

I went to orientation for one of their dedicated Dollar General accounts. When I got to orientation and learned the accident rate, and knowing that every dented door goes on your DAC, I told them I was leaving and went home.

This happened to my dad. He quit his job to go work for them and he made it till the second day of orientation when they told him he didn't have a job because of an acident he had.

[bigrigjoe66]

Honest truth, I went to May trucking's orientation in Sept 07. I passed and was sent home to wait on a driver to pick me up and take me to Oregon to be assigned a truck. I was picked up and we went into Fl to deliver a load. Three days later on the way back north I was in a lot of pain so I contacted my d/m and said since I was close to home I was going to go to the doc. He said if I get out to find another job. I had kidney stone surgery 5 days later. Doc said it was in my bladder and as big as a .25 cent gum ball.

I went to JB Hunt in Oct 07 after May. Finished orientation in Atl and everyone was sent home and told to call everyday to check on truck assignments. I called everyday for over 2 weeks. I guess I was mad when in Tifton Ga about 40 miles from me they had about 20 trucks just sitting. I checked a few times in that time period. When I finally was assigned one they said it was in Chicago. I was told to hop a bus. I said I found another job. Maybe I was wrong?

I went to Arrow in Tulsa. I don't know maybe it was me again. Not enough research maybe. I swear they have 800 trucks or so and 70 people in orientation each week. Everyone in my class just about had some sort of criminal record. Their safe stat score was 98%. One thrusday they sent 10 or so experienced drivers out on buses all over the country to be assigned trucks that were abandoned. That to me sounds like a shady outfit. I passed thier orientation but was not assigned a truck so had to stay at roach motel over the weekend. I thought better and came home. Not my type of company.

Anyway that's the ones I left and why. I was told if you take the drug test it goes on you dac as a job but if you leave before you take it it's like you were not there. I took all three because I didn't know that until recently. Live and learn

[GMAN]

It seems to me as though these companies spend a lot of money bringing people to orientation to not have trucks for them. I am surprised that Arrow brings in 70 people per week to orientation.

[rvrjr_7]

One thing i would do is stop at all the small companies in your area. It is my feeling you can get alot more done with a face to face meeting with the people in charge. When I started with this new company I am with never talked to them on the phone but my mechanic put me in touch with this company orentation was 7 hours including getting my truck relettered paperwork and a drug test

[bigrigjoe66]

Arrow had that many in 07- early 08, now I don't know. I can say this. I sent out a mass email from here and Arrow called. I told them I was a rehire and had left orientation last year. She called back thursday and said I checked out and can come to orientation May4. As for small local companies in my area, not many. I have been to 8-10 and they all say I need more experience. I anly have 14 months most want 24.

[GMAN]

Most insurance companies require a minimum of 2 years experience. That is the main reason most smaller carriers will not hire those with less experience. Many of the larger carriers self insure up to a point. Their insurance often only comes into play with a catastrophic claim. I am currently talking with one insurance company that requires 3 years otr experience. I am trying to find better rates on insurance. If it means that I can get a much better rate then that is what I will do.

With the offer from Arrow are you planning on going back with them, bigrigjoe66?

[bigrigjoe66]

I need a job but not that bad. I will mow grass around here first.

[Jumbo]

It seems to me as though these companies spend a lot of money bringing people to orientation to not have trucks for them. I am surprised that Arrow brings in 70 people per week to orientation.

I have had quite a few talks with our recruiter (we only have one) since I started. Mostly to get more of a feel for our company from the inside. When I went though the process of getting hired:
1) I filled out the application.
2) They went through my work history and MVR
3) They had me stop by the closest terminal for a road test.
4) They scheduled a physical and drug test.
Only after these steps did they offer me a job and invite me to orientation. They do it that way so they weed out people before they even get to orientation, Saves them alot of money. We had a couple of openings in Texas and they had 12 people apply. 3 failed the drug test, 2 failed the road test, 5 failed to disclose felonies (including 3 with DWI's) and 2 failed the physical. Can you imagine the expense to bring all these from Texas to Wisconsin (All orientation is done at headquarters in Wisconsin) only to find these things out when they got there?

[GMAN]

One recruiter that I know with one of the larger carriers told me that when they receive an application the first thing they do after checking over the application is to pull a DAC and MVR. They don't even pull those if there are questions about the application. If things look good on the application, DAC and MVR then they may have them come to orientation. They check further once the applicant is at orientation. This particular carrier doesn't even do a drug test until the applicant gets to orientation. In fact, the first thing the applicant does when they get to orientation is take a drug test. Once that is done they start orientation and check references. They check the first 3 years and if everything looks good then the applicant is offered a job once they receive a good drug test back. If there are questions then they may check back 10 years. An offer isn't even made until they receive the results from the drug test. This particular recruiter told me that the main problem they have with new hires is drugs. He told me that a high percentage will actually take drugs over the weekend knowing that they will be taking a drug test the first thing on Monday morning.

I am not sure why some wait until the applicant gets to orientation. It maybe due to so many failing to show up.

[matcat]

One recruiter that I know with one of the larger carriers told me that when they receive an application the first thing they do after checking over the application is to pull a DAC and MVR. They don't even pull those if there are questions about the application. If things look good on the application, DAC and MVR then they may have them come to orientation. They check further once the applicant is at orientation. This particular carrier doesn't even do a drug test until the applicant gets to orientation. In fact, the first thing the applicant does when they get to orientation is take a drug test. Once that is done they start orientation and check references. They check the first 3 years and if everything looks good then the applicant is offered a job once they receive a good drug test back. If there are questions then they may check back 10 years. An offer isn't even made until they receive the results from the drug test. This particular recruiter told me that the main problem they have with new hires is drugs. He told me that a high percentage will actually take drugs over the weekend knowing that they will be taking a drug test the first thing on Monday morning.

I am not sure why some wait until the applicant gets to orientation. It maybe due to so many failing to show up.

If you KNOW you have a drug test, and proceed to do drugs anyway, then you are most assuredly an addict I mean come on, if you must smoke that fatty at least wait until after the drug test!

[Jumbo]

Wouldnt you rather have them not bother showing up then waste your time?

[GMAN]

Wouldnt you rather have them not bother showing up then waste your time?

I don't know why they would even bother, either. They know they will not pass the drug test yet they come to orientation and take the drug test anyway. In addition to wasting everyone's time they are also costing the carrier money for orientation, housing, food, drug test and background check.

[lowrange]

I don't know why they would even bother, either. They know they will not pass the drug test yet they come to orientation and take the drug test anyway. In addition to wasting everyone's time they are also costing the carrier money for orientation, housing, food, drug test and background check.

Knuckleheads are job security for all the rest of us, I guess.

I went through orientation with a guy who got arrested on his first load. Someone noticed him swerving, called the company, and the company called the California Highway Patrol. Dude had a wife and kids. Instead of being able to support them, he goes off to jail, loses his income, loses his livelihood, and will probably have to pay fines in addition to the jailtime.

I hadn't smoked pot for quite a few years. I had been out of trucking for a couple of years and I was partying with some people and, wouldn't you know, took a power drag or two- that's all it takes to mess me up. Anyway, I went back into trucking a few months after that and was a little concerned. Now, to think, guys smoke the ol' mari-hoochie-juana a couple days before their drug test!?!?! All these Darwin Award winners are making it easier for all the rest of us to have jobs.

[Graymist]

I don't know why they would even bother, either. They know they will not pass the drug test yet they come to orientation and take the drug test anyway. In addition to wasting everyone's time they are also costing the carrier money for orientation, housing, food, drug test and background check.

And I'm pretty sure that these malcontents then race for the nearest internet connection, and spew out venom about how they've been hard done by, by the company.