New Woman Driver Needs Job Help

[Trese]

Hi everybody, I'm Theresa from the north Georgia mountains. Hope this finds you all well and safe. I have a situation I need advice on.

I got my CDLs in March of this year and I'm having a hard time finding a job. There is this one company I have been talking to nearly every week who has promised to hire me when they have a trainer. Of course, the male trainers who are married or have girlfriends can't train me because their partners won't allow it. They tell me to call back every week and swear they are trying to help me.

I do have something on my driving record I know is the hindrance, but to me I really don't think it's that bad. Here's the situation...in Jan of 2007 I got a speeding ticket and forgot to pay it which of course put my license in suspension. In November of 2007, I was stopped for a stop sign violation and discovered my license was suspended. I got a violation for the stop sign, driving on a suspended license and no insurance (wasn't my car). I received fines, probation and license further suspended. I got them back in January 09 and there is nothing else tarnishing my record.

Could anyone tell me if there are any companies out there willing to work with a woman who is smart and hard working? It's sad because I've wanted to drive trucks all my life. My dad was a truck driver. I went to nursing school instead and worked as a nurse nearly 20 years, but I'm burned out on all the politics and the greed of it all. I just want a chance to finally get my career started.

[freebirdrfd]

Go to the top of this page and click on job search and or company listings. They are in orange. That will be a good place to start. You can make phone calls and ask a recruiter if they would hire somebody with your driving record. There are so many experienced drivers looking for work right now that it may be hard for you to find a decent company to work for, but you won't know until you call.

[Trese]

Thanks Freebird, I did that a couple days ago. I'll have to start making some calls.

[4roses]

Hello Trese ... I understand what your saying about the fine's you had .... you've taken care of them now -Good for You. .. But have you gone to your local Tag agency and asked for an MVR ? ... it will show any marks you have against you. Company's will look at what your fine's were for and possibly see a liability ... Being a Nurse like you said ... you know the importance of taking care of all business correctly and speedy .... Forgetting to pay a speeding ticket + your license suspension ... and now probation ... yikes! ... Most large trucking companys - 'Insurance companys' they use tell them basicly who they can and cannot hire ..... when you speak to their recuriters don't hide anything from them .... because they will find out later there's more to the story. ..... I believe your gonna have to find a smaller company and their out there .. you just have to keep digging deeper to find them ... and maybe find a local company to work for ... if not on the hwy ... maybe work as a yard dog moving their trailers around the yard for a while ... giving these fines time to get more space away from 2010 .... and letting the Insurance companys see that you know the seriousness of being in control of a Semi.

Please don't take anything I say with disrespect .... because I Respect any Female that wants to be a Professional Truck Driver ... and with your father as a trucker ......... you know this is a very hard job .... lonely .... sometimes very dirty .... and driving on lack of sleep often. And forget seeing any family members back home for up to a month at a time ... I've worked for company's that kept me running for 6wks before they would work me back home .. Best wishes for You .

[Trese]

Yes, I got my MVR when I went to truck driving school...what I mentioned is all that is on there. The truck driving school requested it, you'd think they would have made me aware of the difficulty in finding a job with my record. I am not on probation now...I got everything taken care of in January of 09. I did have a company CRST tell me to reapply in January...I was two months being disqualified with my license suspension. I will drive trucks one day...just like you said, have to give all of this some time distance. I do help my dad move trailers from his shop to other places around time occassionally...just to keep my skills in tune. My husband drove trucks for a couple years too and I was on the road with him, I'm very aware of all of the ins and outs of the job. I do not have any small children at home to worry about and am soon in the process of a divorce, so I will have no ties. And believe you me...I have learned a hard lesson about taking care of my driving record. LOL, I drive way below the speed limit now and I'm extremely careful. Before January of 07 my record was clean, nothing ever on it. Was a bad few years for me there...bad marriage, health, mom with cancer. I will recover from this and be a truck driving mama and I know I will love it.

[4roses]

Trese continue to stay in touch with the companys ... someone will open a door and you'll get a year or 2 under your belt then Everyone will want you ... LOL ........ have you tried any Food Dist warehouse, do you have any big factories close to you ... or even paper company ?? ... heck ... spend a few hours at a good truck stop and have some coffee with a few drivers out there .... they may be able to give you some leads ..... if nothing else I'd set outside a nice truck stop and right down the Name on the side of the tractors and the city their located .... there's alot of small companys out there. How about farm land close by - that might have feed that's hauled around the area or close the 48's .... just keep looking and making phone calls. Clearly this business You have experienced from several directions ... so there's not gonna be any surprises.... I hope the Best for you.

[Luzon]

Try finding out what companies have terminals in the N. GA, S. TN and Atlanta areas. People on here can help you get that list going. Then, drive to the terminals and talk to the managers in person. It's been my experience that they have a certain amount of leaway in making hiring decisions. Nothing to loose.

Also, go spend a little bit of time at one or two of the local truck stops (on I-75 for example) and watch the trucks running through the fuel isle and see if any have local terminals. Talk to some drivers there. Again, nothing to loose. Pick up some of the trucking recruiting mags that are there and make some calls out of those.

Good luck.

[Trese]

Yay, I got a job, got the call today at 3pm. Western Express out of Nashville, TN. I started making calls like yall suggested and it worked out...Thanks for the advice.

[Luzon]

Nice! Congratulations. Keep us posted here on your progress and experiences. Have fun. Also, remember to size up the situation you're about to get into BEFORE you you get into it.

[4roses]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaa ..... I'm glad something came through for you .... keep us posted on how things go for you. If we can help in any way let us know ....

[kimmy]

Congrats on finding a job.I know how tough that can be.Companies are real strict on the hireing.Either for insurance reasons,safety dept,FMCSA ect.I drive trk and have been out here 8 yrs,give or take a month.

[freebirdrfd]

Welcome to the board Kimmy. Now please place a location in your information so that we know were you are from.

[kimmy]

Thank you freebird.I was looking for an introduce yourself forum but did'nt see it.Well lets see,im from South Dakota,I drive for a small company.The pay is'nt the greatest but the people and the company outweighs the pay.They're far better then any of these big carriers.I'm at a truckstop now on my way to Dallas for tomorrow delivery.Thank god for the lap top,LOL.I registered here a week ago but could'nt post anything,I kept getting a message saying I don't have access to that page.Finally someone activated my account.I like this forum.I also have a pet her name is Cindy.She's my little co pilot,LOL.I post info on my profile about me along with a recent pic of myself.

[4roses]

Hello Kimmy ... welcome to CAD ... if your looking for the place to introduce yourself ... go to Anything and Everything .... the very first topic is ... Sticky: New Members - Introduce Yourself
A female with 8yrs experience ..... it will be nice to have you around.! Your input will be helpful for any new females that want to be Professional Drivers. .... Do you drive a van, reefer or flatbed ? or combination ?

[kimmy]

Hi 4roses and thank you for welcoming me to the forum.You all seem like a friendly bunch and so far I feel right at home.I drive a van.I have hauled reefer but like van better because I don't have any of those midnite appts like reefer does,LOL.I seen that introduce thread after posting a christmas thread.I'll formally introduce myself on it.

Hello Kimmy ... welcome to CAD ... if your looking for the place to introduce yourself ... go to Anything and Everything .... the very first topic is ... Sticky: New Members - Introduce Yourself
A female with 8yrs experience ..... it will be nice to have you around.! Your input will be helpful for any new females that want to be Professional Drivers. .... Do you drive a van, reefer or flatbed ? or combination ?

[freebirdrfd]

Be Sure to get the location and pictures up

[kimmy]

Pictures?????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? I'll break the camera,LOL.No actually I took a couple yesterday from my cell while in my trk.I'll post it.

Be Sure to get the location and pictures up

[Truckn00b]

Wow! Talk about persistence! Congratulations on being able to find work! In these hard economic times, finding anything would have to be an absolute pleasure! The fact that you're following you're following in your dad's footsteps is admirable. I too am a female truck driver. I haven't gotten on the roads officially yet, but it's been something I've been wanting to do for the longest time. I absolutely love to travel and I love seeing all sorts of new sights.

Hopefully, I can make some phone calls as well and have the same type of luck. Then again, it's safe to say that YOU created your own luck. Congrats! Hope you enjoy the travelin' life.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

Congrats to all you ladies on getting into the profession. It's a long lonely road, but after a few years, things get much much easier for you. Just remember to steer clear of the Buffets LOL

[kimmy]

Thank you steel horse.I've been doing this 8 yrs now.I get home once a month sometimes I stay out longer.Once you get the exp,get to know the games the companies like to play on the drivers as well as all the laws ect ect ,it does get easier.It's like second nature to me.As far as the buffets go,I hate truckstop food.Rather starve then eat at a boring stale ts.