Truck Driving Jobs

Iron_Weasel · #1 12-03-2006, 04:51 PM

Was supposed to be attending the CFI "boot camp" orientation tomorrow in Joplin. My bus was supposed to leave at 4am this morning and I was sitting at the Greyhound terminal baggage and ticket in hand around 3am. Due to weather delays and having roughly 135 people there who were stranded last night...as of 8am this morning when I left, they were STILL trying to find a driver to run from Albuquerque, NM to Amarillo, TX. And once we got there, they weren't sure if the route from Amarillo to Joplin, MO would even run due to "weather delays". So even if I did manage to leave out of Albuquerque at some point today, there's no guarantee I would even get to Joplin in time for orientation.

Wow...so I spent the past 3 weeks dealing with CFI and hoping like hell I could get on with them and not have to go with Swift or anybody like that, but then I get screwed on the LAST step...ain't that a b*tch?

Anyway...my top two choices have been yanked out from underneath my feet.

Crete wouldn't take me because I don't have 5 months experience and didn't attend a PTDI certified course.

CFI was working with me to get me in even though I was technically past their 30 day requirement (no more than 30 days between CDL school graduation and per-applying to CFI) at 32 days since graduation.
I was soooooo close to getting this one then fate intervened in the way or horrible bus service.

Having said that - NOW WHAT?!?!

Here's what I'm looking for, nice and simple:
1) Western or southwestern regional runs (I might be willing to do 48 state depending on the company but would prefer regional).

2) Decent equipment.

3) No more than 14 days out at a time.

4) Training program that doesn't use the student as an extra log book.

Am I now stuck with the likes of Swift and Werner after I had tried so hard to avoid them? Sheesh.

Splitter · #2 12-03-2006, 04:55 PM

So, just like that. CFI won't work with you because of something beyond your control?

terrylamar · #3 12-03-2006, 04:55 PM

I would be checking out airline schedules or rental cars. I would beg borrow or steal the money if I didn't have it, refund your bus ticket. I would be there if I was alive.

Super 8 · #4 12-03-2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Weasel

.as of 8am this morning when I left, they were STILL trying to find a driver to run from Albuquerque, NM to Amarillo, TX.

Why don't you just get a job with the bus company?

Big John · #5 12-03-2006, 05:17 PM

As soon as the bus comes available get on it, do your best to get their. Call CFI first thing in the morning if you are not their yet and explain what happen. I don't think your the first driver at CFI to be late to orientation because of the bus company.

Iron_Weasel · #6 12-03-2006, 05:20 PM

Splitter, my recruiter told me last week that if I didn't make it to orientation on December 4th, I was out of luck as they had already been working with me.

Terry, those thoughts did cross my mind. I would have flown in the first place but the shortest flight I found was still 12 hours long and was almost $400. I have already looked at all flights leaving today and every one that I have found gets me there way too late tomorrow morning.

Big John, would they consider not being there at all "late"? :lol:

Big John · #7 12-03-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Iron_Weasel wrote:
.as of 8am this morning when I left, they were STILL trying to find a driver to run from Albuquerque, NM to Amarillo, TX.

Why don't you just get a job with the bus company?

Why did you leave? The bus has probably left too.

Yes Super 8 that's a good idea for weasel he can be one of those.

It sounds like to me someone didn't want to go to Joplin....

Iron_Weasel · #8 12-03-2006, 05:29 PM

I left because I would rather be here and not stuck in Amarillo and from what the bus employees said...that may be what happened. Maybe I was being a little assumptive, but listening to some of the people who had been there for 10+ hours did factor into my decision.
I do plan on calling and talking to CFI if I can work something out with them.
I was just kinda venting some frustration and trying to find a "Plan B" in case I couldn't work anything out with CFI.

Knowing my luck, the bus left 5 minutes after I did.
Who knows, maybe my punishment for being a wuss and not riding the whole thing out will be having to work for Swift or something. :shock:

yoopr · #9 12-03-2006, 05:40 PM

not trying to trivialize what happened for you but you're blowing this way out of proportion. Once you start trucking you'll find that this was nothing and you're gonna hit much worse situations than this little thing.

Iron_Weasel · #10 12-03-2006, 05:46 PM

I know it's trivial, so you can trivialize it all you want, but at the same time it's frustrating because this has been my first experience with it.
I've been up for almost 30 hours, so that has a lot to do with my thought process. But as I said earlier, if I screwed up with CFI, then it's my own fault and I have to accept that.

Just figured I'd seek advice on other possible companies I have to pick from that offer what I am looking for (which I think is relatively little) from those of you who know better than me...which at this point is pretty much everybody. 8)

I'll climb off my soapbox now.