Ill be leaving this current job hopefully by mid-july to drive class A. Heres my problem, Ive EARNEDDDDDDD about 60 hours in vacation time currently. So I have between now and then to try and use it all up. I dont want to use it while im still in school. I would like 9 days off instead of 5. Im going to school on weekends and working fulltime during the week.

Id like to try and schedule this once Im done school and looking for a job. Also this way I wont have to try and get time off from work to go to an interview or deliver an application. I finish school on June 22nd, and hopefully will pass my driving test shortly after.

Once I fill out an app. how long can I expect to wait before A. Interview B. Physicals C. Hiring D. Whatever other points of the process Im missing? Basically start to finish.

 

There no 1 answer for your question. Some people get a job in trucking right away and some never do. In Maine unemployment is high, so trucking jobs may not ready available, not to mention the wages are low in that area.

 

Most large otr companys dont interview like a office job would,they run your mvr check your work and background history once all checks out they bring you for orientation which can last from two to four days depending on the compan,then you will get another road test physical and drug screen all in all after background check and orientation you might be looking at a couple weeks.

 

Yeah the process can go anywhere from 1 week up to a few months start to finish. When I started with swift it was 3 weeks before I got shipped out (But I went to their school), then after completing their school it was 6 days before orientation, orientation went for 3 days, then it was 2 days before I went out with my trainer (Mentor in swift language) AFTER finishing with trainer, got back to terminal, spent half a day proving I was ready for solo, then right away I was given a loaner truck that had to be delivered to Greer, SC (They don't usually do this), went down there, came back up (Took 3 days all in all), and luckily got a truck right away .

 

The basic process for getting a job in OTR goes like this.

Go to school, get your CDL.
While in school fill out applications, talk to recruiters to get a 'pre-hire'.

Once you get your CDL, pick which company that you want to go with from the ones that you got a 'pre-hire' from and schedule an orientation date.

Go to their orientation for 2-5 days, then go out with one of their trainers for 6-8 weeks.

At any point during this you could be sent home.

Traditional Trucking
Application Application/Recruiter
Invitation to In-Person Orientation
interview
OJT Training

Now, for your particular situation about your vacation - lots of possibilties, lots of questions.
If you leave, before you take vacation will you receive pay for that instead?
What is the min amount of time you can take off - one day, 5-days, etc?

If its the situation where you would not be paid for that time, but can take one day at a time - personally I would take Monday and Friday's off while you are in training.

 

I can break my vacation time down into single days. Im not sure if my boss would give me a lump sum to pay off my 60 hours. If I cant get a full vacation ill be doing atleast a day a week/every other week off. Two is difficult, there are now two new employees I have to train before I leave. I also put out 75% of the finished product.

I understand its a hard question, just relize im a newbie and trying to figure this industry out the best way I can. I appreciate any and all replies. I hate the feeling of being uncertain. :?

 

If your company has a real employee handbook, it should tell you what the policy is on payment of vacation hours. If not, I would talk to your Human Resources dept (if you have one) and ask what the policy is for vacation / sick time pay off. With only 5 days to get off the books, I really don't think you need to worry about what affect that is going to have on productivity at your company. Going the weekend training route you will be in driving training longer than you have days off. I don't know how long the training would be, but using SWAG you could train for 4 weeks, then for 5 weeks take 1 day off.