[Anthena]

Hello everyone!

I'm currently in the process of going through Western truck driving school's Class A program and I was wondering if any of you could help me out and answer a few interview questions that was given to me by the people that's helping me fund the class. Any help in this matter would be certainly most appreciated!


1. What are the things that you do on a typical day?

2. What are the minimum requirements for the Job: Training, Certification, Licensing, Degrees, tools, Union Membership?

3. What is the entry level job Title and what is the salary range for this job?

4. What benefits are offered through the company? (health insurance, dental, retirement, etc.)?

5. What is the outlook in this field for job growth?


Again thank you for your help!

[VPIDarkAngel]

1. Pre-trip inspection. Drive. Unload freight at a store. (repeat the second and third a few times). Drive some more. Fuel the truck. Get back to the distribution center and drop that trailer. Pick up and inspect another trailer.
2. Beyond the basic CDL requirements and our own training program, I'm not sure. However, with our account, five trips with a 'mentor' must be done first before the driver can go out solo. Tools? We get our own account-specific tool kit which has the things necessary to perform certain liftgate repairs, and some of us even carry 60' jumper cables in case of liftgate battery failures. Union? What the heck is a union?
3. No salary. Pay can be anywhere from $45k (if you fart around and don't do your job right) to $60k (if you hustle) yearly for a solo driver.
4. We have health insurance and dental through BlueCross/BlueShield, and the company matches half of the first 3% of gross income contributed to a 401k.
5. People want cheap crap. We deliver cheap crap. Our customer is selling more and more cheap crap every day.

[Anthena]

First of all thank you very much for your reply Angel and secondly I laughed when you mentioned "People want cheap crap. We deliver cheap crap" the first thing that came to mind was Werner and Dollar store, when I saw your pics I laughed even louder! xD

My father ran for them in '89 and '95, I spent my summer running with him and I remember those Dollar store runs. Again Angel thank you! =)

[golfhobo]

Anthena said:

I was wondering if any of you could help me out and answer a few interview questions that was given to me by the people that's helping me fund the class. Any help in this matter would be certainly most appreciated!

I'm assuming this is a state "workforce investment act" type situation. I used the same resource... and had to answer the same questions. Not detracting from VIP's "experience," but... here are a few other answers:

1. What are the things that you do on a typical day?

Drive and work long hours, often sitting in one position. Also, map reading, BACKING up to a dock or into a tiny parking space. Monitoring time in relation to HOS rules and knowing other regulations. Staying aware at all times to protect the lives of the idiot 4-wheelers who are texting while driving (or otherwise distracted or careless.) Trip planning, reading EVERY sign on the road, and monitoring guages and/or sounds to know when your rig has a problem that can become hazardous.

2. What are the minimum requirements for the Job: Training, Certification, Licensing, Degrees, tools, Union Membership?

CDL driver school. State proficiency testing (written and driving/parking.) About 5 times the cost of a regular license. No degree required. Union ONLY if applying to a union company. Tools? Tire thumper, adjustable wrench, needle nose pliers, screwdrivers, fuse pullers, liquid wrench, and duct (and electrical) tape.

3. What is the entry level job Title and what is the salary range for this job?

We're all truck drivers (although some are called trainees to start.) Some of us prefer "Freight Relocation Specialist." The majority of newbie drivers can expect no more than $30-35k for the first year. But, after some years... $75k or more is possible if you get with a good company.

4. What benefits are offered through the company? (health insurance, dental, retirement, etc.)?

MOST companies do not offer benefits to start, and some never do. You may get lucky out of the gate... but, I would plan to pay my dues for a few years before getting hired by a good company with benefits.

5. What is the outlook in this field for job growth?

About the only "advancement" is in pay, bennies or company "co-operation." But, there are always job openings. Turnover rate is high, and the population keeps growing and needing stuff delivered. However... freight is very much tied to economic prosperity.

On the other hand, with commensurate experience, you CAN become a Driver Trainer.... if you don't mind risking your life every day for a little more pay. You could even become a school instructor if that interests you. And, of course... you can always become a dispatcher with absolutely NO training or understanding of the job whatsoever! If you like responsibility, you might consider moving into the "Safety" field some day.

And finally, IF you are ambitious enough, you might someday own your own truck and maybe a few others. This moves you into the area of business owner (carrier) and can vastly improve your income. But... that path does NOT come from "buying into" the Lease Operator scams that will probably be "offered" to you at every turn.

[Useless]

What VIPDarkAngel and Golf said. I've been out of the industry for quite some time now, but I'll add a few thoughts of my own:

1.) Don't let anyone talk you into venturing into a "Lease Operator" or "Lease Purchase" program[/B]. Those "FLease" deals favor the companies; not the drivers.

2.) Be very, very, wary of employers (usually mom & pop outfits, or owners who have just a few trucks) who want to pay you to drive their trucks as a Form 1099 contractor. In most cases, what they're attempting to do is illegal, and as with fleece operators, those situations favor the employer, and not the driver. All too many times, those drivers also have difficulty getting paid.

3.) STAY AWAY FROM C.R.England...... unless being hungry, stranded, and bankrupt appeals to you!!

4.) Stear clear of "outlaw" companies. They'll offer you plenty of miles, but their equipment is often poorly maintained, (although I know of one operation that ran decent equipment) they'll require you to run illegally, and they usually don't pay very well. State DOT & LE Agencies know who they are, and you'll spend plenty of time pulled behind the chicken houses, often because you're over hours and/or your truck or trailer has been red-flagged. Guess who will get stuck paying the fines?? These operations usually hire ex-cons, drivers who have failed drug tests, gone through SAP programs, and been sidelined for a few years, and drivers who for various other reasons can't get hired anywhere else; they're the bottom feeders of the industry.

5.) With the mega-carriers (Swift, American Eagle, FFE, Schneider, Werner, etc.) you'll be a number, and not a name. The dispatchers can be real a&&holes, and they're used to newbs washing out or quitting. All they care about is having a butt in the driver's seat and getting a load delivered.
The flip side is that they're more likely to offer benefits like health insurance, 401K's paid vacation time, tuition reimbursement, etc. Over the course of a few years, you can develop relationships with freight managers, safety personnel, etc. Then you'll have the opportunity to be less of a number, and more of a name.
I found a good midsize company that was large enough to keep me running and provide benefits, but small enough to know my name. They were also very family friendly, which was important to me. Fortunately, I also had an awesome dispatcher, which is rare. Unfortunately, as I stated earlier, I've been out of the industry for about eight years, now, and much in the industry has changed.

6.) Be wary of what recruiters tell you. There are some good ones, but many of them are almost as honest as used car salesmen, televangelists, or politicians, or a used car salesmen turned televangelist, or a televangelist who's campaigning for public office.

7.) I chose to run as a team driver my first winter, and I'm glad that I did. I don't know where you live, but I live in South Texas, and we just don't get much snow or ice down here. When we do, it's usually enough to ice over the bridges and overpasses, and not much else. TxDOT shuts the highways down at the first hint of ice because most people around here can't drive when it's clear and dry, much less in inclement weather.
When I hit black ice up in the Midwest, I really benefited from having a mentor observing and guiding me. Taking a truck around a hair-pin curve or on a short exit ramp in black ice, loaded or empty, can quickly lead to jackknifes, roll overs, or other serious trouble.
Fortunately, the company I drove for would support a driver's decision to shut down in ice, or in dangerous weather. They would rather call a customer and tell them that their load was going to be a day or so late than to tell them that their shipment was scattered about over the highway, or sitting in a ditch.
Their policy was, "If it's snow?? Go slow. If it's ice?? No dice."

Best of luck to you, but always remember:
"Luck is a phenomenon which occurs when the thresholds of preparation converge with the thresholds of opportunity and/or circumstance!!"

[Useless]

Originally Posted by golfhobo

Anthena said:


CDL driver school. No degree required.

"No degrees"?? "No Diploma Mills"?? I'll respectfully disagree.
Think of yourself as a graduate from a "Wholesale Freight Relocation University"!!

Tools? Tire thumper, adjustable wrench, needle nose pliers, screwdrivers, fuse pullers, liquid wrench, and duct (and electrical) tape.

Also: Work gloves, grease rags, Windex/ Formula 409, etc., paper towels, bungee cords, flashlights (at least two; one with a high powered beam; GPS. isn't always accurate; it's very useful when looking for street numbers ans addresses. It's also a good tool for personal safety; the beam can actually blind someone for a few seconds.), batteries, a strong "Master" key lock, and an inexpensive pair of binoculars the binoculars saved me a lot of walking and guessing. They're great for reading signs at a distance. You'll be surprised to discover how useful they are!!

Golf and VIPDarkAngel gave you a pretty good list; just thought I'd throw in my 2 cent's worth!!

[Anthena]

Thank you guys for the answers and words of wisdom. I wish you all blessing! =)

[mndriver]

Don't forget the thick skin because a lot of people are going to treat you like crap.

[VPIDarkAngel]

Originally Posted by mndriver

Don't forget the thick skin because a lot of people are going to treat you like crap.

Agreed. It happens, but not ALL the time.

Oh, and it appears that I've caused some dyslexia here... It's VPI (Virginia Polytechnic Institute, my alma mater), not VIP.
Good luck in your endeavors.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by VPIDarkAngel

Oh, and it appears that I've caused some dyslexia here... It's VPI (Virginia Polytechnic Institute, my alma mater), not VIP.
Good luck in your endeavors.

No, you haven't caused it, but I am severely dyslexic. I just now noticed the transposition.