You don't have to commit to anything to get a pre-hire letter. I had several lined up when I started, and it was a good thing too. I got rejected and sent home several times.
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
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I am sitting here as a returning driver. I was not driving commercially since about 1995. I applied to one company that I believe is a good match for me and after a few bumps in the road I have a pending invite to orientation. I set it up to be about a month and a half from now. That makes it the beginning of Feb 2018.
In going through the forums, it seems that it is in your best interest to get as many prehire letters as possible. From what I have read Prehire letters are typically done prior to going to school or while you are in school striving for your CDL. In my case I have held my CDL for many years just not used it.
My real question here is since I have an invite to one company should I still send out more applications? If so if they respond positively how should I respond to them. I do not feel like it is right to set up to go with them after I have setup to go with another company. Yet if I get sent home from orientation, I will be out of work and looking to get out on the road asap just to survive. I will have already quit my primary and secondary jobs to attend the orientation in the first place.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.