Comments on: Will Layoffs In The Trucking Industry Affect New Drivers?

By: Brett Aquila

Brett Aquila — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:29:35 +0000

Wow, now that is some terrible luck! We have a huge database of truck driving jobs that you can find here: http://www.truckingtruth.com/find_truck_driving_jobs_state.html

Also, you can try contacting trucking companies that have their own schooling – they would likely be able to find a way to work with you. You can find that here: http://www.truckingtruth.com/free_truck_driving_schools/homepage2.html

With the slow economy and the slow season we’re in right now it’s not going to be easy. You just have to apply like crazy everywhere you can and call each company back at least every other day until you can get a recruiter on the phone to process your application. They have tons of applications sitting in piles collecting dust – you have to be diligent to get them to get yours off that pile and processed.

By: roger cunningham

roger cunningham — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:58:59 +0000

I finished C 1 truck driving school in Oct of 2009 and got a job with Arrow. I was on
the road for 3 weeks when they shut down. Now I am really having trouble finding a job. Most companies want at least 6 months experience.

By: Lee Wilson

Lee Wilson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:12:31 +0000

Sounds like a pile of crap to me. These companys are going to cut cost by hiring inexperienced drivers. New drivers are more likely to be involved in wrecks! Most will take more time to deliver because they are not familiar with routes and location of business. The high turnover rate will be the result that the new driver is working a lot of hours and not loging all the hours it took to complete a route and realize they are working for nothing. Then they realize they are living in their truck and never seeing their family and the company does not care because the market is slow and these companys will take advantage of any driver that comes to work for them because there are more truckers than jobs. That is why these companys will hire the newbe because the experienced knows the companys tricks!!!!

By: Brett Aquila

Brett Aquila — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:30:03 +0000

Now let’s be clear here – I didn’t say every company in America would hire you instantly on the spot. I’m saying that if you’re new to the industry, you will be able to find work. But it is taking longer and getting more difficult as this economy gets worse. But several companies, including C.R. England, Prime, and Central Refrigerated have all been actively hiring lately, and several of our website’s visitors are either in schooling or out on the road with trainers at these companies right now. I understand the concern and frustration when trying to get out there on the road and get rolling, but you’ve only mentioned 3 companies out of the tens of thousands of them nationwide. There are plenty that are hiring, and hopefully as we get into the springtime and out of late winter, which is the slowest time of the year for the trucking industry even in good times, the hiring will pick up even more and jobs will become more plentiful. Companies will hire and then put on a hiring freeze – kinda like turning a valve on or off. The trick is being in touch with the right company at the right time. Does you school have job placement by chance? If so, they should be able to point you in the right direction. Just keep at it and be diligent – it’s going to be tougher getting rollin right now than it normally would, but you will get rolling – which is a lot more than most people can say in pretty much any other industry across the U.S. right now. Best of luck to ya!

By: wyoDriver

wyoDriver — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:47:43 +0000

Ok…then why is Swift barely hiring new drivers, Werner states there are no positions in my area (Denver terminal) and Stevens has a hiring freeze? I’m a recent graduated looking for my new job

By: cindy

cindy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:42:43 +0000

I will let you know how my paper comes out. It is due on the 9th of this month and takes 72 hours to get it back. It has to be 4 pages long, thank God I am long winded

By: Brett Aquila

Brett Aquila — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:31:34 +0000

Hi Cindy.

Yeah, that would be fine if you included my writing in your paper. I always figured I would end up in an ethics study of some sort – but I thought I’d be the subject matter! Good luck with your paper!

By: cindy

cindy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:14:11 +0000

Hello, I am glad I found this site. My husband drives for Conway. He has been there three years now. He started out with CFI and they turned into Conway. You are right – layoffs do not effect new drivers. My husband came out of driving school and went to work for CFI right out of school. It is very different now three years later. I am going to write a paper on what you have to say. I am taking an ethics class and we have been asked to write a paper on curent affairs to show what is ethical or unethical in what is going on today in the world. So if it is ok with you I would like to add you to my paper. If I am right I would site this writer as ( Brett Aquila (Jan.4 2009).

By: Brett Aquila

Brett Aquila — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:47:17 +0000

Hey Doug.

Yap, you’re totally right. If a company has a very narrow focus on the type of freight they’ll haul, they’re going to be prone to the ups and downs within that sector.

I definitely feel like in a poor economy like this that the best luck will be found at larger companies with a much more diverse freight pool, especially the refrigerated carriers who will always have a base of food products to haul.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:04:16 +0000

Another thing that will effect a company is when they are only willing to haul a certain frieght such as paper, I just got laid off because of the paper mills shutting down, because of the price or need of paper. but this company refuse to haul anything else.

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Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:24:47 +0000

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By: TruckerMike

TruckerMike — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:14:07 +0000

Great post Brett! This has definitely been a concern for me but you really put things into perspective.

Keep up the great posts!