Comments By Digital C.

Hello everyone,

First, Merry Christmas to you all!

I've been lurking for a couple months trying to absorb all of the content on this website. I need some help because I'm in a bit of a rut trying to figure out my next move.

First let me state that what I thought I was getting into with trucking and what happened in reality are two very different things. I know some of you are smiling and nodding.

I will be completing 160 in Houston soon. But what I've come to find is that there aren't any jobs for rookies living in Houston, Texas metro. I find that odd because DAT shows a ton of cargo. That's great for O/O but not so much for new rookies. So, I need some more training and yes, I can understand and appreciate that. I need to pay my dues just like everyone else.

It seems that the only company appears genuinely interested in me and has extended a conditional offer is Schneider. And the only reason they are interested is because I paid for my own training. Yes, they told me that they wouldn't pay for my training any time soon (3-6 months). And the only positions I can fit into as a rookie are tanker (are they out of their minds?!) and PODS flatbed or National Dedicated Fleet. Now the PODS job looks like a cakewalk gig. Strap and go skateboard lower 48. $5k sign on maybe $900/week gross. The NDF looks like a PITA (van, reefer, flatbed/conestoga & moffit loader). It is also $5k sign on and they are paying $400/week bonus each 4th and continuous week I stay out which would pay about $1440 until TAH then it resets back to $1040 for 3 weeks. They said they would pay me back for my training at a rate of $200/month. That's very nice of them. But I've been told that when a company offers a large sign on bonus to a rookie it's a red flag that it's a bad position. Also, I was reading the diaries here of a young man that did NDF but didn't make it more than 5 months then quit trucking altogether.

Then there is Swift. They are interested but they won't discuss pay with me until I've signed on with them because of proprietary pay secrets. They really did say this to me. Ok whatever. They have some really nice trucks but saying that is a big red flag. Werner is a possibility, but they and JB Hunt were basically hinting at 90 days minimum drive time required with 6 months preferred.

I did reach out to Maverick and TMC but both said I live too far out of their service area? I think it has to do with my parking zip code. And it is probably an insurance thing since I live near Galveston Bay.

A lot of the companies that were suggested on this website said they weren't interested because I paid for my own training. CRST and the others. They are very firm that they want to sponsor the driver CDL and not interested in new driver with CDL.

I didn't know that paying for my own CDL training would hinder my chances of getting a job. I'm pretty sure my backing is superior to any of the company trained drivers. That's all we do at school 8 hours every day nothing but backing. Kidding aside, I just want to make some decent money when I get out of school so I can get my own truck (when the prices re-enter the atmosphere) and be O/O. And it would be nice to be able to see the missus sooner rather than later so I can get my honey-do list completed every month.

I have civilian DOD military/government contractor background. My MVR is spotless, no criminal history, clean drug/alcohol clearinghouse, pretty good credit, TWIC (used to work in maritime industry) & passport. Good to go all the way around. No medical issues except for the elevated pre-hypertension BP which limited me to a 1 year medical. And it's not that because I've not gotten to that point in any interview process with anyone yet.

So, at this point I've spent several thousand dollars thinking I would be able to come into this career without much difficulty. I was dead wrong. That was everything I had saved up. It's not like I can do anything else at this point. I need and want to work but it seems like no one wants to hire me. Why is this?!

Can any of you offer a rookie some advice or give me some starter company suggestions?

Much appreciated, David