Welcome.
Most companies want you to start the process when you're 30 days from graduation. So if your program happened to be only 30 days long, you'd wanna contact them right when you started.
Also talk to school: "What trucking companies will come to school and recruit?" Then take it from there.
Thank you 6 String and Jetguy for your fast responses! I didn't know about the 30 day time frame, so that helps. Also good suggestion to ask the school. I met with the instructors before I applied, and they told me where the graduates were hired. But i didn't even think that recruiters would come to the class.
6 String....I read your linehaul thread, and it was very informative. I would like linehaul, but I think it's too physical for me, so I'm looking at dry or reefer.
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.A refrigerated trailer.
Hi, Lil, welcome to another Wisconsinite! Which tech school will you be attending? I went to Fox Valley in Appleton, and have been working for Wolding since graduation. I agree with the advice to get prehires going about 30 days before graduation. I did not get applications out until after graduating, and it took about month to get things going.
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.
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.
Hi Deb,
I'm going to MATC (Milwaukee). My future instructors said we'll do a road trip to the FVTC campus. I think it's for skid pad training. I read some of you posts on H.O. Wolding, and you always have good things to say. It's great you're having a good experience with them and that they're positive towards woman. They also seem very safety conscious. I was also looking at Wel also, but when I read someone's awful experience about being booted after being a top driver, that changed my mind. Thanks for confirming the 30 day before graduation.
6 String....I read your linehaul thread, and it was very informative. I would like linehaul, but I think it's too physical for me, so I'm looking at dry or reefer.
Lil, actually linehaul is one of the easiest trucking jobs you could have. It's all drop and hooks. The only physical labor involved is spotting your dolly in between the doubles. But we have older men and a few small, petite women at our terminal that do just fine. The biggest strain is mental, which can be said for all trucking jobs.
There are linehaul jobs where you have to work the dock, but that is not always the case, and I'd say is not the norm. Some of it is company specific. For example, Conway-Freight (actually now called XPO since the buy-out), had their drivers work the dock. Other companies might have their linehaul drivers do dock work if they're a smaller terminal. But most linehaulers just drive, which is why some companies advertise their linehaul jobs as "road driver."
I've never touched a piece of freight, or worked the dock.
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
A refrigerated trailer.
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
6 string thanks again for elaborating on linehaul. I had read on a different site that you had to pull 300 lb dollies, so I'm glad you clarified. I'm far from petite (5'8), but I still can only lift 75 lbs so couldn't imagine pulling so much.
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Although I just registered today, I've been reading this website for weeks. I'm so thankful to have found it since everyone is so helpful and informative. Plus I've enjoyed reading some funny and off the wall responses.
This forum has also helped me decide which route was best for me to receive training. I will be attending my local technical college in a few months to obtain my CDL. Later, I hope to get a job with a company that offers tuition reimbursement. My top choices are Schneider, Roehl or H.O. Wolding, not only because I'm Cheesehead (luv my Packers and WI cheese), but their company values are aligned with mine. They also have solid reputations.
Am I supposed to apply to companies now for pre-hire or wait until I'm in school since I'm not looking for company sponsored CDL training? Thanks in advance!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Pre-hire:
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.
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices