Starting Truck School After Getting Out Of The Military
Topic 18007 | Page 2
Sounds like you have a great plan. Just an FYI, SWIFT has the Dedicated Transportation contract for the Winter Haven Florida Walmart Grocery DC.
Man thanks I really appreciate that. I will definitely be pursuing that one.
Sounds like you have a great plan. Just an FYI, SWIFT has the Dedicated Transportation contract for the Winter Haven Florida Walmart Grocery DC.
Sun King suggests:
If Walmart is the ultimate goal, find out which companies handle overflow or handle store deliveries for the DC you are interested in. I was on a overflow assignment for my company for two weeks at a Walmart DC around thanksgiving. You get a good understanding of the environment and get to know the office staff and some drivers. You also get a Walmart ID so when you do apply they have a record of you.
A few things of note: in these situations you have to not be a "subcontractor" for Walmart for 6 months. Also, check the hiring requirements. I know you have to be actively driving for 30 months before hiring and have hazmat.
Sun King I don't understand the 6 months point you made here. If Kurtis is working for a Dedicated Carrier partnering with Walmart, he is not considered a subcontractor. At my DC Walmart has hired many of our drivers right from the SWIFT ranks with no gap, went from SWIFT Dedicated at the DC to WMPF at the same DC in one day. Hazmat is desirable,...if you don't have it, they suggest and will help you get it. I have run Walmart store deliveries for over 4 years, 1400+ deliveries and never once needed my Hazmat endorsement.
Again, if he is serious about this, hiring on with a carrier that has a Dedicated Walmart contract is the absolute best way to go. Although overflow is a good introduction, a full-time track record of 3 or more consecutive years of 100% on-time, no accidents delivering to Walmart Stores and SAMs is what will get their attention and place him ahead of most applicants.
Requirements could be different from DC to DC. The two in my areas have that requirement with the companies running dedicated routes for them.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
SunKing,...the hiring qualifications are consistent from one DC to another. WMPF although part of the Walmart family of companies, has their own management structure, autonomous from the DCs. What you speak of may actually be a stipulation of your company (Interstate Distribution?) or a way for them to passively dissuade one of their experienced Dedicated Walmart drivers from jumping ship. Unless you "heard" this directly from a Walmart Private Fleet employee (not a driver cause they may not really know) or read it an official document, I'd take it with a "grain-of- salt". I cannot think of any logical or legal reason why a particular DC or region would want a 6 month gap doing something else other than Walmart work. The experience delivering to their stores and understanding how their operation works is what they want. Sorry, not trying to be argumentative, but it doesn't make any sense to me or the Walmart people I know at the DC I am assigned to. I briefly spoke to one of WMPF operations personnel at my DC and they know of no such requirement for Partner's Company Drivers applying to WMPF in other regions. The only specific explanations they could think of were; the region in question wasn't adding drivers to their fleet for six months or they were looking for an additional 6 months of experience from a particular individual. Remember 30 months OTR experience (does not include road training) is the bare minimum requirement.
Here is a link specifying driver qualifications for Walmart's Private Fleet: WMPF Driver Qualifications
Of particular note is the "Hazmat Requirement" language, exactly as I stated in a previous reply.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
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Thanks. I already have pre hires with Schneider, Werner, and Swift. Those are my top companies with Werner being number one because the pay out for my G.I. Bill is better with the apprenticeship program. I'm thinking about Knight transportation too because I like their company as well. Either way it's going to be my own experience that makes the company what it is. I try to not let those negative comments about different companies affect my decision because there is something negative about every company just like the military has its negative things. It's what you make of it that determines your future with that company. Military isn't for everyone just like some companies might not be for them
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.
Pre Hires:
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.