Interview

I have my first phone interview in the trucking industry coming up. It's with Wil-Trans. I'm very nervous. I want a job in trucking, but I've never been very good with interviews. Any advice for this one or ones that I'm going to have in the near future.

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

I've gotten an opportunity to talk with the family that own the company a few times and they're super nice people. The father started the company back in like '81 or something. He's an old school trucker like I am, and his son and daughter work for the company too. All super nice people.

Wanting to make the most of your opportunity is a really big deal. You wouldn't believe how many people get a chance to get their career started in this industry and won't put in squat for an effort. They don't want to study, they don't want to listen, and they don't have much of a work ethic.

If you're serious about this then let them know that. Let em know you're going to do everything you can to make the most of this opportunity. It costs these companies a ton of money to bring in new drivers. When they don't work out and they wind up on a bus home in two weeks it's really a lot of money down the drain.

Just try to relax and be yourself. They want to give people an opportunity. They just hoping they can pick people who will give it all they've got.

Smile. Yes ma'am yes sir a couple times. Relax, it's just a phone call. Find out a little bit about the company so you can drop a tidbit in the conversation if it comes up. Makes you sound like you are committed and almost own the job already. "So, I drove by your new terminal in Smallville last week. Sure looks nice. I heard you took good care of your drivers, now I believe it.". Corny, but something like that.

Thank you for your help. I just got off the phone with the recruiter. I think it went really well. I should hear by the end of the week if I was approved for their trucking school or not. Now I'm going to be thinking a lot about what it will actually be like to drive. The biggest thing that I have ever driven is an F450.

Thank you for your help. I just got off the phone with the recruiter. I think it went really well. I should hear by the end of the week if I was approved for their trucking school or not. Now I'm going to be thinking a lot about what it will actually be like to drive. The biggest thing that I have ever driven is an F450.

Congrats, Josh. If you get into Wil-Trans' school, I bet you're all but hired when you graduate.

You may have driven an F-450, but a Freightliner is more like an F-9500. No comparison.

Your biggest hurdles will be in getting your brain wrapped around the Hours Of Service, and backing.

Go though the High Road Training Program HOS sections several times.

For backing, I have two suggestions: get a toy semi and play with it, backing up around corners on the dining table. Also, get the broom or a mop, hold the handle against your hip, and walk around the house, not touching anything with the broomstick. Try backing that around a corner!

Keep us posted!

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

I will definitely keep you all posted. I know that it is going to be a lot different than anything I've ever driven. I was just making the comparison to say that I've never driven anything like a freightliner. I will also say that I'm thankful for this site. I haven't posted a ton, but when I have I've received feedback. I've also spent many hours reading the articles and Brett's book. I'm going to spend hours more studying for my test. Regardless of whether I get this job. Because if they don't accept me I'm going to try other places.

Thank you for your help. I just got off the phone with the recruiter. I think it went really well. I should hear by the end of the week if I was approved for their trucking school or not. Now I'm going to be thinking a lot about what it will actually be like to drive. The biggest thing that I have ever driven is an F450.

Congrats, Josh. If you get into Wil-Trans' school, I bet you're all but hired when you graduate.

You may have driven an F-450, but a Freightliner is more like an F-9500. No comparison.

Your biggest hurdles will be in getting your brain wrapped around the Hours Of Service, and backing.

Go though the High Road Training Program HOS sections several times.

For backing, I have two suggestions: get a toy semi and play with it, backing up around corners on the dining table. Also, get the broom or a mop, hold the handle against your hip, and walk around the house, not touching anything with the broomstick. Try backing that around a corner!

Keep us posted!

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.