Can Recruiters Be Trusted?

Hey guys! I’m brand new here and just got my cdl. I’d like to be a flatbedder. I am hoping to go to maverick, I have been approved by their hiring committee I’m just waiting on a start date. The issue is, I’ve been out of work for about 8 weeks now since starting school and now this delay so, it’s becoming hard to wait. Thankfully I have some side work to keep the lights on. To the point: I’ve been looking into some other companies while I wait for maverick to bring me in. Werner is one. My recruiter is telling me that the Goodman account pays 47 cpm , ~2500 miles per week which Sounds good. Too good. It contradicts everything I’ve seen and heard about the pay at Werner. But, they can start me next week. Any insights? Thanks!

My recruiter is telling me that the Goodman account pays 47 cpm , ~2500 miles per week which Sounds good. Too good. It contradicts everything I’ve seen and heard about the pay at Werner.

Welcome to our forum!

Here's something for you to think about. How is it that you are willing to believe "everything I’ve seen and heard about the pay at Werner," but you doubt your recruiter?

Here's the problem with your approach to trucking. You are eager to believe a bunch of people you've never met, and have no idea of their abilities to succeed at trucking. Would it surprise you to find we have had plenty of drivers here who were very successful at Werner? Doesn't it seem strange that Werner has a long list of "Million Miler" drivers? I've actually seen 4 of them on the interstates this week. Their trucks are clearly marked when a Million Miler driver is occupying it.

Why are you so eager to "believe" all the knuckleheads on the internet? The loudest complainers are usually the lousiest drivers. Trucking pays well, but only for the people who do it well. You can make good money at Swift, C.R. England, Werner, or any other large trucking operation. Their pay packages are all similar. The resulting paychecks are all different. Why is that?

Trucking pay is performance based pay. It's not an hourly job. Top performers earn the best pay. I realize you are new to this, but one of the first things you'll need to do is throw out your preconceived ideas that you've developed from researching the internet. Ninety eight percent of what you think you know is wrong.

Werner is one of the best managed trucking operations in the public market place. They have held their own through all kinds of market changes and challenges. They keep up with the times and manage to increase their market value with a steady hand. You don't do that by cheating your drivers.

Forget the things you think you know about trucking and trucking companies. I can assure you most of it is flat out wrong. Here's what you really need to be deciding. What type freight do you want to haul? If you want to be a flatbedder then Maverick is the place to be. Get on the phone and let them know you are anxious to get started. Ask if they can bump you up when they have a cancellation. Make sure you're being proactive. Don't just sit around waiting for them to call. Make some noise - be a squeaking wheel and try to get some grease. They will appreciate your eagerness.

I want you to listen to this podcast. I'm thinking you need to hear it. I hope it will help clear up some of your misunderstanding about trucking companies.

Are Major Carriers Nothing More Than Starter Companies?

As always old school is spot on. Werner is a fine company. Beautiful trucks that are well maintained.

You sometimes gotta be persistent with recruiters I had to bug mine call his boss to get the ball rolling. If u want to do flatbed you might want to try Melton. I ultimately didn’t go with them. But everyone on the phone I dealt with was top notch. It took them less then 24 hours to approve me and I could’ve left a week later to start training. If your eager u might want to give them a try

I started with Werner. They are a fine company like so many others out there. They have many different accounts and only one is not recommended for new drivers.. The dollar accounts. They are extremely challenging to maneuver in and out. I was on a home depot account and it was very seasonal. Feast in spring and summer, and due winter, very little freight.

And if you are wanting flatbed, do not over look TMC. I've had several friends whom started out with them and they loved it. Good training program and paid percentage of the load.

I had a similar concern about trusting my recruiter starting out. I can tell you that everything she told me was accurate and what she told me would happen did. Everything From rate of pay, miles and even a need for time off for a preplaned vacation all came to pass just as I was told.

Recruiters are not in the business of telling fairytales

A recruter's job is to help screen people and are usually the beginning of your long interview. It is very expensive to bring in new drivers and more so with students. If recruiters lied people would not stay very long, companies would lose tons of money and a lying recruiter would not have a job. It can take a company 6 months or more to break even on the cost of hiring an experienced driver, much longer for a student.

Recruiters who lie don't make money.

As a rehire with CFI it took almost 4 weeks from the day I filled out my application to my rehire date. It can take time. With COVID-19 some companies are bringing in fewer people at a time.

Good luck.

I really appreciate all of the replies! I know I’m new to this so, I have a lot to learn. I also know that, as in any industry, the big guys take the punches and bad reviews. I’m still leaning toward flatbed, seems more my style but, I’m glad to see that my reservations about Werner seem to be unfounded. The wife and I are going the beach this weekend so, we’ll take that time to make the decision. I applied to Melton yesterday just waiting for approval. TMC was actually my first choice but they turned me down because of a blemish on my mvr. I am looking forward to getting on the road and learning a new trade!

Yes recruiters can be trusted. You have to go with your gut. Nothing in life is certain, you won't know until you try.

Thank you for posting that podcast, great stuff.

My recruiter is telling me that the Goodman account pays 47 cpm , ~2500 miles per week which Sounds good. Too good. It contradicts everything I’ve seen and heard about the pay at Werner.

Welcome to our forum!

Here's something for you to think about. How is it that you are willing to believe "everything I’ve seen and heard about the pay at Werner," but you doubt your recruiter?

Here's the problem with your approach to trucking. You are eager to believe a bunch of people you've never met, and have no idea of their abilities to succeed at trucking. Would it surprise you to find we have had plenty of drivers here who were very successful at Werner? Doesn't it seem strange that Werner has a long list of "Million Miler" drivers? I've actually seen 4 of them on the interstates this week. Their trucks are clearly marked when a Million Miler driver is occupying it.

Why are you so eager to "believe" all the knuckleheads on the internet? The loudest complainers are usually the lousiest drivers. Trucking pays well, but only for the people who do it well. You can make good money at Swift, C.R. England, Werner, or any other large trucking operation. Their pay packages are all similar. The resulting paychecks are all different. Why is that?

Trucking pay is performance based pay. It's not an hourly job. Top performers earn the best pay. I realize you are new to this, but one of the first things you'll need to do is throw out your preconceived ideas that you've developed from researching the internet. Ninety eight percent of what you think you know is wrong.

Werner is one of the best managed trucking operations in the public market place. They have held their own through all kinds of market changes and challenges. They keep up with the times and manage to increase their market value with a steady hand. You don't do that by cheating your drivers.

Forget the things you think you know about trucking and trucking companies. I can assure you most of it is flat out wrong. Here's what you really need to be deciding. What type freight do you want to haul? If you want to be a flatbedder then Maverick is the place to be. Get on the phone and let them know you are anxious to get started. Ask if they can bump you up when they have a cancellation. Make sure you're being proactive. Don't just sit around waiting for them to call. Make some noise - be a squeaking wheel and try to get some grease. They will appreciate your eagerness.

I want you to listen to this podcast. I'm thinking you need to hear it. I hope it will help clear up some of your misunderstanding about trucking companies.

Are Major Carriers Nothing More Than Starter Companies?