1st Company And Would Like To Haul Reefer...
Topic 30933 | Page 5
Not sure of your location. Check out Continental Express.
They have a terminal in Fort Worth, which is not far from where I live. I submitted an application. No contact received, so this is why I have not listed them as one of the top companies that I am considering. I will be following up on my application with them on Wednesday.
Terminal:
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.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Curious as to why Swift isn’t in your list, they are recruiting reefer heavily and they just gave us all a hefty raise in dry van ($0.11 a mile), but I’ve really enjoyed my time at swift, granted there has been a few problems, but that’s gonna happen at every company.
I don’t pull reefer because cambro logistics is the devil and I don’t like them.
I just can’t stand being backed into a door and waiting 1-10 hours to get unloaded, which is what always happens at every grocery warehouse except Walmart.
Swift will certainly get you to all 48 too.
Swift told me no way because of my background when I was looking at Company-sponsored training before utilizing WIOA grant. I have not bothered to submit an application with them this time around. Basically, they said that they can't work with my background...EVER.
WIOA:
WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)
Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
I am back in the US now (arrived home about an hour ago) and will be making phone calls tomorrow to follow up on all of my applications. I am really excited to see what companies decide they would like to give me an opportunity.
Update:
I have been in contact with several companies over the past two days. A handful have eliminated me as a potential candidate.
Of those that eliminated me or require that I fulfill an additional requirement before my application can be processed, the companies are as follows:
Continental Express (8 months experience needed).
JBS Carriers (need a refresher course or 1 year of experience).
May Trucking Company (eliminated myself because they require passing a road driving test before going out with a trainer. Refresher course would be needed.)
Pride Transport (do not meet hiring criteria and would not further explain).
West Side Transport (no longer train drivers out of CDL school; 3 months experience needed).
Western Dairy Express (tanker endorsement required. Appointment set to add tanker endorsement and doubles/triples endorsement this Saturday. Not sure if I want my first job to be hauling tanker.)
Here are the companies that have extended a conditional offer of employment or are still processing my application:
Butler Transport
CFI
Dutch Maid Logistics
Global District
KLLM (require refresher course but will provide said refresher course with pay).
Knight Transportation
Premier Refrigerated Transport
RBX
Tyson Foods
Witte Bros
To all who have provided feedback, suggestions, and support, thank you.
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.
Doubles:
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
If knight has indeed expressed interest in hiring you, you may want to look into it. They are not always the easiest to get hired by. They have a wealth of opportunities and options that would fit the criteria that you seem to be looking for.
Another thing that I found appealing about knight is that you are hired before you start school or a refresher course with them. There isn't the process of going to orientation and hoping that you don't get sent home. You will know if you are hired before you get started.
If knight has indeed expressed interest in hiring you, you may want to look into it. They are not always the easiest to get hired by. They have a wealth of opportunities and options that would fit the criteria that you seem to be looking for.
Another thing that I found appealing about knight is that you are hired before you start school or a refresher course with them. There isn't the process of going to orientation and hoping that you don't get sent home. You will know if you are hired before you get started.
I am in communication with a recruiter at Knight and so far everything has been straight forward. One thing that I like about all of these companies is that they are running my background and approving me for hire before I am invited to orientation. My assigned recruiter at Knight is willing to answer any and every question. There is no sales pitch. She really seems to have the approach that it does neither of us any good to tell prospective drivers anything other than the truth. I have read enough of your posts on Knight (and from Old School) to know if she were trying to sell me a pipe dream.
Whether or not I am still being considered after the background check/work history, I will just have to wait and see.
Every one of the companies listed has its upside and some have more downside than others. But, I would be happy to get my start with any one of them. I don't view any of those companies as a place to get a few months experience and run off to another company. I want to hire on somewhere and stay with that company for some years. My perspective is that if I want to do something different than what I am doing, I should explore every opportunity within the current company at which I am working before considering going somewhere else. I do understand why some drivers move on from a company after a short time, but it just doesn't seem like a good way to start a career. Starting to ramble, so I will end my post at that. Thanks for stopping by to drop a message, Davy. 
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
It's finally here. I have an offer to attend orientation, actually two offers.
Dutch Maid Logistics (thank you so very much, Anne because I probably would not have even thought of this company without your suggestion).
Butler Transport
I have decided to go with Dutch Maid Logistics because they conducted a phone conference interview with me having every decisionmaker (as far as hiring) for the company involved. They asked me to disclose all of the dirty details of my background so that everything is on the table. They took a couple of days to decide whether to bring me in or not and decided that they will give me a chance. The recruiter fir Butler Transport, when I told him about my background, he asked how old it is (2006) and he said that won't be a problem no matter what it is. That to me sounds like arriving at orientation and being told that my background is a disqualifier. Maybe it wouldn't work out like that, but I would rather go somewhere that everything is fully disclosed and there is no possibility for something from my background or work history to become an issue.
I will be starting a training diary during orientation. After that, I will try to post periodically, but my focus is going to be on learning what I need in order to be a safe, on-time driver who is asset to Dutch Maid Logistics.
Dutch Maid Logistics is a family-oriented, company run by people who are Christians and serious about their faith. I am so thankful that this opportunity has come.
All of the other companies with which I applied either declined my application or have not returned my calls in following up on my application.
Thank you to everyone here who has provided me with information, insight, and guidance. It will be time to update my profile soon. (The tab that allowed me to edit my profile has disappeared again.)
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Congrats. I know very little about Dutch Maid Logistics other than Anne's post.
Best of luck. Keep up head held high. A late friend of mine always said "Dont sweat the simple s$&t. By the way its all simple s&&t!!!"
May the good lord shine a little light on you.
It's finally here. I have an offer to attend orientation, actually two offers.
Dutch Maid Logistics (thank you so very much, Anne because I probably would not have even thought of this company without your suggestion).
Butler Transport
I have decided to go with Dutch Maid Logistics because they conducted a phone conference interview with me having every decisionmaker (as far as hiring) for the company involved. They asked me to disclose all of the dirty details of my background so that everything is on the table. They took a couple of days to decide whether to bring me in or not and decided that they will give me a chance. The recruiter fir Butler Transport, when I told him about my background, he asked how old it is (2006) and he said that won't be a problem no matter what it is. That to me sounds like arriving at orientation and being told that my background is a disqualifier. Maybe it wouldn't work out like that, but I would rather go somewhere that everything is fully disclosed and there is no possibility for something from my background or work history to become an issue.
I will be starting a training diary during orientation. After that, I will try to post periodically, but my focus is going to be on learning what I need in order to be a safe, on-time driver who is asset to Dutch Maid Logistics.
Dutch Maid Logistics is a family-oriented, company run by people who are Christians and serious about their faith. I am so thankful that this opportunity has come.
All of the other companies with which I applied either declined my application or have not returned my calls in following up on my application.
Thank you to everyone here who has provided me with information, insight, and guidance. It will be time to update my profile soon. (The tab that allowed me to edit my profile has disappeared again.)
Congrats, Kerry !!!!!
Glad to have been of help. Please let Sam (the safety guy) know that we hooked you up w/them, thru this site!!!! Yes, they are very family oriented; about the same size as FAB, where Tom works now. I love the 'unit' feeling.
When are you leaving? Are they bringing you into Willard? So excited for ya, man!!!! Say hi to Luc, if you see him. I forget his truck # dangit. He's the Asian guy I got on with them almost 2 years ago & he loves it.
Keep ME in the loop!!! Yay!!
~ Anne ~
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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I have an application with them. When I applied with them just before starting CDL school, they turned me down because I had just gotten off of parole. That was over a year ago now. I will be following up on my application with them next Wednesday.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.