Recruiter Scam.....beware !!!

Topic 435 | Page 1

Page 1 of 1
Starcar's Comment
member avatar

Imagine that you’ve just left your current trucking job, or just earned your Class A CDL and now you’re out there applying for a new trucking job, hoping to find one that will pay the bills and get you home enough to be able to remember what your family looks like. You’ve been talking to recruiters and weighing your options, when you get a call from a new recruiter who promises you great pay, flexible schedules, and a waiver for any previous criminal activity or driving infractions. Does it sound too good to be true? That’s because it is! The FMCSA has just issued a warning that fake recruiters have been calling up driver applicants, promising them incredible jobs, and then taking wire transfers to “prove financial solvency.”

Real recruiters don’t exactly have a reputation for being entirely trustworthy, but now we have to deal with fake recruiters out there calling truckers up and scamming them out of hundreds of dollars!

Here’s how it works: A “recruiter” will call the driver with an “air of urgency” and claim that they need to hire several new drivers right away. They will claim that they represent a legitimate company, and that they are being allowed to offer higher pay and better benefits than normal. The only thing that the driver has to do is wire $350 to the “recruiter.” Once the wire transfer is complete, they are given a location to travel to (usually outside of their own state) where they can be picked up by a company trainer. Needless to say, that company trainer never shows.

The really disturbing question is this: how have the scammers been getting the contact information for drivers looking for a job? They could be giving out their contact information to CDL schools as a potential employer, so the CDL school would become an unknowing accomplice. Alternatively – and much more frighteningly – they might be getting help from unscrupulous training programs and recruiters.

The FMCSA recommends that you should always get the name of the recruiter that you speak with and verify with the company that they work for that they are a legitimate recruiter before signing any documents or transferring any money. Additionally, CDL schools should confirm that the contact information they are given for new drivers employment opportunities corresponds with the information on a company’s website.

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.

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

FMCSA:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

What Does The FMCSA Do?

  • Commercial Drivers' Licenses
  • Data and Analysis
  • Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
  • Research and Technology
  • Safety Assistance
  • Support and Information Sharing

Fm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

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

Roadkill (aka:Guy DeCou)'s Comment
member avatar

That's good and disturbing all at the same time...Good that you are letting us know about this type of BS, but bad that there are con men out there that are doing this kind of crap. This type of thing always happens when people start to get desperate. Some unscrupulous person makes offers that make it hard to say no and all a person has to do is transfer a "small fee". Thanks for putting this out there Starcar..

Dave D. (Armyman)'s Comment
member avatar

Remember, if it sounds "TOO GOOD" to be true, it probably is.

Dave

Troubador222's Comment
member avatar

I dont know how people fall for those. I got some emails asking me to wire money for scams like this. I like to answer them and tell them I need them to wire me money first.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Dave D. (Armyman)'s Comment
member avatar

I dont know how people fall for those. I got some emails asking me to wire money for scams like this. I like to answer them and tell them I need them to wire me money first.

I think Sienfeld did a bit on that exact same thing. Every now and again, I get an e-mail from a "Nigerian Prince."

Dave

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
crazy rebel's Comment
member avatar

I'd tell them ya send me 350 and we may be able to talk more

Page 1 of 1

New Reply:

New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features

Bold
Italic
Underline
Quote
Photo
Link
Smiley
Links On TruckingTruth


example: TruckingTruth Homepage



example: https://www.truckingtruth.com
Submit
Cancel
Upload New Photo
Please enter a caption of one sentence or less:

Click on any of the buttons below to insert a link to that section of TruckingTruth:

Getting Started In Trucking High Road Training Program Company-Sponsored Training Programs Apply For Company-Sponsored Training Truck Driver's Career Guide Choosing A School Choosing A Company Truck Driving Schools Truck Driving Jobs Apply For Truck Driving Jobs DOT Physical Drug Testing Items To Pack Pre-Hire Letters CDL Practice Tests Trucking Company Reviews Brett's Book Leasing A Truck Pre-Trip Inspection Learn The Logbook Rules Sleep Apnea
Done
Done

0 characters so far - 5,500 maximum allowed.
Submit Preview

Preview:

Submit
Cancel

Why Join Trucking Truth?

We have an awesome set of tools that will help you understand the trucking industry and prepare for a great start to your trucking career. Not only that, but everything we offer here at TruckingTruth is 100% free - no strings attached! Sign up now and get instant access to our member's section:
High Road Training Program Logo
  • The High Road Training Program
  • The High Road Article Series
  • The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
  • Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted

Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth

Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:

Apply For Paid CDL Training