Finally!!!!!

[WannaDrive]

Well, after over 6 months of searching I finally found a job driving! It actually worked out quite well for me. I had been dreaming of getting a local job where I could be home every night and have weekends off. Pretty much immediately after getting my license and searching for work I realised that wasn't going to happen. So, I got called back to my factory job and gave up on trucking all together. I just didn't want to do OTR, especially if I was going to be on the road for weeks at a time. In early August I figured I'd better at least apply for my F.A.S.T. card in case I got laid off again, in that case I would have to suck it up and take a job doing OTR. In the meantime a posting came up for a local company deliver medical gases, i put my name in, and loe and behold I get an interview, first driving job interview I've had since I got my license, i was stoked!!! I patiently wait for the interview day the week after I got the call. i go to the interview, sit down all nervous and the first thing he tells me is that the position has been changed to temporary and he has decided the training is too extensive and he will jsut be giving his drivers overtime instead. i was bummed right out. A month passes. Mid September I get a call from them again, caught me completely off guard. They asked me to come into another interview, the position is now permanent and it is down to me and one other guy. I go to the interview on the Tuesday, it went really well. I await the call all week and then Friday rolls around, the phone rings, i got the job!!!! Straight days, off on weekends, local, great money and benefits, new trucks uniforms and boots paid pretty much insanely lucked out. I gave my old work my resignation and two weeks notice and started the driving job on Sept 26th. i love it! I'm just driving a 5 tonne auto, but it's still driving! I also went and got my F.A.S.T. card anyway (got it in the mail a few weeks ago) just in case someday I have to bite the bullet and do OTR. Just thought I would give you guys some good news as i was pretty bitter about my situation the last time I was posting about not being able to find work. I love my new job!!! :23_28_125[1]:

[Pipeman]

Good for you!! Don't worry about the size of truck you drive. It's what you get paid to drive it that counts and brings' home the bacon.

Congratulations!

[Gummiente]

Excellent news - congrats and happy trucking! :Trucker:

[Mercenary]

Bite the bullet and go OTR??? Thats my dream job....

Anyway...congratz on the job. As Pipeman said its not the size of the truck, its the nut behind the wheel :)

:Trucker:

[WannaDrive]

Bite the bullet and go OTR??? Thats my dream job....



I just enjoy my social life and weekends too much, as well as sleeping in my own bed every night.

[hellcat_99]

See, plugging away @ does work. You are one of the few to luck out on your 1st job.
Good for you.
As for OTR, I miss it, but love what I'm doing now, if if I do get called the Warden.:bite_me2:
Holly

[WannaDrive]

Here I am, checking in 1 year and 4 months after I started my job and i am still there! Just got moved to a full time driver, got my own truck and steady route! No more slipseat and loading everyones trucks and cleaning up around the shop! Bumping this post to let the newbies out there to not give up hope. Not sure what things are like out there nowadays but it was pretty rough. Keep on plugging away!

[OilPatchTrucker]

:Trucker:Good deal

[Geo]

Congrats on your job! I'm in the process of getting all paperwork sorted out for my training to get my CDL. I'm prepared to do OTR work and just hope I can find a company that's OK with hiring a newb that doesn't mind putting in some hard work right out of the gate.

[Mercenary]

Good luck Geo. I say that sincerely. Its tough for new folks to get their feet wet in the trucking industry these days. Plenty of jobs out there but the companies seem reluctant to fill the seats with newbies.

Some folks on here don't like Challenger but they were one of the few companies willing to give me a shot right out of the gate. I chose to work elsewhere so I cannot speak as to what kind of company they are like to work for but once you get a year or two under your belt then you should be able to go anywhere within the trucking industry....

[Geo]

Thanks Merc,
I've been told that attitude and relative experience definitely help. I've shunted trailers in the yard, done dispatching, custom designed manifests, billing, etc.
The only thing I haven't done is actual driving. I've been told that Canada Cartage isn't a bad place to try out for too, as well as CPX. Apparently CPX will hire newbs as long you're OK with a team situation with a trainer as your partner, which is fine by me.

[ralph]

Thanks Merc,
I've been told that Canada Cartage isn't a bad place to try out for too, as well as CPX. Apparently CPX will hire newbs as long you're OK with a team situation with a trainer as your partner, which is fine by me.

Go with anyone before Canada Cartage!

A few years ago they won an award for allegedly being on of Canada's "50 Best Managed Companies". A very good friend of mine that was doing business with them said numerous times "If Canada Cartage Is One Of The Top 50 Managed Companies In Canada I, Would HATE To Deal With #51" insinuating that they were a bunch of boobs!

[Geo]

Go with anyone before Canada Cartage!

A few years ago they won an award for allegedly being on of Canada's "50 Best Managed Companies". A very good friend of mine that was doing business with them said numerous times "If Canada Cartage Is One Of The Top 50 Managed Companies In Canada I, Would HATE To Deal With #51" insinuating that they were a bunch of boobs!

This makes things confusing for a newb like me who is in the planning/training stages and hasn't even got his license yet. I have a good friend who currently works for them and he says they've treated him very well. Of course, there's times where he's asked to go further than he was supposed to, or drive longer, or whatever, but that's the transportation business and sometimes sh#t happens right? He's done extra for them and they've paid him back by giving him good runs and when he planned his vacation over Christmas it was no problem at all. It's not like he's a "yes" man who is kissing ass, but he rolls with the punches and they seem to appreciate it quite a bit because he made a lot of money last year and he was only doing regional. There's so many different opinions on who to work for, who is good, who is bad. One guy says a certain company is awesome, another guy says they suck.
It's enough to make a newb's head spin! :)

[RodeoJoe]

Welcome to the trucking business. If you want three different opinions on anything just ask three different drivers.

[Geo]

Welcome to the trucking business. If you want three different opinions on anything just ask three different drivers.


Yup, you pretty much nailed it exactly! I've actually asked 3 different drivers who worked for the same company if they liked the outfit they were driving for. One driver said it was a good gig and he was happy, another one said "meh, they're OK I guess", and the third guy said he hated it and wanted to quit.

[bikerboy]

everyone like different things about a job and hates other things