Question:
I have just finished trucking school and I am looking into companys. Can someone give me some insight on what types of questions that I should be asking these recruiters.
Thanks,
ponytail

Answer:
don't matter,they will tell you anything they think you may want to hear and really have no knowledge of the company they recruit for.
post where you live and these people here will steer you towards the so called better companies available to a newbie
post you family situation so they can give you advice,married,children,young ones,well behaved teenagers that won't miss you and are under control
Money,priority one or whats your deal,home time top of the list
any ghosts in the closet,felony,DUI,job hopper,total screw up or somebody who has worked someplace for 20 years and is changing jobs
Beware of your new buddies around here,many are just here to try and recruit people for a recruiting bonus and could care less if they ruin your life and you end up divorced and or bankrupt,as long as they get their little recruiting bonus,some of these people are totally evil,lower than low.
Answer:
Thank you, for that info, I live in the West Tennessee area, I am looking to get home on the weekends because I have young children that I want to spend as much time as I can with. I have been considering McElroy trucking but everyone I talk to says that I dont want to run flat beds. any advice would be greatly apprecitated. and also thanks for the heads up on the people that are out for their bonus.

Answer:
Welcome Aboard TruckNet!
To be able to Help you Better, give us a little info about yourself, Please.
Where do you live?
Are you Married?
How often do you need to get Home?
Do you want to run Team or SOLO?
Do you have any DUI's/DWI's?
What does your MVR & Criminal Record look like?
=============================================================
Now, to get back to the original question that YOU asked....
How much is the Training Pay?
Do they pay mileage or percentage?
Do they have Per Diem or will they allow you to "Opt-Out" of the Per Diem?
How long is is your OTJ(on-the-job) Training?
What kind of Benefits do they have & when will you be eligible for them?(401k, Health, Dental, Safety, Fuel Bonous, etc.)
Do they have a Passenger Rider Program?(is it for Friends AND Family, what is the Youngest passenger you can have?)
Is there a Cost for Passengers?
How often can they get you home?
Are you allowed to have Pets?(what is the Deposit or Fee amount & will you get it back when you turn in the truck?)
What is the pay After you finish OTJ training?
Approximately how many miles per week can you get?
Is there very much Driver Unloading?(fingerprinting)
What is the Pay for Driver Unloads?
Do they pay for Lumpers?
Do they pay for Toll Roads?
How is the pay system set-up?(weekly, bi-weekly, mnthly, etc)
Do they have Direct Deposit?
How much is Tarp Pay?(if you are a flatbedder)
=============================================================
Those are just a few questions, I'm sure someone else can think of more.

Answer:
Try this
In short though be sure to ask about anything and everything that is or might be important to you.
Answer:
i live in West Tennesee
Divorced with children
want to get home on weekends or as much as possible
no DUI's, clean MVR and a clean criminal record
i want to run solo
with that in mind maybe some of you good people can help steer me in a good direction.
thanks

Answer:
"With children" I would suggest trying a postion for a local company to see if you actually enjoy trucking. Recruiters will tell you they have the best this, that or the other. I barely get home on the weekends with a local company running local, let alone with a OTR. Run your 11 hours local its promising you'll be home to care for your children.

Answer:
Off-tah!! Been there done that....
I would have hoped for your sake, that the school you went to had given you the opportunity to meet with different recruiters. It sounds like they have otherwise you wouldn't have the question(s)....
Regardless of what company you go with, if you get on with one of the training companies (ROEHL, SWIFT, MILLS, SCHNIEDER, WERNER, etc., etc.), you're going to be facing over-the-road time. Local jobs, especially for "Green-as-grass Newbies" are few and far between unless you know of openings in your area and can convince the operators to take a chance that you "might" know what you're doing out on the road....
I've learned that trucking is like everything else, you have a growing process you need to go through and some people never, ever make the leap from "steering wheel holder" to "driver."
You've received lots of good info from the other posters previous to this, now, you have to determine exactly what your personal limitations (needs) are and build from there.
Family is important to you, as it should be. But are you really willing to give up the time needed to get to the level of experience needed for that GOOD local job? That time could actually be from 8 months (allowing time for the company training) to a year before you will be even considered for local hire by a reputable company. Sure you could find local jobs with minimum wages and no benifits, but I don't think that's where you really want to try building experience....
Good luck to you....I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

Answer:
CALL some of the companies that advertise in your local, major, metro, newspaper....SUNDAY Edition.
Also, CALL(better yet...Stop By) some of the smaller companies that do NOT advertise in the newspaper...you just never know...they MIGHT be willing to give you a chance.

Answer:
CHOCLIT thats exactly what I did just pop in on companies. Once a person shows a potential employer that
1. you can drive and don't need your hand held while shifting.
2.can accomplish given tasks.
3. not guzzle a gallon of jim beam like HOSS

Answer:
DON'T TRUST RECRUITERS THE WILL SAY ANYTHING JUST TO GET YOU IN.