Question:
For those of you thinking about or getting ready to enter the trucking industry the actual hiring process can seem a bit confusing or misleading.
For the most part the hiring process seems to be the same from company to company, and pretty much holds true regardless of if you are a newbie or an experienced driver.
These are the steps of what will happen:
1. You submit an application to the company either in writing, via the internet, or over the phone.
2. Your appt is then reviewed by the company. They may at this time do a full or partial background check on you. A full check will consist of your MVR, work history, and crimminal records.
3. If you meet the hiring requirements for the company you will be offered a conditional offer of employment, often called a "Pre-hire", and scheduled to either attend orientation or the company school as the case may be.
4. During orientation your background check will be completed if not already done ahead of time. (Or possibly even redone to assure nothing has changed) You will in all likelihood recieve a DOT physical and WILL take a drug test. You will also probably take some written general knowledge tests. More than likely you will also take a road test to determine if you can truly handle the truck in a safe manner that meets that company's policies.
5. At the end of orientation you will then be offered employment assuming you have met all requirements. For new drivers that will be going out with a trainer this offer of full employment will be withheld until you have successfully completed the training program and final road test.
This is just the basics folks. Some companies have a few more steps like multiple interviews and so forth. In short though you are not really hired as a driver until they issue you a truck and give you the keys.
Best of luck to you.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:

I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
Originally posted by uturn2001:
3. If you meet the hiring requirements for the company you will be offered a conditional offer of employment, often called a "Pre-hire", and scheduled to either attend orientation or the company school as the case may be.
A good bit of advice, especially those who get excited about recieving a prehire....so back to the top it goes!
...there's nothing in this world worth a solitary dime, except old dogs and children, and watermelon wine..

Answer:
I do two interviews..one prior to giving the applicant an application form..and a more comprehensive interview after the application and supporting documentation and references have been reviewed..
The interviews are VERY important as they 1) give me a true sense of the applicant that facts presented in the application don't necessarily provide, and 2) they give me an idea of the true capabilites of the person I'm talking to.
For example...I had what looked like a star candidate according to the application. However during the interview it was revealed that this applicant did not complete the application in person and could not recall where he had worked even 6 months ago...
I also give applicants a log book test at the second interview stage...my thinking on that is if they don't understand these regs AND they've been in this biz for some time they're too stupid or too disinterested to work here...
The reason for TWO interviews...1) paper costs money. Before I give an applicant an application to complete I want to ensure he/she is at least remotely qualified for the job.. 2) The second interview (usually a day or two after the first) should corroborate what was provided in the initial interview.. If the applicant is a liar then this is usually revealed at the second interview stage..