Question:
Hello everyone My question is what should i ask recruiter when i call ? and what lies i might be told about their commpany
Also like to get any info about the the following companys Good And Bad. Schneider, Crete
Us-Xpress, Knight and Gordon Trucking from current and former driver.
Thanks for the help.
CaLiMaN

Answer:
how much do you pay?
will you hire me?I'm from xxxxxxxxx
how offen will I get home?
at most large companies you are talking to someone that has no idea about what drivers encounter at the company,it's an entry level job for them
getting on a dedicated account that gets you home regularly is something you can ask them,do they have anything from your area,if yes ask to talk to the account manager for further info,if recruiter avoids letting you speak to them,you can guess it might be B/S
running 48 states and staying out for weeks gets old fast,does the company offer anything else or are you stuck forever running the national system.
Zigzag a certified failure at OTR trucking.
Answer:
There is a website, REALDRIVERS.COM that has good and bad reports submitted by drivers. they are not verified, but you can probably figure out whats BS and whats not. BOL
Ike

Answer:
If you want to see what Schneider drivers have to say, go to pumpkindriver.com. BOL

Answer:
Gordon trucking,, A pretty good oputfit for a trucking co. They have lots of loads out of your area because they haul for budwieser out of the Fairfield brewery. I haven`t worked for them, but i`m familuar with them personally.They didn`t hire me, but that my fault. They are very picky about who they hire, but all the drivers I`ve talked to were happy. Pay better than most for starting out. The recruiters won`t BS ya either, a rareity in this business. Not really familuar with the rest of your choices, except what I hear here and on the C.B.
fishman

Answer:
Hey thank for the Info Guys
Gordon sound like good company to work
also Us-Xpress !!
CaLiMaN

Answer:
Here is a page with a lot of good questions. Some you may or may not have thought of. Just decide what questions you are concerned about, if not all of them. Don't be bashfull to ask what you need to.
Questions
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
if you don't have more than 6 months experience,make sure the first question you ask is how much experience they require!!!!!!!!!!!!
my husband has found out the hard way.lol

Answer:
I drive for gordon right now and they are great. I had a good recruiter(jack) and the office folks and dispatch are on the whole, great people. After 4 or so months with them i got a local gig hoping the canadian border, but that's what I like. In california I would ask about georgia pacific dedicated, we haul mainly paper and beer, good pay for inexperienced drivers as well. I've been out on disability for 2 weeks now and my dispatcher just says ok, keep me updated. Very friendly company, I've been ale to talk to one of the Gordons, and he's a great guy, and if you need help he'll be nice and do what he can for ya.
If at first you don't suceed, get a bigger hammer

Answer:
Hey thanks Stuffiu the question list is great just what i needed
Michele, what kind of problem ur hubby had with less then 6 mo exp.? pls let me know !
Hey Big J it good to hear that there at least a few good company left to work 4 i see gordon everyday running I-80 & HWY 37 out here. start school N Dec..... 4 my CDL thats not the problem it the low pay
Do anyone have any info on US-Xpress or Crete?
I see them alot out here 2
CaLiMaN

Answer:
Caliman, i just started my 3 day oriantation yesterday with Us xpress. So far i'm realy impressed. They have a california regional in which you run california, Nevada, and Arizona. Its sounds like a sweet deal. Benefits are really good. Anyways hope that helps.

Answer:
caliman, are you saying gordon pays new drivers low?last i heard new drivers are getting about 28 cents a mile
If at first you don't suceed, get a bigger hammer

Answer:
Hey Big J
No I dont think .28 per mile is low to start as long as you get the mile i could work with that !
BTW what kinda of mile you get per week if i may ask and how many Yrs u been driving 4 them im not knock-N the pay or the company .
I went to there web site, very nice good info. and as far as there location ill fit right in living about 50 mile from Sac & San Jose.
Question Big J what route you run ? The
the US Fleet & NCA Operation sound nice
As far as pay go! Hey Im current airline employee in Maint Making over $65k. BUT i Need A Change since 9/11 pay-cut benefit cuts layoffs need i say more ! im ready to BOUNCE
CaLiMaN

Answer:
My driver runs for USX and is quiet happy. He is still a fairly new driver, and earns just .28 cents a mile ... with a raise coming in January (hopefully). He gets close to if not 3,000 miles a week. This is where the companies half a cent bonus comes in, anything over 9,000 miles gets you the bonus. He has made it home everytime he has requested to be home -- the day you arrive doesn't count as home time, and you get one day for every week you are out ... so four weeks out could get you almost 5 days home depending on how early you roll into home that first day. The only complaint my driver would have would concern the Salt Lake Terminal -- if you would be based out of there they do not have night or weekend dispatchers, Chattanooga handles the nights and weekends, so they are clueless as to what the Salt Lake drivers are doing. Good Luck in making your decision and happy trucking!!

Answer:
The short ansdwer is to ask about EVERYTHING that is important to you.
A little longer version would be:
Pay (training, when you first go solo, and at 1 year mark)
Benifits (health, vacations, etc.)
Rider Program
Pet Program (If you are thinking about taking a dog or cat along with you)
Chain up policy (during those winter months in the mountains)
Hometime policy
Avg Miles per week
How are you paid
Type of equipment used (type of trucks, trailers pulled) and average age in truck fleet and trailer fleet.
What do they reimburse for (ie tolls, scales, etc. ) Also ask about toll road policies)
What type of things will the company charge (money) a driver for (tire failures, running out of fuel, freight shortages/damages and amounts)
POlicy on getting you home for emergenies
Do they run NYC and/or Canada. Do they pay extra for those runs.
Accessorial Pay (loading/unloading, breakdown, layover, detention)
Pay for transportation to orientation
Are meals provided during orieentation
Is there orieentation pay
Training program if newbie (length, are you run solo or team miles, etc.)
I am sure there are more things to ask about that I am forgetting right now, but I think you should get the general idea.
I have a name not a number. I am not cheap but I am resonable.