Trucking Job Search Tips
There are several different ways to search for your ideal trucking job including in-person, phone, print, and online. Ideally, you should combine the different modes to research possible companies. Many companies have transitioned into online job applications, but you can still find phone numbers to talk to actual people who work for the company and are able to answer your questions. No doubt, you will definitely want to have a resume tailored to the trucking industry ready to go!
Be careful: Company recruiters are tasked with meeting hiring goals, and although they are a great source of information about specifics like hiring requirements, qualifications and specific training programs, it’s also advisable to get some input from people who actually drive for the company today.
Networking with Truck Drivers
If you happen to know people who are already in the trucking industry, ask them for their advice. If you don’t know anyone yet, then consider spending some time at a truck stop near you. Strike up conversations with the folks around you. Ask drivers who they work for and how their job is working out. What kind of miles are they getting? Do they have any trouble getting paid? Does their check arrive on time and in the amount expected?
Also ask people who they would work for if they ever got the chance. Remember, some folks will complain about any situation and others will be happy no matter where they are. You can’t take everything you hear as gospel, but if you hear an overwhelming amount of negative about one outfit, that should give you some cause to research it further before you sign up.
In most truck stops, you will find an array of trucking magazines. These magazines often feature help-wanted ads from local and national companies. Your local newspaper may also feature some trucking ads. Local paper ads may be your best source of job leads if you’re looking for local delivery jobs that will keep you in the same city. Trucking magazines are a good source for long-haul and regional ads. See our list of trucking magazines on the Resources page.
Phone
When you find print ads, call the organizations looking for help. Ask them to forward written information to you that explains the specifics of the program. If you have any potential problems lurking in your background, be sure to ask the recruiters up-front if this will be a problem. For example, if you have DUIs on your driving record within the past two years or a felony conviction, this could prevent you from working with the company. Nearly every organization does a background check for drivers, so anything in your record will come up eventually. It’s best to ask about it from the beginning.
Ask about average miles per driver, the company’s safety record, the training process, training pay, and, if it is a CDL-training program, be sure how long you will be committed to the company and how much it will cost you.
Online Trucking Job Boards
Most of the large trucking companies now have online job applications. The company website is a good place to start looking at the organization, but it isn’t the whole story. Many companies do not post their compensation rates online. Some that have training programs are unclear about the total cost and time commitment. Call or email the company and ask for all the details in writing. If they won’t give you written materials or if the materials are convoluted and difficult to understand, this should be a concern. An ethical company won’t have anything to hide, and its processes will be easy to understand.
Once you start getting pre-employment offers from trucking companies, be sure to do a little more research before you sign on. Talk to people, check trucker forums on the Internet, conduct a Google search one the company name and news. Try to get a feel for what the drivers think. TheTruckersReport.com is one example of a forum where drivers talk about good and bad companies and share stories from the road.