Scam AlertThe current state of the economy has hit many people and businesses hard.  Unfortunately, there is really no good news in sight for the economy and I personally do not see it getting better any time soon.  The primary goal in getting the economy back on track is one that is not being focused upon . . . jobs.  There are still millions without jobs and millions more who have given up on even looking for employment.  The most important area of concern for citizens of the United States is the creation of jobs.

Instead, our leaders are focused only on establishing a national health care system which will further drive America into ruins.  It seems that their primary goal is to break down this country as far as they possibly can . . . even to the point of ignoring the U.S. Constitution by passing the health care bill into law, without first voting on it as the Constitution requires.  Our own Government, violating the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in order to push through the health care cause that many polls show that 71 percent of “We the People” oppose.    Thirty five out of the fifty states have reported that, if passed illegally, they will stand against the ruling and will not honor the “law” which is no law at all, according to the Constitution.   Furthermore, other states will follow and it is being reported that there will be millions of lawsuits by the American people if this health care is passed by these means.

Hillary Clinton has even stated that the 300,000 million citizens without medical coverage will be “forced” to participate in the new Government run health care plan.   Some kind of insured plan to make them participate, such as an automatic enrollment plan, and if they still chose not to participate somehow, then their wages would be garnished.  A clear violation of the Constitution and the rights of the American people.

Is corruption out of control in the United States?   Corruption is everywhere . . . even in the student loan programs and within the trucking industry as some CDL schools target the unemployed and vulnerable.   Students of all vocations are being lured into trade schools and right into debt, with no job afterward.   The student loan scam is huge business and anyone can fall victim.

In a previous post I wrote about my experience with the U.S. Department of Education.   Having taken out a loan for $20,400 ten years ago, today, the current payoff amount is still sitting at $21,117.74 –   Never late with a payment, only having a one-time, six month period of deferment in a ten year period,  and the loan balance has gone up . . . never down.  Does anyone see a problem here?   You can see the 2009 annual statement I received from the U.S. Department of Education, showing the loan balance going up after ten years of payment.

What many truck driving students are experiencing these days, are more corruption brought on by the recession and the desperate attempts by some CDL schools to remain in business, at the expense of the student.    One thing that many newcomers fall prey to when coming into the trucking industry, is believing everything they are told by recruiters, CDL schools and even many drivers.   Remember, this industry has been described by many veteran drivers as the most “corrupt industry in the world.” This corruption continues through various Government agencies and organizations.

I recently discussed the low wages provided to drivers and their classification as “unskilled” workers.  Who do you suppose is largely behind the classifying of professional drivers as unskilled?  It is the U.S. Department of Labor.   The millions of illegal immigrants remain in this country with no fear of being retaliated against by U.S. law.  They get off on DUI’s . . . they have no social security card . . . they have no auto insurance papers . . . they carry no identification card of any kind . . . yet, they drive on our streets and highways every day.  Furthermore, they buy homes and have employment, cashing their checks at their local convenience stores.   If you and I tried to get away with this, we would find ourselves in jail.  So, how can they do this?  The answer is simple . . . our Government and the U.S. Department of Labor wants them here.  By keeping millions of unskilled labor in the United States, this in return keeps wages down.

There is corruption everywhere.  It has become the American way of life, right down to our own Government ignoring the will of the people, and violating its own Constitution and Bill of Rights.  No conspiracy here . . . just fact.  This is just the way it is.    When you are down and out, weak and vulnerable, the corrupt will attack and take what money you have, while at the same time, promising everything you want to hear.

When considering a CDL training school, keep one thing in mind . . . if what they offer sounds too good to be true . . . then it probably is.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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U.S. Trucking Industry Corruption

trucking corruptionWithin most industries lies corruption and the long haul trucking industry is no exception.  For years, this abuse has been kept swept under the rug and was only talked about, quietly among veteran drivers.  There are various aspects of corruption such as:  political, corporate and bribery which is usually always associated with the intake of power and money.  The silence that has covered the corrupt world of OTR trucking for so long is fading, largely due to the technical world of social media.

Having been the first to publicly expose the scams and abuses within the industry by launching Truth About Trucking in May of 2005, the power of social media exploded, and the real truth about the corruption that lies within the over the road trucking industry continues to be further exposed.  This corruption not only involves trucking companies and organizations, but at times, even drivers themselves.

We have seen many drivers who originally came on board for the task of exposing these scams, only to make a complete turn around when contacted by various organizations who “promised” them certain favors in return.  Thus, exposing the truth becomes a much bigger battle when drivers such as these will sell their morals and ethics to the higher bidder.  As for me, I pay them no attention.

CDL students and new drivers, as well as many veteran drivers, will continue to be abused, manipulated, lied to and used by these OTR trucking companies until enough drivers stand up and fight back.   I still reiterate that there are good trucking companies and not all are bad, but problems lie within all companies, good or bad.  One of the largest obstacles you will face as a new driver with any trucking company, is the employee abuse from both dispatch and safety departments.  Remember, a huge percentage of this corrupt industry is set up for a driver to fail, and this is used by both good companies and the not-so-good ones.

One set up is where dispatch will place you with a load that will cause you to run over your hours, breaking regulations.  You can tell dispatch that you do not have the hours or rest needed to run the load, but they will continue to plead with you to take the run.   It is a “hot” load and you are the only driver they have to get it there on time.  The safety department has made it clear to all drivers that breaking regulations will not be tolerated and you will be shut down for one, two or three days after so many violations.  Normally, after a third violation, safety will suspend your driving privileges for 30 days . . . yet, here is dispatch pleading for your help.   If you take the run to help out your dispatcher, then safety will come back against you . . . if you refuse to take the load in order to not break regulations, then your dispatch will come back against you by making you sit for two or three days . . . so what do you do?

Dispatch understands the Safety Department requirements, and safety understands that dispatch does this type of pressuring to drivers all the time . . . yet, when a driver is faced with such a decision, it is a no-win situation for the driver . . . the driver will always be blamed and the one to face the consequences.   Reporting what happened to safety, you will be told that you should not have taken the load . . . reporting what happened to dispatch, you will be told by the dispatcher who pleaded with you, that you should not have taken the load if you did not have the hours to make the run.   A no-win situation and you, the driver, will always be at fault, while both Safety and Dispatch Departments know that this little cat and mouse game goes on.   It is one of the many set-ups that will lead up to your failure within the trucking industry.   Failure that is not your fault, but one aspect of the long haul trucking corruption.

What makes this OTR trucking industry corruption worse, are the lies and deceit against their own employees (drivers).   Issues I have discussed often such as:

  • The Owner Operator Lease Purchase Programs
  • The DAC Report
  • The driver shortage lie
  • The continual scam of starving out drivers in order to bring in new, lower paid drivers as a form of cheap labor
  • CDL Schools receiving Government subsidies, accepting driving students with no chance of being hired

Many are coming forward and exposing the real truth about the long haul trucking industry.  Others will still sell out to any organization that will pretend to be on their side and show them any kind of attention.   CDL students and new drivers can make it in this industry that many drivers call “the most lying, deceitful and corrupt industry on Earth.” For now, you will have to continue paying your dues for the first one or two years and if that “starter company” is not working out for you, then you will be able to move on to one of the “better” trucking companies.

Any trucking company can go out of business at any time . . . we saw that with Arrow Trucking.  Although some form of corruption will exist in any trucking company or industry, there are good companies out there . . . at least better than most.   As drivers who are not afraid to stand up for what is right continue to come forward through avenues such as social media to tell the real truth about the OTR trucking industry, this vocation can change and get better for all drivers, both new and veteran.  U. S. truckers and CDL holders are eight million strong . . . that is a powerful voice.

© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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Student Loan ScamWith all the recent eye-opening discussions concerning CDL schools and student loan scams, it made me take a hard look at one of my own college student loans that I have been paying on now for about 15 years.   A $21,000 loan that to this day, is still at $21,000.   Hard to believe, isn’t it?   The reality of these student loans is simple:  they are designed to keep you in debt forever.

This particular loan which is through the U. S. Department of Education, is so well designed, that even after nearly 10 years of payment, the balance is still the same as it was in the beginning.   These types of student loans are the kind of loans a person can never pay off, based on the monthly payment agreement.  The U. S. Department of Education will give a student a grace period before they have to start paying back the loan.  During this grace period, the debt is collecting interest.  Any unpaid interest is added to the capital . . . this is why a person can pay for 15 years and the capital never goes down.  If a person falls behind in payments, the interest is compounded.  Furthermore, if the student defaults on the loan, such as due to the poor economy, job loss, etc., the U. S. Department of Education will add thousands of dollars in interest, collection fees and compound interest.   It is a student loan program designed to keep one in debt through out their lifetime, much like many CDL training loan scams.

The best course of action is to pay off the interest immediately, and better yet, take out a bank loan and pay off the student loan in the very beginning.  After researching this U. S. Department of Education extensively, that will be my next step.   My biggest mistake was spending 10 years making the monthly payment over and over, yet never stopping to look at what the loan balance was doing!   I started with about $21,000 and it is still at $21,000 . . . RED FLAG!    I also discovered that student loans are exempted from coverage under the Truth in Lending Act, basically making institutions nothing more than loan sharks.

I just happened to stumble upon a book called The Student Loan Scam, by Alan Michael Collinge, available at Amazon.   So, I guess one of my New Year Resolutions for 2010 will be to secure a bank loan and bring this U. S. Department of Education scam loan to an end, once and for all . . . or, I could keep making the payments and it might be paid in full by my 162nd birthday . . . what do you think?

© 2009 – 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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Trucking Industry and Politics

Many veteran drivers have written me and they often begin in the same way:  “The trucking industry is the most corrupt industry . . .” I receive emails like these every day.  For nearly five years now, we have been taking these issues of OTR trucking scams and abuses directly to the public . . . throwing the information out there right in the face of the trucking industry.  Veteran drivers have been talking about these issues for years among themselves, but that was one of the problems . . . they were only talking about them “among themselves.”   Within the last several months, we are seeing a big change in the efforts of professional drivers . . . many drivers, new and experienced, coming together and speaking out against the scams and abuses that have existed within this transportation industry for years.

One lone voice in the wilderness may never be heard, but when hundreds or thousands of voices join with that one lone voice . . . change for the better can occur.  A perfect example of this is the Cap and Trade bill.   Making it through Congress, it suddenly found itself stalled within the Senate.  Why?   The Senate took notice of not just one lone voice screaming that they did not want this bill, but thousands or millions of voices yelling against Cap and Trade.  The Senate stood up and took notice . . . notice of many voices standing up, speaking out and saying that Cap and Trade is not what the public wants.   The same thing could happen to the nationalization of health care.   With millions of voices coming together against this plan, it too, could end up in the stalling process.

I hear all the time that nothing will change in the over the road trucking industry, yet I am already seeing change of a positive note.   Companies are “cleaning up” their terminals and buildings to present a more professional look . . . several companies are taking a closer and harder look at their driver trainer programs and more and more newcomers to the industry are learning about the scams of the DAC Report, CDL Schools and trucking companies committing fraud with the U.S. Government subsidy programs.    More drivers are coming together and are no longer just talking about these things among themselves . . . it is being brought forth through other websites, blogs, article directories and trucking talk radio shows, even being heard on various satellite radio stations.   For the first time that I can recall . . . these issues within the OTR trucking industry are being openly discussed and being noticed and taken seriously.    But we still have a long way to go.

Five years ago there was not one “truth” about OTR trucking site on the internet . . . not one “truth” about the real world of over the road trucking talk radio show . . . not one site or media outlet that was taking these trucking issues directly to the public and to the industry itself and saying, “These scams and abuses have been going on for too long, and we are now going to start fighting back.” Now, there are more and more sites, blogs, pod casts and other outlets joining voices and taking these serious issues straight to the face of the industry . . . and believe me, they are taking notice.

With every turn of a new leaf, one finds another scam or abuse within this industry.  It is a battle that one lone voice cannot win, but with thousands or millions of other voices, joined together, you better believe that this industry can be turned around.   The OTR trucking industry is actually two battles in one:   the industry itself and the corrupt world of politics.

One site, The American Driver is dedicated to fighting the political battle.   As their website explains:

“All of us can agree we have a serious problem and something needs to be done. This basic understanding is the reason we need to unite and determine, as a whole, the proper action which must be taken to correct our problems. We are calling on all Americans, both truckers and citizens, to make it known you understand there’s a problem and commit your support of truly uniting to begin to address the problems we face.”

Support Our Truckers

Let’s show our support by joining The American Driver “Support Our Truckers” support page.   Email your name, city and state to theamericandriver@yahoo.com
and tell them you want to be added to their “Support our Truckers” page.

These scams and abuses against CDL students, trainees, new drivers and veteran drivers have been going on for too many years.   One lone voice in the wilderness may never be heard, but as the trucking industry leaders are coming to realize . . . many driver voices together will make them stand up and take notice that enough is enough and change to the OTR trucking industry is coming.


© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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The Trucking Bubble

Trucking Industry BubblePolitical correctness is destroying America.   There are no leaders running this country, only cowards who bow down before other countries and submit apologies for America’s “sins.”    A present day government filled with lies, deceit and fraud, creating bubbles within a bubble.    The thing about a bubble is :  it will eventually burst.

The housing bubble finally grew as big as it could get before bursting, and pushing the country into a massive recession, as well as more bubbles:  the banking bubble and the auto industry bubble.  Continual lies, deceit and fraud not only upon this great country and the American people, but the entire planet.   We now have the emails of the scientists who have been behind the pushing of the global warming threat, showing that in fact, it is the greatest scientific hoax ever designed.   A politically based hoax that made many multi-millionaires, which aimed directly at the expense of the American people, i.e. Cap and Trade.

We now have a government and administration which cares nothing about America or its people.   Its only goal is to push through their agendas which will further cripple this country and the middle class working men and women.   I have always stated that this whole global warming charade was a political scam . . . a big money making scheme.  Yet, “President” Obama is set to go to Denmark next month to further expand on the administrations policies to fight “global warming.”    They still continue to fight to push through nationalized health care, although polls show that the large majority of Americans are against it.   The administration does not care what “we the people” say, only furthering their agendas toward socialism.    I understand it will be difficult for millions of Americans to realize that they have been scammed by their own government, and many will still deny it.   However, the  global warming bubble was bound to burst sooner or later . . . that is what bubbles do.

A far greater threat for America is the Military Bubble that the government and administration has created.  You haven’t heard of the military bubble?   That’s because I am the first to coin the phrase.  The military bubble is that which attacks our own men and women in uniform.  The military bubble is what causes high ranking officers to throw the lower ranks to the wolves, saving themselves.   Most recently, the three Navy Seals who captured Ahmed Hashim Abedm, the mastermind behind the murdering and mutilation of four American Blackwater Security personnel in 2004, who now are being brought up for court martial, because this coward Abedm, received a bloody lip when punched by one of the Navy Seals.   Honorable Navy Seals, capturing a high risk target, only to be facing criminal charges . . . and the high ranking officers squirming away like little mice.   But, there’s more to the story . . .

When U. S. Navy Snipers shot and killed the three Somalian pirates holding Captain Richard Phillips hostage last April, all praise went to “President” Obama as being the one who gave the order to fire . . . not so.   Truth is, a high commanding officer who had grown tired of the hostage situation, gave the order to fire . . . not Obama.   Now, the three Navy Seals are paying for that decision.   How?   This administration is sending a clear message that “they” are in charge . . . nobody else, and everyone will play by their rules . . . these brave Navy Seals are victims of a military-hating administration and have been abandoned by higher ranking officers who do not have the guts or courage to stand up for their own men against an administration bound and determined to lead America into an implosion.  A murdering terrorist mastermind has filed criminal charges against American Navy Seals . . . the military bubble is growing.

The over the road trucking industry is no exception.   Known by veteran drivers for years, this industry is filled with lies, deceit and fraud as well:

  • The Truck Driver DAC Report
  • The Owner Operator Lease Purchase Program
  • The Driver Shortage Scam
  • Government Subsidies Fraud
  • Starving Out of Drivers
  • Using CDL Students and New Drivers as “Cheap Labor”

I have discussed these issues many times, except for the Government Subsidies scam.  Not only is this the most recent scam by those  trucking companies who have their own CDL training schools, it is also fraud . . . fraud against CDL students and new drivers and fraud against the U. S. Government.    There are at least 26 known government subsidy programs that trucking companies with CDL schools can apply for, in order to receive a check from the government for each CDL student they train.   In order for the trucking company to receive this check, the student must stay with the company for a certain period of time.   The amount of government subsidy ranges from $5000 to $10,000 per student, and I have even seen ranges as high as $30,000, but that figure could not be confirmed.

Once the student/new driver has reached this certain time period, they will then find themselves being starved out, or the company will find a way to terminate the student.   Once removed, more students can be brought in and utilized in the same manner, in order to keep the government subsidies rolling in.  These trucking companies CDL mills are nothing more than a profit center . . . more students . . . more free government money.

The secret behind this government subsidy fraud, is the tax code.  By utilizing the tax code, many of the big “starter” trucking companies are able to haul their freight for nearly zero dollars, thus, raking in huge profits.  The U. S. Government subsidizes these trucking companies CDL schools who participate in the program(s) to train the under employed or unemployed.   The Government provides these companies with tax credits for hiring these CDL students and subsidizes their wages for the first year of employment.   This tax credit is for every CDL student they “hire.”

The subsidy works along this avenue:

  • 100%  first 3 months
  • 75%  second 3 months,
  • 50%   third 3 months
  • 25%   final 3  months.

Therefore, if the CDL student can even stick it out for the full year, the U. S.  Government pays half of the salary.   With these starter trucking companies paying new drivers a low wage and receiving government checks that pay for the driver’s wages, no wonder these companies keep the driver shortage myth alive.   But, this is not the end of the government subsidies fraud . . . there is also the depreciation factor set up within the tax code as well.   Under this code as well, trucking companies can now deduct the entire cost of the truck from their corporate taxes.   Therefore, the trucking companies with CDL school mills who operate within this fraudulent scam, now have free trucks, tax credits and employee wages . . . all paid by the U. S. Government with YOUR tax dollars.   Fraud against CDL students . . . Fraud against the American tax payer . . . and Fraud against the U. S. Government.

Like the housing market bubble . . . like the global warming hoax bubble . . . the trucking bubble too, will someday burst.   That is what bubbles do.

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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Trucking Abuses Against Drivers Gaining Attention

Allen Smith with Dan Rather

Dan Rather Reports Episode 2″ Trucker Talk”

I have said many times that there exists good trucking companies and CDL schools within the United States.  There are also many success stories by both company drivers and owner operators.   When you have large numbers such as nearly four million active truck drivers and about eight million CDL holders, you are going to have success stories.  These successes, however, can and do not automatically strike out the fact that many scams and abuses exist within this industry.   Abusive programs that are specifically designed for the driver to fail.

If the truck driver is the company’s greatest asset, as which they are always advertising, then why are the “handful” of trucking companies and CDL schools which operate in these abusive manners, allowed to continue?   If maintaining the integrity and upholding a positive image for the industry is a primary goal, would bringing a stop to these abusive systems against our drivers not be upholding integrity and improving the industry’s image?

For the past several years, we have been working to expose such scams and abuses being imposed on many of our nation’s drivers.  Suddenly, we are hearing from a few industry leaders that they have been “saying these things for years.” Where?  Where have these things been specifically fought against and more importantly, if so, why do these abuses continue?   Specific scams and abuses such as:

  • The abuse of CDL students and new drivers as a means of cheap labor.
  • The starving out of veteran drivers by those companies who continually maintain the rotation of newer, less paid drivers into their system.
  • The driver shortage and driver retention problem that have been purposefully created by the companies themselves.
  • The Owner Operator Lease Purchase Program that is used by those companies as a means to a driver’s failure.
  • The truck drivers DAC Report which has become nothing more than a retaliation tool by companies against drivers.

I recognize that issues such as the lease programs have seen support by way of utilizing The Truth in Leasing Law for drivers, but where has it ever been exposed before that the leasing program, in many cases, is nothing more than a scam and abuse used against drivers?  Where?    It’s not difficult to find information on how to get a copy of your DAC Report . . . but where has it ever been mentioned that the DAC Report is a tool often used to ruin truck drivers careers?  Where?   Before we publicly exposed these scams and abuses . . . where were these issues being raised?   Furthermore, if so, why after “so many years” do they continue?

Talk is cheap.  Let’s see action . . . action such as bringing it to the public as in the Dan Rather Reports . . . action away from just cheap talk and action that can and will eventually bring change to rid the trucking industry of these scams and abuses that have been going on for years against our men and women drivers in trucking.  Finally coming together, as drivers and industry leaders alike, for the sole purpose of raising the standards of the trucking industry.

Allen Smith

© 2009 – 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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Earlier this evening our BTR show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” aired a 90 minute show discussing the Dan Rather interview with TruckerDesiree.   Thanks to the callers and listeners and those in the chat room for tuning in . . . show has already been downloaded nearly 100 times within 1.25 hours.

I had some phone trouble during the last 5 minutes of the show and lost all connection, so was unable to “close” it out like I normally do, but the show focused on Desiree’s story and the real purpose of exposing these scams, lies and deceit within certain segments of the trucking industry.

Truth About Trucking has been working to expose these issues for nearly 5 years now, and with TruckerDesiree exposing a further hidden “secret” of the OTR industry . . . the industry is taking notice.  Change for the better can happen.

I have nothing to gain from exposing these lies and scams of the over the road industry.  They have been going on for years and the time has finally come that these issues are becoming known . . . CDL students and new drivers have the RIGHT TO KNOW . . . and for those trucking companies and CDL schools who participate in these scams and abuses . . . we will continue to expose them until they are changed and all drivers . . . students, new drivers and veteran drivers alike . . . receive the respect and honesty that they deserve.

The Trucking Controversy – Dan Rather Reports:

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How CDL Students Can Increase Their Chances for Hire

Everyday we hear or read about the lack of jobs for truck drivers, especially for the new CDL student just coming on board.  Although things have gotten a little tighter, the truth of the matter is . . . there are truck driving jobs available, and many trucking companies are hiring.  This fact comes from one of the best truck driving schools in the country - Eagle Training Services, Inc. out of Illinois.  In fact, Eagle Training is doing so well at not only training new CDL students, but finding them jobs once their training is complete.   In fact, today, September 1st, 2009, Eagle is celebrating their new move-in to their new location at R.L. Leek’s Building, 2210 Harrison Avenue, Rockford, Illinois.   The new facility was needed due to the increase they are experiencing with their class sizes.

The main factor I see with recent CDL grads unable to land that driving job, is that they had some kind of negative mark on their MVR or something to this affect, and the school took them in anyway, knowing they would not be hireable.   Eagle Training is showing a job placement rate within the mid to high 90 percentile rate.  Other excellent CDL schools are reporting the same stats.  The importance of choosing the right CDL training school goes without saying . . . the school you choose can make you or break you in your truck driving career.

Tanya Bons of Eagle Training provides valuable information about what CDL students can do to increase their chances for getting hired.   She also gives an excellent insight into why so many believe that truck driving jobs are scarce and hard to find.   In today’s market, Tanya explains that trucking companies are seeking the cream of the crop.   She also discusses why we have been led to believe that trucking jobs are falling by the way side, and why unemployment offices are seeing such a high rate of out-of-work truck drivers.  It is a great article that you should be sure to read:

Only Cream at the Truck Stops – Truck Driving Jobs in 2009

The economy will eventually turn around for all aspects of industry.  Furthermore, as Tanya explains, when that happens . . . trucking is going to come back stronger than before.


© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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Allen Smith of Truth About TruckingOver the road trucking is a tough vocation.  It’s even tougher now with the economy struggling as it is.  Many CDL schools are still reporting an 85% – 90% placement rate for recent CDL graduates.  On the other hand, I hear from many students who, after several months or longer, after completing their CDL training, have still been unable to secure employment.

A large majority of these, I assume, has to deal with the fact that the student/grad had negative information on their MVR and the school failed to advise them of the poor chance of being hired.  The CDL school took their money anyway.  However, many of these CDL students tell me that they have nothing bad on their records, everything is “perfect” and still, they are unable to land a job as a truck driver.   This simply has to do with the way the economy is right now.

I recently received an email from a driver who has brought in between $200 – $300 per week for the last several weeks . . . he simply stated that his company has “no freight.”   Other drivers tell me they are running hard and can barely keep up!   OTR trucking is a strange character.   I can’t say when the economy will turn around or trucking will get back on track, but I can explain what you, as a recent CDL training graduate can do, that will most likely end your driving career before it even gets started.

We all know that times are tough right now.  Even though CDL schools are reporting such a high job placement rate, I have my doubts with many of them.  For those recent CDL students who do land a truck driving job, there is one thing you most certainly want to accomplish . . . get that all-important one year of OTR driving in under your belt with that company!

Many CDL graduates are writing me explaining that they were hired by a trucking company and after 30 days, 3 months or whatever, they ended up quitting due to lack of miles or various other reasons as many of us know.  If you’re “fortunate” enough to land a trucking job in today’s economy, if at all possible, you need to try your best to “stick it out” with that first company that has given you the job opportunity.  For years, veteran drivers have gotten away with this “job hopping” but not so much now, and certainly not for newcomers just starting out.

Leaving the truck driving job after only one, two or three months, is like digging your own professional truck driving grave.  First, the trucking company just possibly shelled out thousands of dollars for your training.   Secondly, they will look at you as someone who really is not serious about being an OTR driver and finally, they will most likely turn around and file a negative complaint on your DAC report.  This DAC file could turn out to be your “nail in the coffin.”

Other than having stricter policies, better driver treatment, driver respect and so forth, practically all trucking companies do the exact same thing:  you pick up freight at point A and you deliver that freight to point B.   If you only lasted six weeks on your very first time out, why would other trucking companies believe that you will last with them?  You’ll be doing the exact same thing you were doing the six weeks before.   The reasons you left are not important to them . . . remember, many of these over the road trucking outfits operate in the same manner.

Could you get lucky and find another company willing to hire you and give you a chance?  Maybe . . . but it’s a long shot.  It’s understandable that a new driver would quit after only his or her first several weeks, if they are only making a few hundred dollars per week for running in long distance trucking.  But the economy is what it is . . . it’s tough for many trucking companies and freight is slow for a big portion of them.

The recruiters and many of the not-so-honest CDL schools are going to tell you what you want to hear.  Understand that the trucking industry, for many, are struggling right along with the other various industries in the present economic situation.  Your chances of starting out as a new driver and pulling in $1000 per week right off the bat, is not reasonable.   It could happen, but not usual with a new CDL graduate and beginning your career with one of these “starter companies.”

After finishing CDL training and you find yourself as one of those new drivers who do land a job with a company . . . be prepared to run the road for at least one year.  Some will say for six months . . . but that “one year” is really the magic number.   Keep in mind, that many of the really good trucking companies out there, require two and sometimes three or more years of verifiable driving experience . . . that is why they are the “really good” trucking companies.

Be prepared for the one year of sacrifice . . . plan ahead for your finances . . .  maybe your spouse will have to continue to work for that first year . .  perhaps you will have to dip into your savings . . . whatever the case, just be prepared for the commitment and sacrifice of running OTR for one year.

If after only a few weeks or even a few months, you are just not making it and you have to quit . . . just understand that this is one of the ways a new CDL graduate can almost certainly insure ending their truck driving career before it even begins.

Good Luck,

Allen Smith

Truth About Trucking

© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.


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We’d like to “freshen up” a few links to very important posts that need to be more easily accessible. Please add your comments to them accordingly.

1) Truck Driving Schools and Trucking Companies: Post Your Comments about Them Here:

There are almost 200 posts about schools and companies that could help you in this post. Also, it is an opportunity for you to post to others and help them out, as there could be a question about a company or school that you have experience with and would want to share.

2)  A Day in the Life of a Lady Trucker

This is Truck Desiree’s Journal, where she gives a daily description and trail of events of her life in CDL school and trucking company training. Desiree has become the favorite of many throughout the trucking world as she shares her life experiences in the hopes to help other students and trainees.  Some of her posts have stirred up quite a bit of contoversy and we suggest you read this if you want to know the “behind the scenes” of what really goes on.

3)  Truth About Trucking- Your Opinion, Comments, and Testimonials

Here are some more comments, questions, and testimonials from others.


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