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.

: cdl school, CDL schools, cdl students, cdl training, CDL training school, eagle training services, tanya bons, truck driving career, Truck Driving Jobs, truck driving schools, trucking

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Over 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.

: cdl graduates, cdl school, CDL schools, cdl students, cdl training, dac report, driver respect, mvr, new driver, no freight, one year, otr, otr trucking, over the road, truck driver, truck driving career, truck driving job, trucking, trucking companies, trucking industry, verifiable driving experience

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Becoming a professional truck driver is one of the most demanding jobs and lifestyles that one can imagine, and yet there are over 4 million drivers. So what motivates someone to become a professional driver? There are many reasons, but here’s a few:

freedom, independence, desire to change careers, wanting to see the country, and even to just get out of the rat race of society.

Whatever the reason, the fact remains that before you can drive 80,000 pounds safely down a highway, sharing the road with countless other people, you must first learn how to drive these massive vehicles properly.

Your CDL training is THE most important decision you will make. Deciding upon the proper school could be the deciding factor of whether you will be successful or not.

Many within the trucking industry are anticipating a “driver shortage”  which will open the flood gates to massive amounts of new students seeking to obtain their CDL. Many are predicting that with the anticipation of CSA 2010 many drivers  will lose their jobs, for either being considered unsafe drivers or for “other” reasons  given to them by their present employers ( what I would call excuses justified by CSA 2010)

Whatever the case, we can expect many new students to be entering the trucking industry, desiring to be  a professional driver. Because of this I believe there will be less than adequate training ( even more so than before) available and more than ever YOU must do your homework and research thoroughly before you decide upon a truck driving school.

I’ve  been writing information for CDL Students and new Truck Drivers for quite some time now. I am proud to say that the information has saved many a trucking career seeker, student, and new driver from the devastation that can occur within the first few years.  In addition to saving years of wasted time and heartache, the info I share has directed thousands towards a successful trucking career by issuing the guidance and knowledge that most drivers only learn from years of experience.

I’ve  written hundreds of posts and articles in order to help you succeed within the trucking industry. This information is readily available to you FREE as it has been submitted to article directories and on this blog, thus being accessible throughout the internet.

I have combined this information in books, Audio CD’s, and PDF CD’s so that the reader/listener could have the info without searching, thus saving  time.

Anyone who is serious and motivated about having a successful truck driving career does not think twice about the  modest investment. I’ve  kept the price affordable and I try to over deliver on this information.

The latest product offered has been made available and includes ALL of Allen’s books and 7 Bonus  Reports.
The information is received as an immediate download, as well as a CD-ROM which is shipped to your given address.

Product includes:  “The Truth About Trucking”, ” So You’ve Got Your CDL…Now What?”, and “The Best Truck Driving Jobs- A State by State List”

7 Bonuses:  The Little Secret About Sign on, “The 5 BEST Trucking Companies in America“, Passing the Pre-Trip Inspection”

“Best Starter Company for Student Training & Newbie Drivers.”, “Truck Driving Schools: How to Make the Best Choice”

“The Cheapest Route to Getting Your CDL” Revised , Student Training Schools

For More detailed info please visit Truth About Trucking

Please, before you make the decision about becoming a professional driver, take your time and understand what the job entails, including the lifestyle you will be expected to maintain. I have tried to be very honest and upfront and have sugar coated nothing.

You must know that what will be promised to you and what you will experience are going to be very different. Your training will not end upon the completion of your schooling, but rather it actually just really begins at that point. This is where the choice of the best starter companies come to play.  At this point you will begin to understand how trucking really works:

The training process, your responsibilities, the salary, home time, how you will be treated as an employee….in other words, the reality of your new career. To be quite candid, many will not be able to endure and will not make it. For those who do, much will depend on:

A) the school you choose and the company you work for

B) Your attitude and how much you desire to succeed in the industry.

After reading the information if you still have questions just shoot me a brief email

allen@truthabouttrucking.com

I’ll try my best to  answer you according to YOU and your situation

© 2009 – 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: best truck driving jobs, cdl students, cdl training, professional truck drivers, truck driving career, truck driving schools, trucking, trucking career, trucking industry

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