It is amazing to see the way that people look for jobs these days. With all of the technology and information they still have a habit of asking a friend down the street or looking at a business that is on their block. I see it all the time in training classes with new drivers when we get talking about where they might go to work. “I have a friend with a truck that might hire me.” “I saw a company down the street with some trucks I think I might apply there.” These are comments I hear all the time from students because they are used to looking for a job the old way of either knowing someone or working local. Those are not necessarily bad things to look at but we all know that is not the best way to find a job in trucking.
When looking for a new job often people look at money, work-life balance, and career growth. With normal employment opportunities that would be the suggested way of looking for a job in most industries. In the transportation industry especially as a professional driver the normal way of looking for a job is the opposite than other industries. We may want more money, work-life balance, and career growth, but there are hidden factors that change the dynamics for new drivers. Insurance, training, and experience can change where a person applies for a job. The hidden factors are really the way you should be searching for a job with a carrier to enter the industry successfully. You need to look at an employer that has a good training program better known as a “Finishing Program” in the industry. Those carriers with good Finishing Programs are the carriers able to hire new people onto their team within the insurance regulations. You want a carrier that will offer you a stable environment allowing you to get experience that will help you be successful as a professional driver. Once you have a solid base of training you can then start looking at employers that can offer more money or long-term career growth. If you have done your homework then you may find that carrier right out of the gate.
When training new students I often tell them the best place to start their carrier search is either a preferred list with the training provider they are enrolled with or start with the Carrier Group at an association such as the Truck Training School Association of Ontario. Why start there you ask? There are a number of reasons to start with this group. Members of the TTSAO Carrier Group are already set up to accept truck drivers right out of a certified training program. Most of the carriers listed with TTSAO have approved Finishing Programs and resources in place to ensure a successful career start for a new driver.
If you are looking for a job in the transportation industry as a new driver and want to work with carriers that can give you a good start in the industry then the TTSAO Carrier Group is the place to start. To view carriers ready to talk with new drivers visit the TTSAO Carrier Group Page at www.ttsao.com . If you are a carrier that hires new drivers from training facilities and have an interest in helping drivers succeed in the industry then the TTSAO Carrier Group may be for you.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a veteran in the transportation industry with over 40 years in the industry in a variety of roles from driver to fleet supervisor and more. Today he is a media entrepreneur in the industry producing a number of programs within the trucking industry. You can learn more about Bruce and his work and his trucking podcast at www.theleadpedalpodcast.com
Disclaimer: This article is written and based on the opinion of the author and is for general information only. Please contact any groups mentioned individually for specific information.