Questions New Truckers need to ask their recruiters before signing up

1
Ready To Roll?
Questions New Truckers Need To Ask Their
Recruiters Before Signing Up
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Connecting With A New Career
Recruiters for trucking schools and companies can
connect you with a great career that will provide
steady work and income for you and your family.
Trucking employs millions of people in the U.S.,
and there will always be a need for safe and
skilled operators of trucks. Many new truck
drivers dont ask their recruiters the right
questions when theyre considering signing up for
a class or job, leading to disappointment and
dissatisfaction. Knowing what to ask and what to
look for will help new drivers get off to a
better foot in their new career.
3
Recruiters for trucking schools and companies
work to bring new students and drivers into their
organizations thats all. Theyre not human
resource officers and they are not dispatchers or
managers. Their sole role is to make their
organization look as attractive as possible and
recruit new students and drivers.
Fact According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, trucking jobs are expected to
increase by 11 percent over the decade.
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Recruiters can help new and prospective truck
drivers by informing them of the best reasons for
attending the school or working for the company
the recruiter represents. As every school and
company are different, recruiters provide a vital
source of information about the school or company
youre considering. They can inform you of class
schedules and duration, probationary periods,
company pay and perks, company policies and more.
Fact Nearly 70 percent of all freight tonnage in
the U.S. goes on trucks. Without trucks and truck
drivers, the U.S. economy would grind to a halt.
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Questions For School Recruiters

• How many students are in each class?
• Will we get extra practice time?
• Does the school offer onsite testing?
• How much drive time does the school offer?
• What type of accreditation does the school have?
• Are there online options for classwork?
• What are the qualifications of the drivers?

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Questions For Company Recruiters

• What is your home-time policy?
• What are your major lanes?
• What pay and benefits are offered?
• How are meals reimbursed?
• Will I get a dedicated driver manager?
• How much loading and unloading will I be
  responsible for?

Fact According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the median pay for a tractor-trailer
driver in the U.S. is 18.37 per hour.
7
The quality of the recruiter doesnt always
represent the quality of the trucking company or
school youre representing, so do your own
research. Sometimes recruiters talk a great game
for companies and schools that fail to deliver.
Other times unmotivated, overworked recruiters
dont make the school or company look as good as
it actually is. Follow up conversations with
recruiters with site visits and talk to employees
or students to get a more accurate picture.
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Getting Onboard

• One of the great things about the trucking
  industry is the opportunity it offers. With just
  a small investment in training, prospective
  drivers can quickly get the skills they need to
  embark on this career. Truck drivers typically
  need
• To be at least 21.
• Have a valid drivers license.
• A valid commercial drivers license.
• A good driving record free of DUIs, reckless
  driving citations and other major traffic
  offenses for the past three years.
• Other training per state regulations and company
  guidelines.

9
The CDL is the drivers license that allows
drivers to legally operate big trucks. With this
license drivers can operate vehicles weighing
more than 26,000 lbs. for commercial use.
Training for CDL approval includes training about
safely operating the vehicle and securing loads
it may transport. CDLs cover tow trucks, tractor
trailers, buses and other large vehicles.
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About Shark Trucking
Shark Trucking is a full-service trucking company
headquartered in Houston, Texas. Shark Trucking,
founded in 1993, has over 60 units in operation
and moves more than 500 million lbs. in freight
each year. For drivers, Shark Trucking offers
competitive pay and benefits and scheduling that
allows plenty of home and family time. For more
information, visit http//sharktrucking.com/ or
call 1-800-556-4667.