Hi,

I'm Bill(45) and my wife is Missy(?!, lol). We have learned a lot reading the threads here and we were hoping we could get some specific information. We've been searching the threads here and every other drivers site to get the most information we can. Sometimes too much information can lead to asking the wrong questions or missing what's important, that's why I'm writing.

My wife and I are in the process of becoming an OTR team. We haven't got out licenses yet. Mine will come from Willis Shaw and Hers from Sage. Our plan is to team for Willis Shaw, everything we've heard (hear and elsewhere) Shaw sounds like a good company to start at.

I'm meeting with a Willis Shaw recruiter next week. I was hoping the experienced drivers here could give me a list of questions and/or concerns to discuss with the recruiter.

We've been doing a lot of research and have a list of things to discuss, but being new to trucking there is no way we know the right questions. You have been there and know the right things to look for and discuss.

We'll let you know how it goes.

 

Read this...all of it

http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...ic.php?t=26892

 

From OOIDA

http://www.ooida.com/Swimming_sharks...o_drivers.html

 

Dont let the Rank thing fool ya ...Im a Rookie too ...I just got a big mouth
BUT ....heres what I compiled for my own personal notes from the string you were reffered to and a few other questions

Questions in red , Notes or explinations in Green ... although I still dont know what an Ibammer is ?

1)What Is Your Home-Time Policy?
clarify how it defines a day.



2)What Are Your Major Lanes?



3)What Type of Equipment Will I Have?



4)Do You Provide Layover Pay?



5)Do You Slip-Seat? If you don't want to share your truck, look for an employer with a no slip-seat policy.


6) How Much Do You Pay?
Dont make this your first question / impression !
Check out Monster's Salary Center for current driver pay scales. Demand is strong, so don't let a firm shortchange you. Anderson recommends evaluating the pay offered in terms of cents per mile.

7)What Are the Benefits?
Some companies offer full medical, dental, vision and short-term disability coverage. The less the coverage, the more cents per mile you'll want.
8) DO you pay for lumpers? .

.. Find out if your potential employer will pay or compensate for the lumper.

9)Do You Offer Bonuses?

Some companies offer bonuses for a good driving record and performance, so it pays to ask. Robins also recommends asking if the company offers sign-on bonuses.

10) Will I Get a Dedicated Driver Manager?

A driver manager is particularly important if you're just starting out as a driver. Having a direct manager to work with can foster a good company relationship, enhance your promotion chances and help you resolve concerns and issues quickly.

11) How bout tolls and scales. Who pays for them?

12)Do they allow riders and if so whats the policy (including pets).

13)Do they Allow POwer inverters ?. Ibamars ?

 

Ibamar is a CAD members screen name. :P

 

1. Husband-Wife teams are in demand. You should have no problem getting on with any number of top-rate companies.

2. Recruiters are salesmen. They tend to B.S. quite a bit, and give answers that tend to paint a rosier picture, so use your own judgment when asking questions.

3. If you have any recent traffic violations or employment history issues (workman comp. claims, disability, etc.) make sure you are up front with them. There are a number of accounts here where new drivers have been hired by recruiters, only to be turned away when they showed up for orientation because something negative popped up on their backround checks.

 

I would ask about average haul miles. should be good for a team operation. teams are in high demand which means you have more options than a loan person. so don't cut your selfs short. look around at more companies.

 

I've got a great question to ask!

Do you offer marriage counseling? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Been there, done that. (Driving, not the counseling, but I'm not sure the wife has recovered from the experience yet)

I teamed with the wife for a year and loved every second of it, just make sure you realize you will be spending a lot of time together and it will test both of you. Especially in the beginning.

Best of Luck and drive safe.

 

You might want to check these two links out as well.


http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles...ons_To_Ask.htm
http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles...Ask_School.htm

 

Thank you all so much, a lot of very useful information here.

My wife and I will check out all the links and information so we can make up a list of questions to fit our situation.

Anything else that anyone wants to add would be appreciated.