Ready To

Roll? Questions New Truckers Need

To Ask Their Recruiters

Before Signing Up

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 don’t ask their recruiters the right

questions when they’re 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.

Fact: According to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics, trucking jobs are expected to increase

by 11 percent over the decade.

Recruiters for trucking

schools and companies

work to bring new

students and drivers

into their organizations

– that’s all. They’re 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.

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 you’re

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.

• 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?

Questions For School 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?

Questions For Company

Recruiters

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.

The quality of the recruiter

doesn’t always represent the

quality of the trucking company

or school you’re 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 don’t 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.

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 driver’s license.

• A valid commercial driver’s 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.

Getting Onboard

The CDL is the driver’s

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.

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.