Originally published by the Over the Road, re-published with permission, and written by me.

 

All right, you think that you found a really great carrier and are dying to work for them. How do you increase your chances of getting the job? In this environment, it is really competitive trying to land the job with the best trucking companies. There is lots of competition.

 

For the last several years I have been working for an insurance company performing an audit on trucking companies. One thing that I see all the time is incomplete driver application forms. I ask the safety person why and they tell me that the driver didn’t know when he filled it out.

I understand what the safety person said, because I used to be a recruiter for an international trucking company. All too often, an applicant would come in and try to complete an application form and they wouldn’t have all the information.

 

If you want to impress the recruiter then come in prepared! What kind of an impression has the applicant just made on the recruiter? You have picked up Over the Road it is likely you are looking for a new driving job. I know that there are other reasons, but perhaps this is the most common one.

 

So what is it that you need to fully complete and application form?

            Your name and full and complete address,

            A list of tickets received and a list of collisions you have been involved in for the past 3 years.

            Your job history/experience

            Bring your current MVR (motor vehicle record) and if you are from Ontario bring your CVOR. For most companies they want them to be no older then 30 days.

            If you are applying for a driver job that crosses into the Unites States you will also need a criminal record search (often companies like this to be no older then 90 days) and if you have a FAST card, have it ready.

            Now this may sound like a no brainer, but bring your driver’s license. When I was a recruiter, I had people who forgot their driver’s license.

 

Driver’s and this includes owner operators, most companies use the same application form. It comes from the United States and is regulated in the FMCSR’s (391.21). So all the questions are just about the same, no matter were you apply. If you come to apply for a job, come prepared with the information. It will make you appear professional. You planned for the task of applying for the position. If you do this you will already be above many of the other applicants, as the recruiter will likely be thinking, at last a professional, someone who thinks ahead and comes in prepared.

 

So what are the basic questions that most driver qualification forms ask?

1^st, your address and if you haven’t lived at the current address for the last 3 years make sure that you bring in the complete address’s to complete the 3 years needed. Please remember that you will need the complete address including the postal code.

 

2^nd, traffic convections including any that may not appear on you motor vehicle record (MVR) for the last 3 years. Remember that not all jurisdictions’ have reproprocity with your home province so it is important that you declare all violations, even ones that may be difficult for the recruiter to detect.

This might be a good time to remind you that when you sign an application form you are stating that every thing is correct to the best of your knowledge. If you make a mistake, it is usually grounds for dismissal, or in other words the company once they find out the truth have every right to fire you. So you will have to start the process all over again and you may not get a good reference from this employer.

 

3^rd, all collisions that you have been involved in for the past 3 years. You will need to know the detail of the collision such as Province/State, what charges were laid, the circumstances regard the collision and if there were fatalities or injuries.

 

4^th, a list of your past employers for the last 3 years. You will need the complete address, phone number, name of a contact person, the position held and the reason for leaving. Most importantly the dates of employment. This must be the month and year for the start and finish of each job. If you have any gaps in employment of more then a month you should list and explain those as well. If you have more then 3 years of commercial driving experience, you will need to go back as far as 10 years, listing all of the same information. I know sometimes it is hard to remember when you left a position. It needs to be as accurate as possible. If you can remember whether it was spring, summer, fall or winter, this will help. Always be truthful, if you are not sure of the exact dates, tell the interviewer so. Remember though, you are a professional driver and you should be keeping track of this information.

 

I know that there are other questions that are asked on an application form. What I have listed are the 4 big and important ones.

 

So I encourage each and every applicant to go for and apply for your new position. Remember, applying for a new position is a job in it self. Treat it as such. Go prepared. The interviewer will appreciate it, because you have made their job that much easier and you have likely stood out among the other applicants. In this economic environment the competition is stiff for the new job. Set yourself apart by being prepared to complete the application, neat and tidy in appearance, complete with the documentation such as MVR, criminal record search, driver license, FAST card and job history. You will make the application process less stressful, perhaps even enjoyable and you may get the position that you really want. Good Luck.