Please critique my job wanted ad

[Droopy]

I'm going to place an ad in the local newspaper that looks something like the following.

"Truck driver looking for weekend work. I'm available from noon Saturday to 11 pm Sunday. I'm hard working and dependable. I have 8.5 years tractor trailer experience and all endorsements. All of my experience is with 48' and 53' dry vans, however, so I would need training to haul other types of trailers. I have a steady work record and a good driving record. Ideally I would like to make at least $300 for the weekend, but I'm willing to consider all offers."

What do you think?

[auntAgonist]

1. maybe?

Professional Highway driver seeks weekend employment. 8.5 years experience. All endorsements. Steady work history, clean driving record. I have experience in dry vans , 48' and 53'.
Available from Saturday noon through 11pm Sunday.



0000000
Don't sell yourself short when it comes to money. Let them offer and then your counter offer.

:hi: good luck

[enigmatic]

5. I agree w/ this..

Never say upfront how much money you want; let them offer something to you first..

[Droopy]

10. Thank you

Yeah I guess I'm giving out a little too much information in my version.

[Kenneth ken]

2. Trucker driver

shouldn't it be Truck driver? My reading says you have your own truck, and they only need to supply the trailer and load. Does your truck have the hookups for a refer trailer? Are there hook ups for refer trailers? It seems to me there are, but it's 30 years since I was around trucking - my Dad was an OTR driver.

[auntAgonist]

4. reefers don't need special hook-ups

they use the same electric plugs and air hoses as all other trailers.

:hi:

[Kenneth ken]

12. I guess that makes sense

it would be a PITA to have to swap out hoses depending on the load, or to just leave some dangling when they weren't being used. :blush: sort of, I was pretty young at the time, so didn't really think much about the hows and whys. Most of my time around trucks was helping to load or unload, so being in the trailer. :)

thanks though - you're my 'learn something new every day' for the day. :hi:

[Droopy]

7. That's a typo

I'll fix it. There are no special hook ups for a refrigerated trailer that I'm aware of. And no I don't have my own truck.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[madeline_con]

8. Good luck to you, too!

:hi:

[Droopy]

9. Welcome to DU

Good luck on your job hunting.

[madeline_con]

6. I agree with auntAgonist...

Your version lists a lot of shortcomings. Hers is more positive. Also, shorter and to the point. Prospective employers like that.

[Droopy]

11. Thank you

I think I agree with her, too.

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. "Experienced Class A CDL Driver seeks weekend work"

"9 yrs OTR Dry Van experience, (enter here appropriate amount of miles) Accident/ticket free miles. Dependable, Available Sat and Sun.


Short, to the point, don't ask for money.

To be honest, you will probably be better off going to places like landscapers and other such places that deliver to homes for the Do-it-yourselfer and simply applying.
Consider seeking out your local FEDEX Ground terminal. You might be able to put an ad on their bulletin board. FEDEX Ground uses almost exclusively O-O's nationwide and you might find one that has a 24-30 hour turn he could use help on. An extra driver on a weekend run like that will double that owners money. Something that is 500 miles out and back (1000 mile turn) Of course, you have to be willing to run teams if you do that but you could probably make the cash figure you seek if you did.

on edit to say ...add the words "All endorsements" in the text of that ad after "Dry van experience"

[Droopy]

14. Thank you Heretic

I agree with you and AuntAgonist that I should be more brief and also take the dollar figure out of the ad. That's a good idea about FEDEX. I think that there is a FEDEX terminal around here somewhere, too. I'll check it out. I'm not afraid to drive team. That's how I started my career.

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. There you go! Seek out the terminal manager and ask if any of his

drivers might be looking for weekend help AND EVEN IF HE SAYS NO ask if you can put your ad on the bulliten board in the drivers lounge/dispatch room. Wont hurt.

[auntAgonist]

16. Excellent ideas!

Also check out the job board (if there is one) at a near by truckstop. Never know what you might find there.

[A HERETIC I AM]

17. OH!! OH!! OH!!! I GOT ANOTHER ONE!!!! he he....

Seriously....thanks for the compliment, auntAgonist.

Droopy.....Most mid to larger munincipalities have "Drivers Services" or "Driver Leasing" companies. I worked for a couple in the past. If you arent familiar, these companies are contracted by carriers to supply drivers at a set rate, thus saving the carrier the expense of benefits, pension, etc. You work for the carrier but are an employee of the Leasing company. Your paycheck has the Leasing companies name on it. The upside here is that the leasing company may have dozens of carriers it services and your options may open up much wider.

The downside is that your pay is not going to be quite as high as you might like. If they lease you for say...$20.00 AN HOUR, YOU MIGHT ONLY GET $12.00, but you might find they pay time-and-a half AFTER 8 HOURS so it can make up for it if you can work 2 10 or 12 hour days, for instance.

Look in the Yellow Pages under "Driver Leasing" or similar headings.

Best of luck.

[Droopy]

18. I've never heard of that

But I have heard of temp agencies in the area who operate in a similar fashion. I'll check into it, but I will not work cheap. Thanks for the idea, though. There can never be enough possibilities when one is job hunting.