With all those truck driving jobs websites out there -- or those that claim to send your "one" application to "100s of jobs" or only the "best" trucking companies -- it can be kind of confusing to know who to trust to help you get a job.
That's what we
are going to address on this page: giving you tips on what to look for
so you know who to trust.
From a money saving standpoint, we want to help protect you from being the victim of identity theft.
When you send your sensitive personal information to a site that is not trustworthy -- or people who don't disclose who they are and what they're going to do with your information -- it could potentially be like putting the gift of your financial future in the hands of a thief!
Take a look at this guy.
He's in
a suit and tie.
What is that look in his eyes?
If you're looking for a job in today's tight economy, you might want to believe that if he runs a website through which you can submit one application for truck driving jobs, he wants to help you.
Can't the same situation apply to a supposedly professional looking website?
Of course it can, especially if it is loaded with the names and banners and logos of lots of trucking companies.
But there's something about this guy that the photo above doesn't show you...
This guy is ready to take
everything you give him -- and more! (See the weapon?)
Unfortunately, in our day, some criminals don't need to brandish a weapon in order to do their crimes because we provide them with all the tools they need -- at the touch of the submit button on your keyboard.
In December 2010, we were contacted by a driver recruiting website and asked to set up a link exchange.
We were flattered that our website ranked highly enough in the opinion of the person who contacted us to have been asked for a link.
As
is the case with all link exchange requests we receive, we carefully
evaluate the website to find out if it would be a valuable resource for
you, our reader.
An evaluation of this particular website revealed the following information:
While these fields were not required to be filled in, in order for the application to be accepted, we were concerned that drivers might feel that they had to submit this information in order for their application to be processed or stand a better chance of being accepted by some companies.
Although the site listed a number of trucking companies, we saw no indication as to
Of greatest concern on this website we were evaluating was that we could find no link on the site detailing
(Even though we aren't recruiters and don't offer lists of truck driving jobs, we do tell you who we are and list our disclaimer.)
In fact, on this particular driver recruiting site, there was
no credible
third party verification.
What if a trusting and completely unsuspecting driver entered all of the information asked for on the site and realized that he/she ended up helping someone take advantage of him/her?
It would be like trying to regather feathers blown from a bag on the top of a hill on a windy day -- almost impossible.
In a post that Mike made to The Trucker's Report message board on December 4, 2010, he pointed out some of the problems with another truck driving jobs websites that "collects applications for companies in need of truck drivers":
"Simply fill out an online application and your resume will be forwarded to the top trucking companies looking for drivers."
The questions he raised (edited for clarity) were:
Our advice (our warning) about applying for truck driving jobs online is as follows:
Money saving tip: Beware of where you submit your name, date of birth, Social Security Number, Commercial Driver's License number, address, email address, home or cell phone number, etc.
Like it or not, this is your identity and once an unscrupulous person gets it, there is no telling to what lengths he/she will go to take advantage of you, your good name, your good credit, and whatever else they can take.
The U.S. Federal Government has set up the website IDTheft.gov as a resource to help you fight identity theft. You may wish to read more there.
If you think you can't be affected by identity theft, you may wish to review these statistics for a sobering eye-opener.
While it is not impossible for those whose identities have been stolen to get the situation straightened out, it is much more difficult for those who spend time away from home, like commercial truck drivers.
In this age of instant gratification when we can get Internet search results almost in the twinkling of an eye, we are used to getting fast service.
However, we must always bear in mind that behind every form on every website, there is someone waiting to harvest information. Folks might be lurking in the shadows just waiting to prey upon you because of your "need" for a driving job.
Outsmart those who seek to take advantage of you.
You wouldn't dream of leaving a shipper with your trailer doors unlocked and parking in a unsecured location overnight, just waiting for someone to hijack your load.
So, don't let someone hijack your identity by leaving the door of your life wide open to those who don't meet the qualifications you are now smart enough to identify.
As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Caveat emptor is Latin for "Let the buyer beware."
Or in this case, let the CDL-holder filling out an online truck driver application for truck driving jobs beware.
Return from Applying for Driving Jobs Online? Beware These Warning Signs! to our Truck Driving Jobs page or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.