Tidewater Transit - My Experience Before Hire

I just want to share my story, I have never worked for them but I spent almost 2 months with the recruiter trying to get on board with them and it just didn't work out because they changed the requirements in the middle of my hiring process.

I was interested in their OTR position in which they call the Pro Plan. They advertise a guaranteed minimum pay per week, which sounded really good. I met all their requirements, including "at least one year of tanker experience". They required X endorsement, TWIC and passport before hire, so I got all those things before I could get an interview with them. The passport and TWIC took weeks and I expedited (which is costly) the passport to get it sooner for the job, all the while I kept the recruiter updated of my progress, because I was very interested and wanted to start ASAP. All the while they were trying to find a secure location near my home to park the truck. This alone was on them putting off my hiring process, when in my opinion, they should have done that after hire. Why use all your resources finding a place to park for someone you didn't hire yet?

Once I got all required documents they told me I need to get a respirator certification and buy my own respirator. I accomplished this and paid out of pocket with no reimbursements, the doctor told me he has never heard of a respirator certification but he'd be happy to sign a letter saying I was in good health to wear one. I relayed this info back to the recruiter and even forward my test results. They basically said OK that's good enough. Then they scheduled an in person interview which I had to drive 3 hours for. Interview and road test went great and got complimented by the manager.

Then a few days later the recruiter wanted to set up an Orientation date, but I told her I would need to put in a 2 weeks notice. What i didn't like was they never officially said I was hired, so obviously I wouldn't quit my job until I go the OK from TWT, which they never did until they had a date in their mind for orientation, which wasted even more time. So now I had a date set 2 weeks ahead and put in my 2 weeks notice.

After about 1 week they wanted to confirm with me my experience. I only have 18 months of liquid tanker experience and no dry bulk. Their Safety Department and Operations now are saying they required "at least one year of liquid and dry bulk experience" for the Pro Plan position. I even questioned them because their training is 2-3 weeks long, if a driver already has all that experience why do you need that much training? They even changed their website and took the ad down maybe to cover their "mistake". They also brought up the respirator certification again saying I need to get that done. I told them exactly the same thing I did last time about not knowing what that is, and TWT couldn't even tell me how or where to get it and I called them out on it. How can a company require something and not give you details on how to get it?

So now after all that time wasted and money spent specifically for this job, I am no longer qualified. I spent hundreds of dollars, for that position only for them to change their requirements mid hire...They did say we could hire you as a regional driver, but the main reason i wanted the OTR job was because of their guaranteed pay (which the regional/local doesn't get). Not only was this hiring process a red flag for me but the job wouldn't have been worth it to me for a lot lesser pay.

 

Believe it or not it's 100% the truth. I'm not the type to make #### up.

 

The only catch that i was told was I can't take more than a 34 reset at home

 

The work wouldn't have been worth it for me. I'm a slow learner (great worker though) and having to learn to unload multiple types of tanks just wasn't worth it to me (for the lesser pay) when I can find another company that has work I'm more familiar with for about the same pay. On a 2nd note I did not like the lack of communication, I feel it's a red flag. Yeah I did quit my job so I have to get another asap.

 

Good for you. Not only did I look it up but the fact that the company hiring couldn't even explain what was needed or recommended a place is unbelievable to me. On top of that they told me last minute about it.