SAIA | Info of getting on with Saia

darkon

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I am looking at any info on how to get on with Saia. I would like to know how hard it is to get hired at a service center out of state. I have tried by where I live and have updated my app a few times since they are only good for 60 days. I have been putting apps in out of state . I am not looking for a relocation just a job, I have heard really good things about the company . I currently work for a local company where I live but would welcome an opportunity to work at Saia.. I have been putting my apps to places I would move to. Hoping to hear something but have the feeling I won't even be contacted.
 
Where abouts are you located & are you looking for line or local... and probably most important these days, how is your CSA score.
 
Your home address has no bearing on getting hired. Maybe they aren't hiring where you are applying. And, your CSA score and safety record are absolutely crucial.
 
Thanks for the replies. I shouldn't have any problems with my CSA score. No tickets, accidents or anything. Been driving local when needed and running a warehouse in Michigan. Looking for pretty much anything - local, line, dock.
 
What terminals are you applying at in Michigan? The Grand Rapids terminal manager got fired recently and they have no manager right now, so that may be why you aren't hearing back, if that's one you looked at.

If you're willing to go to the Chicago region you could get hired no problem, even if you had a bad record. They are desperate for drivers right now.
 
I applied to the Jackson and Detroit (Dearborn) ones. I am sort of in the middle of both. Either one with be a drive for me. I think the Jackson one is a small terminal though. I would thing the Detroit terminal would be bigger,
 
How long has it been since you applied & have you followed up afterwards?
Are you looking for local or line?
There maybe no openings where you have applied or there could be something in your background, if you are determined to work Memphis is almost always looking for drivers... In your region I think Grayling & Dayton are looking
 
How long has it been since you applied & have you followed up afterwards?
Are you looking for local or line?
There maybe no openings where you have applied or there could be something in your background, if you are determined to work Memphis is almost always looking for drivers... In your region I think Grayling & Dayton are looking


I reapplied last month but have previously applied a couple of times but the apps expire after a certain amount of time. What would be in background that would not move forward? How do they do background checks - before they even interview or want to interview?
 
I reapplied last month but have previously applied a couple of times but the apps expire after a certain amount of time. What would be in background that would not move forward? How do they do background checks - before they even interview or want to interview?
Once you apply online and give them your Social Security number and DL# that's all they need. They run a complete background off that.
 
Runawaytrain - thank you. Was just curious. I have put in apps and have had to reapply because the expiration. Just wasn't sure how they pull apps especially when I am sure they get tons of them for one position.
 
Runawaytrain - thank you. Was just curious. I have put in apps and have had to reapply because the expiration. Just wasn't sure how they pull apps especially when I am sure they get tons of them for one position.
It really doesn't take a lot to get you out of the running. They want a perfect CSA score. No tickets. No accidents. Good work history in LTL. If a recruiter hasn't called by now it doesn't look good. Give it maybe one more try then move on. They may have found something they didn't like if you haven't heard anything by now. You could always pay a visit to the TM at the terminal you want but more than likely he will just tell you to do what you have already done. Atlanta screens applicants and not much can be done to override their decisions once you have been eliminated. I'm not saying that is what has happened but since you haven't heard anything it doesn't sound very good.
 
It really doesn't take a lot to get you out of the running. They want a perfect CSA score. No tickets. No accidents. Good work history in LTL. If a recruiter hasn't called by now it doesn't look good. Give it maybe one more try then move on. They may have found something they didn't like if you haven't heard anything by now. You could always pay a visit to the TM at the terminal you want but more than likely he will just tell you to do what you have already done. Atlanta screens applicants and not much can be done to override their decisions once you have been eliminated. I'm not saying that is what has happened but since you haven't heard anything it doesn't sound very good.

Yeah well that is what I figured.Really don't know what I could have put down on app to get "eliminated" .I have an unblemished driving record and solid work history. But life is life. Can't say I didn't try.
 
Unblemished driving record is one thing but how is your CSA score? It is always possible that there just isn't an opening there, I have a list of open line spots from a few months back & neither Jackson or Detroit are on the list... I would go by & actually speak to the TM or his operations manager as both of the TMs handle multiple terminal so he might be a bit hard to chase down.

You could also message a recruiter through Facebook or talk someone on here into giving you the format of our email addresses
 
This company does not do a background check up front. Most of the time they don't even do it until after you are hired, as stupid as that sounds. I know of at least 2 guys that got hired in CGO that went through training and had been working for a few days before they were told that their background checks came back bad and they fired them. There was another that lied on his app about his job history and they didn't catch it until he had already been hired and was in training. Even when I was hired they didn't do mine until a week later!

Up here in the northern region they will take anything they can get, honestly. I work with guys who have 2-3 tickets on their records. When I got hired I had a speeding ticket on mine and they didn't bat an eye about it.

My advise to the OP would be to keep trying and maybe try to get ahold of the terminal managers directly and talk to them. Jackson is a small terminal and might not need anyone right now. But Detroit is a decent sized barn.
 
This company does not do a background check up front. Most of the time they don't even do it until after you are hired, as stupid as that sounds. I know of at least 2 guys that got hired in CGO that went through training and had been working for a few days before they were told that their background checks came back bad and they fired them. There was another that lied on his app about his job history and they didn't catch it until he had already been hired and was in training. Even when I was hired they didn't do mine until a week later!

Up here in the northern region they will take anything they can get, honestly. I work with guys who have 2-3 tickets on their records. When I got hired I had a speeding ticket on mine and they didn't bat an eye about it.

My advise to the OP would be to keep trying and maybe try to get ahold of the terminal managers directly and talk to them. Jackson is a small terminal and might not need anyone right now. But Detroit is a decent sized barn.
Well, I guess each region is different because here in the South a recruiter never calls if it doesn't pass an initial screening process. I know many companies that do things the way you suggest and perhaps it did go down that way in CGO ... I can only tell this guy what I have been told. Right or wrong. But you are right he should go directly to the TM.
 
This may help you out?

http://www.jobs.net/jobs/saia/en-us/

This company does not do a background check up front. Most of the time they don't even do it until after you are hired, as stupid as that sounds. I know of at least 2 guys that got hired in CGO that went through training and had been working for a few days before they were told that their background checks came back bad and they fired them. There was another that lied on his app about his job history and they didn't catch it until he had already been hired and was in training. Even when I was hired they didn't do mine until a week later!

Up here in the northern region they will take anything they can get, honestly. I work with guys who have 2-3 tickets on their records. When I got hired I had a speeding ticket on mine and they didn't bat an eye about it.

My advise to the OP would be to keep trying and maybe try to get ahold of the terminal managers directly and talk to them. Jackson is a small terminal and might not need anyone right now. But Detroit is a decent sized barn.

They did the same thing in HST Region with oil was 100 + dollars a barrel.
 
Well, I guess each region is different because here in the South a recruiter never calls if it doesn't pass an initial screening process. I know many companies that do things the way you suggest and perhaps it did go down that way in CGO ... I can only tell this guy what I have been told. Right or wrong. But you are right he should go directly to the TM.

Depends on how desperate the terminal is for people I guess. Pretty much every terminal in the CGO region is desperate and can't keep drivers. That's why they are paying $3000-4000 sign on bonuses and giving linehaulers an extra 2 cents per mile.
 
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