Operational Loader Unloader Interview Preparation Guide

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You need to let the company know that you will not be a liability to them if they were to hire you to drive for them. Make sure it is clear to them that safety is important to you. Make sure they know how much you value wearing your seat belt and following all of the driving laws and rules you were taught during your CDL training.

The good thing is that there is always a lot to do even if you are not doing your primary work. If a delivery is late, I do not sit idle. I look for work in other areas, such as storage and inventory management to keep myself busy.

You already know that driving a commercial vehicle you will be stuck in traffic a lot. Make sure that the interviewer knows that you understand traffic is an inevitable part of the job and that it doesn’t bother you.

Everybody was really nice. They have a team atmosphere there. That’s the big thing. Everybody works as a team, so if there was something you couldn’t do, you could always ask for help, and nobody would say anything or argue about it. It’s a pretty cohesive environment.

You should have more than just monetary motivation. Describe how you an a motivated person that always strives to be efficient and reliable. Also, you are motivated by challenges and providing for your family.

They wanted to know why I wanted to work at Lowe’s, how long I was willing to work there, work ethic. Basically, what I was looking for in Lowe’s. If I wanted a career, just a job, so they try to suit and tailor you to that.

A good answer is that you are a quick learner and learn new technology quickly. The trucking industry is changing quickly and companies want to know if you are going to be able to adapt.

I was a receiver and truck unloader at Lowe’s. Trucks would come in, deliver the merchandise. Me and about three other guys would unload all the trucks, put them on pallets, and take all the merchandise out to the sales floor, and sit it at the end of a rack. And then a night team would come in.

Your answer to this question has to be honest because the trucking company will find out where you have worked before. If you have never had a job driving you need to be honest and open about that. Not telling the truth to this question is the worse thing you could do.

Talk about your dedication to the profession of truck driving, your clean driving record, and your attention to detail. They are looking for someone that is not going to be a liability.

☛ 1. What is your home time policy?
☛ 2. What can I expect my first year earnings to be?
☛ 3. What will I be driving? What is the condition of the equipment?
☛ 4. Is there a vacation policy? What is it?
☛ 5. What are the main hubs?
☛ 6. What medical and dental plans are offered?
☛ 7. Is there assigned trucks or slip seating?
☛ 8. What speed are the trucks governed at?
☛ 9. Clarify the difference between paid and unpaid miles.
☛ 10. How are miles calculated?
☛ 11. What is the average length of load?
☛ 12. How many terminals does the company have? Where are they at?
☛ 13. How many employees does the company have?
☛ 14. What is the company’s turnover rate?
☛ 15. Which states do they operate in the most?
☛ 16. Which e-log do they use?
☛ 17. What is the average age of the tractors?
☛ 18. Do trucks come with power inverters?
☛ 19. Do trucks have refrigerators and/or any other accessories?
☛ 20. How does the company pay?
☛ 21. What types of benefits does the company offer?
☛ 22. Does the company offer any kind of safety bonus program?

Over the years that I have spent working at this position, I have acquired much in terms of skills. These include deep knowledge of warehouse systems, ability to safely load and unload merchandise, inventory management capabilities, and the competency to handle problems and limitations associated specifically with warehouse work.

Physically it's challenging. You get injuries and they are hard to heal. Muscle tears in our shoulders are common because we're lifting above our shoulders. But that's the nature of the work, so you just have to try and keep on top of it.

Be sure to talk about what you do outside of truck driving. The interviewer wants to see who you are outside of a truck. Give specific examples of interests that you have.

You only miss work when it is absolutely necessary because of illness or an important personal obligation. In general you prefer not to miss work.

Research the company before the interview so you can highlight some of the reasons why their company would be the best fit for them. For example, in doing your research you may find out that the company was voted as one of the best trucking companies in the area. This is something worth mentioning because it will separate you from other potential drivers that may know nothing about the company. As much as you want to work for them they also want to have drivers that are excited to be there.

We have to work as a team, as things can get really busy and we have to depend on each other to get things done. Everybody has to know what they're doing.

Come in to work with a positive attitude. Get along with everybody. Everybody’s really cool. You really do have to work as a team there. That’d probably be my best advice I could give somebody. Remember the team atmosphere. People look out for each other there.

Come in and clock in, have to pull out a conveyor belt before the trucks start to come in. Open up the trucks. Unload everything according to a certain code. There’s a certain spot for everything. Put them up on the pallets, then take a pallet jack, load them out to the sales floor, and usually we got done a little early, so we’d help everybody else out with their little duties they had to do at the end of the day, their little tours.

5 years from now, I hope to be working as a warehouse supervisor, a role that I am diligently working towards at the moment.

In the 6 years that I have worked as a warehouse loader, I have witnessed tagging systems that leave a lot to be desired. If it were up to me, my concentration would be on the information that is placed on tags. I would add item and batch numbers, date of receipt, storage area reference and date of outward shipping.

You get travel perks, the money's reasonable and it's low stress. I also love being outside – on a nice sunny day, when you're in your shorts in the sun, it's great.

You should be ready to start as soon as possible and looking forward to working with their company.

Hopefully the answer is one. If it took you more than one you need to be honest about it and explain what you did differently after failing a specific part of the CDL testing process. They are looking for honesty and the ability to learn from mistakes.

Do what is right. Tell the company that you would report that person for stealing. Again, the company is trying to figure out how honest of an employee you are going to be.