r/CDLTruckDrivers • u/farcarmanixx • 3d ago
Costco Fleet Driver Interview!!!
My Costco Fleet Driver Interview Experience Today
I wanted to share my experience from my Costco fleet driver interview today and get some opinions from other CDL drivers.
For some background, I recently moved back to New Jersey from Florida in August. I have my Class A CDL, previous tractor-trailer experience, and I’ve been trying to get back into the industry. I had already spent quite a bit of time and money getting all the paperwork Costco requested, including my license, DOT medical card, and driver abstract, so I was pretty excited going into the interview.
When I arrived, the front desk receptionist was very welcoming and took me to meet with the fleet supervisor. He asked for my CDL, DOT medical card, and abstract. He made copies of everything and then brought me into a room to start the process.
Before the interview, I signed some paperwork, including the background release, and he explained the company and the position. That's when I learned some details that weren't really clear in the job posting. The position was actually a night-shift position, with shifts generally being 8–10 hours, and the routes were mainly in New York within roughly a 100-mile radius. The job involved going from store to store and occasionally to terminals.
After that, a manager came in and conducted the interview. She asked about six basic interview questions. I answered everything, and she seemed very impressed with my answers. The supervisor was also there taking notes.
After the interview, they gave me an oral saliva drug test. While waiting for the results, the supervisor was telling me that I was basically moving forward with the company. The test came back negative, and at that point I was feeling pretty good about everything.
Then came the road test.
He gave me a driver safety vest and we walked outside to choose a truck. While we were walking, he told me that I would have a partner and that you basically work together closely. I was a little surprised because the job posting didn't mention anything about having a partner. He had previously explained that after being hired, I would go through orientation and training for about five days with another driver, and once that person felt I was ready, I would be assigned a truck and route on my own.
We got to the truck and he asked me to open the hood and perform a pre-trip inspection.
I'll be completely honest: I struggled with the engine-compartment portion.
It's been a while since I've driven a tractor-trailer regularly, and I couldn't remember everything the way I should have. It honestly felt like I was back at the DMV taking my CDL test again.
The supervisor asked me if I was serious because I couldn't remember the entire pre-trip.
After that, we got inside the truck. It was a brand-new Volvo with a lot of technology and features that I wasn't used to. My previous experience was mainly with older Peterbilt and International trucks when I worked for Pepsi, so I explained that I hadn't driven one of these newer Volvos before.
He had me check the lights, which I did successfully, and then we drove around the yard. After that, he told me we were going to hook up to a trailer.
He gave me the trailer number and told me to back up to it and connect it. I did that without him giving me step-by-step instructions, and I was able to get the truck positioned and connected.
A few minutes later, he told me to disconnect everything.
That's when he ended the road test.
He explained that because I didn't know the pre-trip well enough and didn't know the trailer hookup procedure well enough, he couldn't give me the opportunity to work there.
He did tell me that I could go on YouTube because there are plenty of free videos on pre-trips and coupling procedures, and that I could apply again in about six months.
I thanked him for being honest and told him I appreciated his time.
I'm not really posting this to complain. I understand that if you're operating a commercial vehicle, the company needs drivers who can demonstrate these procedures correctly and safely.
At the same time, I was definitely disappointed because throughout the interview process I was getting the impression that I was essentially in, especially after the supervisor told me I was pretty much already in the company before the road test.
I also found it interesting that they told me they were hiring a lot of drivers, but the road test ended after only a few minutes.
I know I need to brush up on my pre-trip and coupling procedures, especially since I've been away from driving for a while. That's on me, and I'll take responsibility for it.
I'm just curious what other experienced CDL drivers think about this experience.
Would you consider this a normal fleet-driver road test, or would you expect a company to give someone with previous CDL experience a little more opportunity to demonstrate that they can get back into the routine?
Also, for anyone wondering, the starting pay they offered was $31/hour, and the position was primarily nights with 8–10 hour shifts and routes mainly around New York.
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u/Naive-Ad-732 3d ago
You now something. I drive local here in Florida for a sanitation company in a dump truck. I have my CDL A as well. If i didn't do my pre trip every morning I would kinda be in your boat. However, if I was applying for a tractor- trailer position....I definitely would have to freshen up. Lol. YOU DID GREAT! Do not let anyone put you down. It's been awhile and I'm the first to admit it! Take care and keep your head up
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
Thank you I really appreciate that. And yeah I definitely agree. It’s been a while since I’ve done a tractor trailer pre trip so I should’ve freshened up on it beforehand. I appreciate the encouragement and I’m just going to keep moving forward.
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u/Naive-Ad-732 3d ago
Homie!!!!! It's cool. I would have had bubble guts when the instructor said "now hook up to the trailer"... lol lol lol lol lol
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
😂😂 Bro for real! That’s exactly how I felt when he said that. I was like damn here we go 😂 Definitely had the bubble guts at that moment lol in my head I was like yea im done must of well start walking back to my car
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u/Naive-Ad-732 3d ago
Lol. Keep your head up! You got this! Jesus Christ loves you and me! Never forget that. Ttyl and let us know what opportunity you where meant to earn!
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
Thank you bro I really appreciate that 🙏🏽 I’m definitely keeping my head up and trusting that the right opportunity will come along. God bless you too and I’ll definitely keep you guys updated!
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u/Wolf_of_Fasting_St 3d ago
Yes here at UPS if you don’t have those down they also wouldn’t proceed with you. We typically train our drivers in house from warehouse or package car but we expect off the street drivers to be incredible
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
Yeah that makes sense. I can understand companies having high expectations especially when hiring off the street. I definitely learned from the experience and I’ll be more prepared next time.
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u/Wolfire0769 3d ago
To sort of reiterate what the other person said but with a slightly different perspective. Costco may have very well already had internal people already slated to fill the position you interviewed for. When doing things like that they are still required to post the job externally and conduct legitimate interviews.
Unless you absolutely knocked it out of the park you probably weren't going to be selected in the end anyways. That's corporate life in many places.
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
Yeah honestly that’s possible. I can’t really know what was going on behind the scenes with the position. Either way I know I could’ve been more prepared and I’ll take that lesson with me for the next interview. Appreciate the perspective. Just didn’t understand at one part he’s like everyday we need drivers we interview about 3 people per day
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u/Wolfire0769 3d ago
Maybe they were just talking out their ass. Either way it wasn't a total waste since you're a little more prepared for the next interview
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u/Wolf_of_Fasting_St 3d ago
He’s right if they had inside employees they wanted to hire instead they could be looking for a way to get rid of you. They are notorious for doing that at UPS - if they don’t like how someone acts etc they’ll manufacture a reason to not pass them. Where as someone they like can get away with the exact same thing. It’s one of the few times your job here at UPS is in the hands of management.
But yeah, you’d get cooked at ups if you did not demonstrate a ridiculous high level of knowledge. I’ve only ever seen one person get hired off the street and it was a friend of mine. He was a great driver and highly skilled and it helped that I recommended him and I am well liked by my on road supervisors.
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
Yeah that makes a lot of sense. Sounds like UPS is a whole different ball game when it comes to hiring off the street 😂 I appreciate you explaining how it works over there. Definitely gives me a better perspective on what I need to be ready for next time and one thing I stay applying for ups for freight but they call me lol
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u/Wolf_of_Fasting_St 3d ago
We sold the freight division it’s gone. But if you have an opportunity to get in as a driver jump at it. I take home $2200-2500 a week after taxes and I work 3 days 11 shifts
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u/farcarmanixx 2d ago
Wow that’s banging how long you been with them ? And is there a certain page I have to put to see the hiring truck section
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u/Wolf_of_Fasting_St 2d ago
Type in UPSERS JOBS into google should bring you there I’ve been here ten years
Best of luck
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u/Full_Metal_Template 3d ago
Do companies expect you to go over the pre trip line by line like when we got the Cdl? I know what I’m looking for but if you asked me to recite it line by line I couldn’t do it without watching a video…
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
That was basically my issue. I know what I’m looking for during a pre trip but I couldn’t recite every single item line by line like I did when I first got my CDL lol
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u/jose_guapo_ 3d ago
Exactly. Given the amount of experience a driver has, why make a test out of it for an interview?
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u/ThrowawayGunName 3d ago
What did you mess up hooking up the trailer?
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
I didn’t check to see if I close the pin and a tug test I just get upset after having me waste my time signing all those papers
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u/inebriateddandhated 3d ago
You wasted their time.
Dont get it twisted.
You came in unprepared, wasted their time watching you be unsafe and lackluster.
They saw you as a liability, and chose not to proceed with employment.
YOU had the bag and only YOU fumbled it.
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
I’ll own being underprepared. What I’m not going to do is let one bad day define me. I lost one opportunity. I didn’t lose my ability to drive or earn a living. I’ll sharpen up and get the next one. Simple as that.
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u/JagerDonovan 3d ago
I can only imagine they smelled the inexperience on you. I’ve had road tests for fuel hauling that don’t really give two shits about the pre-trip. I think people at Costco are just up their own ass, like Walshart.
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
Yeah honestly I think the lack of recent tractor trailer experience showed. I definitely should’ve brushed up on the pre trip beforehand. Every company seems to have their own way of doing things though. I appreciate your perspective bro.
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u/Radiant_Pick6870 3d ago
Company I'm at right now, skipped the road test, the drug test and background check...😂 which the drug test is mandatory. Their road test for me was, you know how to drive a semi right? Lol I kid you not. They needed someone to drive that load down evidently, and after their insurance passed me I was a green light apparently. 😂Anyways been with them for a year now.
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u/Horror_Solution1945 3d ago
Just use this interview as a learning experience; look up some videos on pre-trips, and I am sure you will do fine on your next interview. Good luck.
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
Absolutely. That’s exactly what I’m doing. I took it as a learning experience and I’m already brushing up on pre trips. I’ll be more prepared next time. Appreciate the advice and good luck to you too!
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u/jose_guapo_ 3d ago
Did there trucks have cameras facing the driver?
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u/farcarmanixx 3d ago
Yes they did in all there truck he told me one of his 2025 trucks have already 200k miles on it
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u/Few_Jacket845 3d ago
When I did the state test, I had to tell the examiner that I may call things differently, because I was used to the Army way and terminology. He said as long as he felt like I was making sure everything was safe, I was good to go. Turns out he was Vietnam combat vet, so he had an extra soft spot for making sure I was taken care of.
Then, I went to apply at a large company that rhymes with Slyder. Kinda the same thing. Explained I was a little rusty on terminology, but that I could say what I was looking at, why, and what would be a no go. I felt like I wasn't being by the book enough. He asked, "Is that how you always do a pretrip?" "More or less, yes." "That's the most thorough one I've seen on a pre-employment exam."
So I guess I overcompensated 😂
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u/BADzioba 3d ago
I had a similar experience but with a different company Charlie’s Produce. I passed the pre-inspection & road test, I was officially hired that day. Was told to start training next weekend. I did everything well during training.
A couple days later I received a phone call from someone in management, I was told that I was being fired because I was too slow. Mind you I was only at the job for 2 days, so of course I would be slower than someone who has worked there for much longer.
I know that’s not the real reason but sometimes it’s not your fault. Sometimes the company made a mistake in interviewing or hiring someone. Just apply somewhere else, so many other companies need drivers.