I received a call from a man named Joe Tucker last week, 6-14-10, representing a company called “ZODIAC,” phone # (505) 272-8719, looking for 4 drivers ASAP. He said, Felony/ DUI ok after 5 years but no drugs, a 4 day orientation would be in Dallas, they would provide bus ticket, food and hotel. Pay was $450 per wk. after orientation during training and 28 cents per mile when you got in a truck on your own. Out 14 days, home 4 days. Carl called him ( incognito) to verify information because of the last scam. Everything sounded legitimate and he was not asked for money upfront, but since we were still wary we told past students that were interested to ask a lot of questions and if any monies were requested by Mr. Tucker, to let us know immediately. Mr. Tucker called again 6-16-10 to ask if I had anyone else calling him and gave me another phone number to contact him (505) 205-7634.

I received a call this morning, 6-21-10, from one of my graduates and he was told Friday 6-18-10 ( through a number of calls)  that he was accepted for employment and they would get him a bus ticket for orientation in Atlanta (?this is not the location told to us) or meet him with an ‘09 Pete at the truckstop here. The grad chose to meet him. Joe Tucker called him back a few minutes later and said that his boss wanted a guarantee that he would show up to meet that truck and that he would need to send $400.00 that would be reimbursed when he picked up the truck. My student told him he didn’t have that kind of money and no, he could not borrow it. Joe Tucker said that he would speak to his boss and would be calling my grad. back with a confirmation. Needless to say that was the last communication he received from Mr. Tucker.

I wanted to pass this info on to you since it sounds like the scammers are back.

As always, check out carefully any job offer where you are asked for up-front money.

Truckers, former truckers, friends/spouses/neighbors of truckers, truck stop employees, diesel mechanics ~ got a true ghost story or unexplained paranormal experience to share? I’m looking for true personal experiences and also legends of the road (for example, a strip of highway where weird stuff is rumored to happen,…… etc.) for a book and television show. Contributors may use a pen name. Will also consider ghost stories from the road from non-truckers. For more information, visit my website or email Annie Wilder at: truckerghoststories@yahoo.com. 

Deadline is June 12, 2010 so get your stories to Annie right away.

Here at Del Mar College Transportation Training Services in Corpus Christi it’s been at least 12 to 16 months since we had a recruiter from an OTR carrier visit our students. Last week Werner and Stevens came by and we have a visit from Swift scheduled. Things are definitely looking up as far as job placement opportunities for our students!

A guy going by the name Wayne Young called my school twice today. He says that he needs 4 drivers today. His company is called USA Car & Truck. He is offering students $500 a week training and then .32 per mile. His phone number is 225-326-0348. We called him back and spooked him. When we asked too many questions he hung up on us.

“Just got a call from Tony White who said that he was hiring graduates for Prime. The phone number that he gave us is 606-657-9024. I talked to John Hancock at Prime to confirm that this person is in fact a scam.”