How to Decline a Trucking Job Offer [the Right Way]

We’re driver recruiters: Of course we’ve had drivers ghost us.

As recruiters, we’ve heard every excuse in the book about why a driver can’t make it to orientation. Some are pretty creative (my dog ate my homework) and others are less so. That’s if we even get an excuse. More often than not, drivers just don’t show up to orientation — no warning, no notice, nothing.

Ghosted.

Failing to let us know you won’t make it to orientation is the ultimate no-no. 

In this article, we’ll discuss how to properly decline a trucking job offer whether you’re on your way to orientation (and don’t want to go) or you’ve already made it to orientation. No ghosting allowed.

• Why you shouldn’t ghost a recruiter 
• How to decline an orientation offer
• How to decline a trucking job offer

Why You Shouldn’t Ghost a Job Offer

Is it tempting to skip calling your recruiter to say you won’t make it to orientation? Maybe. Is it easier? Sure.

Is it right? Nope. 

Ghosting your recruiter and failing to show up to orientation can lead to a long list of problems — one of which is making your list of career prospects much shorter.

For starters, it’s disrespectful. Your recruiter has spent a lot of time behind the scenes putting documents together, getting work verifications for you, and arranging travel. Money has been spent on travel arrangements.

You ruin your chances with that company. There’s a chance your second choice (and presumably the company you’re going to instead) won’t be all you hoped for. 

They might send you home from orientation because your record doesn’t meet their standards. They could have bad equipment. You could have a bad relationship with your driver manager. You don’t know that the second carrier is perfect.

If you get there and three weeks down the road you hate it, you won’t be able to run back to the company you ghosted. That bridge has been burned. 

Ghosting your recruiter means the chances of you being put back on the orientation calendar are slim. But if you called before orientation and explained to your recruiter why you wouldn’t be there, it’s a very different story. There’s a much higher chance they’ll put you back on the schedule. 

How to Decline a Driver Orientation Offer

Too often, drivers don’t want to communicate to their recruiter that they won’t be coming to orientation because they feel like their recruiter is like a used car salesman and they’ll try to make you change your mind when you call them. 

Some recruiters may do that, but not all. And even if a recruiter tries to do that, it doesn’t mean you have to change your mind and go to orientation. 

It’s always best to let your recruiter know if you won’t make it to orientation. The appropriate time to let them know should be as soon as you know — whether it’s because you’ve changed your mind or you’ve had something personal come up. Your recruiter will want to know as far in advance as possible so they can plan for the number of drivers in orientation. 

There’s a lot of time and energy spent behind the scenes getting things ready, so the sooner the team knows changes are happening, the better. This will give your recruiter ample time to notify the team and cancel travel plans.

Also, if you back out, it may open up a seat for another driver who was on the waitlist. 

If you’re no longer attending orientation, a phone call is the ideal way to notify your recruiter. However, it can be your personal preference or you can defer to how you’ve been communicating with your recruiter up to this point.

For example, if you’ve only been talking via text or email, that’s a fine way to let them know you won’t be at orientation.  A text is better than no communication. 

You don’t have to get into the details about why you won’t be at orientation, but giving a reason is helpful. An excuse or lie, on the other hand, should be left out. 

Here’s an example of how a conversation should go. 

Recruiter Robbie: Hi Jim, how’s it going today? 

You: Hi Robbie. I’m fine. Just wanted to let you know I won’t be attending orientation next week. I’ve changed my mind. 

Recruiter Robbie: Okay, thank you for letting me know. Any particular reason? 

You: I’ve decided to go with another company that allows me to be at home every night. That’s what my family needs right now.

Recruiter Robbie: I understand that, Jim, and I appreciate the call. If anything changes in the future, please reach out.

You: Will do, thanks.

It’s as simple as that. You don’t need to get into deeper details, but some basic feedback can help the trucking company understand how they can improve.

The reason we advise you not to lie or give a random excuse is because it can catch up to you later on. If the company catches you in a lie, it doesn’t look great for you. 

How to Decline a Trucking Job Offer at Orientation

If you’ve already made it to orientation and have decided something is wrong and you don’t want to certify to drive for that carrier, you need to say something. It’s better to say something before you hop in the truck for your first load than it is to quit after a week or two on the job. 

Have a conversation with the people that need to hear it and you’re in good contact with — whether that’s a recruiter, operations manager, driver manager, or orientation specialist. 

Let them know why it won’t work out and why you plan to go home. Sometimes, it’s a lack of information received at orientation and it can be cleared up with a conversation. Sometimes it’s miscommunication and you expected the carrier to be different in some way. You may have been talking to multiple companies during your job hunt, so it’s easy to mix up information. We get it.

Sometimes a situation changes when you’re at orientation. If your personal situation changes and you need to be home to take care of a family member because something happened, have that conversation with the appropriate person. They’ll talk through it with you and can probably work with you to attend orientation at a later date. 

Unfortunately, once you take the DOT drug test, the new job will show up on your record. Having too many job changes can disqualify you from some carriers. 

It’s a good idea to thoroughly research the company before you attend orientation so you can be certain it’s the company you want to drive for.

Research the Company 

When it comes to declining a trucking job offer, honesty and communication are key. While it might seem easier to avoid the tough conversation, ghosting your recruiter can have lasting consequences for your career. By being upfront, you maintain your professional integrity and keep the door open for future opportunities.

Remember, your recruiter is there to help you find the right fit, not to pressure you into a job that doesn’t suit your needs. Whether you’re deciding before or during orientation, take a moment to inform your recruiter of your decision. It’s a simple step that shows respect for their time and effort — and it keeps your options open for the future. You should expect the same level of respect from your recruiter too.

So next time you’re in a tough spot and thinking of just not showing up, pick up the phone, send that text, or shoot over an email. You’ll thank yourself later.

In the meantime, make sure you’re asking your recruiter these questions before you go to orientation. When you “interview” the carrier, you’ll find the best fit for you. These seven tips will help you research trucking companies, too.