USA CDL JOBS TRUCK DRIVER FORUM

I have been driving for 10 years, no felonies no misdemeanors. Never failed any drug tests Ive been asked to take. 500,000 miles accident free. 2 tickets in last 18 months, 1 for overweight by 6,000lbs on my drives due to a papermill load that shifted, not being properly loaded( 7-6,000lb paperrolls, no rubbermats, loaded on aluminum reefer floor slid to front of trailer) 2nd in march of this year, for unsafe backing, (stopped at narrow 4way just outside of Bird'seye foods in Darien, WI, already about 10 feet behind stopsign. looked in my mirrors several times, checked the shadows for signs of anything behind me, and seen nothing indicating anyone there. I backed up 5 ft to prevent a truck that was turning from taking my hood off, and didnt see 4-wheeler behind me, damage was dented bumper of pickup truck and pushed the pickup into a sportscar denting the sports cars liscenceplate. The reporting cop didnt write it up as an accident, only issued me a citation for Unsafe backing)
on may 6, I was terminated from my last company for replacing the panel between hood and passenger door where a side marker light on the truck that was damaged by an idleaire unit swinging and hitting it, when it was un-bunjied from a pole, and I did not report it. I was parked in an Idleaire stall, and was struggling to unstrap the heavy unit from its pole. the Bunjie cord snapped, and the unit swing heavily, and hit the truck with enough force to break the light and crack the fiberglass mounting behind it just a small fraction. A driver who seen the incident happen suggested I should just replace the part, a few friends I called in a panic also suggested the same. There was a scratch on the hood that was the giveaway (6 inches right above tire) I was asked about the part when I was in the terminal, and I told my safty person what had happened. when asked why I didnt say anything, I told truth, I was scared, figured it was minor enough to just replace. Even though I replaced and paid for the part out of my own pocket, costing me S100., I was fired on the spot for violation of company policy. unfortunatly my Company marked on my DAC that it was an unreported accident.
The kicker is, My husband also works for this same company. at the time, we were driving seperate trucks due to there not being any team freight. I had alot of stuff, too much to haul on the bus, so I asked if my husband could be routed to pick me up, and it was approved. He was given a rider permit for me, but I was told that it is against their Policy to allow a CDL holder to be permitted to be a rider. I violated a policy, and get fired for it, they in turn violate one of their own and allow me to stay on the truck with my husband. It is almost haloween, and I am still here with him, riding around, wishing I could find another job.,
I have been turned down by almost 100 companies Ive applied with since being terminated. Its frustrating trying and being turned down by so many places because of such a minor offfense. Some days I feel like I should just give up trucking alltogether. Other days I know what I did was minor and I shouldnt be punished the rest of my life for a mistake I made in judgement. any comments or suggestions?

Trucking companies are really tightening thier belts on hiring policies right now. Its sad but they are only wanting clean record drivers as there is no huge demand for drivers like there was a couple years ago. Try driving for an O/O or a small company until things pick back up... you need to stay employed if you want to stay in trucking... try ads at your local employment office or post your contact information and what you are looking to do on the "Truck drivers wanting" forum on the message board..,.

Good Luck

I think you are being blacklisted just like me and every other high paid driver. You will get a job as soon as you have to be retrained and start at new driver pay. That's what i'm hearing. I have to wait till i have been out of work for 2mo. and i have to wait 4 more till i can drive again. then i will have to be retrained and paid the minimum. that's what the company's are doing. It's not you it's them trying to save money. I'm not gonna drive anymore even though i love to do it. I'm gonna go back to school . And start a new career. you should too. Don't let them take advantage of you or belittle you either. Keep your head up and be strong. It's like this they hire people that dont know how to drive train them and pay them .26cpm. Why would they hire us? Instead they wait till we disqualify for rehire without being retrained and then pay us .27cpm. NO THANK-YOU.

Trucking Companies "tightening their belts" as well as "Blacklisting Drivers" are 2 tactics that have been present since deregulation in the 80s, from what I've learned since my driving "career" began in late '98.
The changing or complete rewording of Qualifications and Requirements just in the last year are astonishing and have resulted in MANY otherwise QUALIFIED and SAFE DRIVERS being systematically refused or ignored in favor of Foreigners and other newbies that are under trained and clumsy.

I've been wondering since 2000 WHY I wanted to become a Trucker and have tried unsuccessfully to exit this realm.
I am quickly approaching the end of the "2 years OTR experience in the last 3" however in the last 5 it's not much better.

I'm very well DONE applying to trucking companies and may still apply randomly but with very certain leads.

I wish success for you in your endeavors!!