Greenhorn and already in a bind!

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by Texansfreak, Apr 12, 2015.

  1. Texansfreak

    Texansfreak Bobtail Member

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    Apr 12, 2015
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    Howdy to everyone one here! Glad to have this sort of information available and I know there is a lot of invaluable information on here from other drivers. I started driving just over 5 months ago for Swift. Bad choice I know! Let me being by saying it was a disaster from the start and the I made some bad decisions to make it worse. I had my CDL when I started with them and went straight through orientation and was supposed to get a mentor. I was told that I needed to return back home after orientation to get a medical release from my doctor for a medication that I take for my diabetes (Type 2). I came home and faxed the form back to the terminal. They said they were going to get me a bus ticket back to the terminal and set me up with my mentor. 2 days later I get a call from a women saying she was picking me up and would be my mentor. Didn't really want a female but wanted to get started on my hours so I could go solo. I had been up since 2am that morning and told her I would prefer she finished out her 10 so I could rest a little while. She insisted I drive and she got into the sleeper. I drove to Hammond, LA and started getting sleepy so I was going to pull off to the shoulder. I got over to far and into the mud and the truck laid over on its side (strike one on the first night). I couldn't believe this was how I was starting out. I didn't get ticketed but knew it was on my record now. Then 5 months later I got distracted and cut a corner to short in a truck stop and literally scraped the grill on another truck. Strike 2! Swift let me go for unsafe driving 2 weeks ago. I haven't been able to get another company to pick me up due to the rollover. I don't want to lose my CDL but I can't find anyone to give me another chance. I loved driving and being on the road and don't want to give it up. Can anyone give me some advise on what I should do? I was going to be team driving with my wife but she only has 67 hours on her training. I'm panicing big time because we had given up everything to do this. Our home and everything inside it. I need to keep my CDL at all cost and keep getting some miles.

    Thanks to everyone that might be of some help!
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    You and your wife can probably team with Paschall Truck Lines or Carolina Cargo or Martin Enterprises of the Carolinas or Florida Beauty Express. That's about all the choices you have with a rollover that recent.

    You'll make the most money weekly and work the hardest with Florida Beauty Express. Take home pay avg. about $1300.00 weekly for each driver.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2015
  4. Texansfreak

    Texansfreak Bobtail Member

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    Apr 12, 2015
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    Thank you for the reply Chinatown. I have already tried Paschal and they said I need at least a year since the accident before they will consider me, but I will definitely look into the others. Hopefully something comes out of one of these because really don't want either of us to lose our CDL's. Thanks again!
     
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  5. xlsdraw

    xlsdraw Road Train Member

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    Winter Haven, Florida
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    Just a thought but perhaps you could offer to go out with a trainer at trainee pay for a while. A little contrition might enhance your prospects. That and the bonus of adding your wife soon after might be appealing to a team company.
     
    123456 Thanks this.
  6. mpow66m

    mpow66m Heavy Load Member

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    Try a temp agency.
     
  7. 123456

    123456 Road Train Member

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  8. jtmelyo

    jtmelyo Bobtail Member

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    Dec 31, 2014
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    try Carolina Cargo they are pretty good for husband and wife teams and good pay
     
  9. slowneasy

    slowneasy Bobtail Member

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    May 15, 2014
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    Yea, try Carolina Cargo if all else fails. They're not as bad as some people make them out to be. They'll team you and your wife together with no problems. Try and go at least six months incident free and that should open up more doors. Good Luck to you and your wife!!
     
  10. joseph1135

    joseph1135 Papa Murphy

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    Nov 8, 2009
    The Highway To Hell.
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    Carolina Cargo is one of the worst companies with extremely low pay.
     
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