Insanity

Ok, I'm 55 years old, have worked in construction management for 35 years and 16 months ago was terminated for doing something stupid. I've read and learned much from this board and decided to get my CDL and drive for the remaining years of my work life. I applied for school/training from Schneider and Ruehl. They both were not interested, with Ruehl citing my termination and long duration out of work. Schneider said it was because of my termination.

I think this is nuts, I make one mistake in a long and distinguished career and now cannot drive trucks? My driving record is clean, my criminal record is clean (other than a DUI in 1983). I understand the trucking industry has changed much since 9/11 but are they in fact being over-reactive?

I would appreciate some comments and or advice.

 

Downloading copyrighted material (movies and music) on a Co. computer. Like everyone was doing it, but I happen to have a deteriorating relationship with upper management at the time, so I'm gone.

Do I regret it? #### right! Was it stupid? Hell yes! Do I wish I could go back and not do it? Yep! But it doesn't seem to me to be worthy of knocking me out of contention with these Companies. Am I missing something?

 

I told both Schneider and Roehl about the details of my termination when they called me following my online application. The Schneider rep kept putting me on hold and coming back with more questions, like she was talking to someone else. Finally she came back and said she can't take the application further.

Roehl promptly ended the conversation when I told them. When I got over my shock, I called the recruiter back and asked him if he was serious. He said it was the combination termination and 16 mos without a job that did me in. I told him I had started a small lawn service/handyman company 6 months ago so it wasn't like I was sitting around jerking off. He then asked if I had any tax records to substantiate this, of course I told him no as I had not made enough to pay any taxes and had nothing official other than liability insurance, bond and local business license. He basically said forget Roehl and that was that.

As for the theft questions, other than company internet bandwidth and mp3's there's no theft there for them to get concerned about.

 

To H-D Wrench:

I didn't mean to imply that EVERYONE in the world was doing it, only the people at my Company, and that the rules were not applied evenly within that Company. But everyone's got a hard luck story, & I'm no different.

I also understand a Transport company being reluctant to entrust cargo and machinery to someone with a suspect background.

I guess I just want 'someone' to say, "OK, we understand that you f'ed up and have paid the price, we believe you have changed your ways and are willing to give you a chance" However unrealistic that is, I just want another chance.