Swift Academy Licenses Suspended

"wjf1957", congrats on passing the road test! It is my understanding that you had the same DMV examiner (#501) that failed me on my initial road test, so WAY TO GO!!!

"panicrooster", I fully agree with you that responsibility lies within TDoS also. Yes, I have mentioned Swift many times, but obviously if TDoS had been doing their job overseeing the third-party examiners AND their staff operating the licensing office in the Swift terminal in Memphis, it's highly likely that the broad invalidation of our licenses would never had occurred.

TDoS certainly dropped the ball on this one. And, look what it's done to the hard-working men and women nationwide who've scrambled to schedule re-exams for written and road tests! I've already lost several hundred dollars in wages due to lost time and the loss of my commercial driving privileges!

You mention you've been attempting to contact TDoS. What info are you looking for? Maybe I can make some calls, write some letters, or somehow speed the process along for you? I was able to reach the top brass within NYS DMV, maybe I can help you out with TDoS.

"panicrooster", IF you have the ability to rent a tractor-trailer AND are able to find another licensed CDL-A holder to accompany you, then that would be the course of action that I would advise. I know that Ryder and Penske rent those, but I'm sure that for the average person, the cost would be prohibitive. Again, if you're able to network with friends, family members, or former co-workers, perhaps you might stumble upon an owner/operator who might be willing to help out a person in your situation. Finally, it seems you're already exploring the third option of using a contract employer's vehicle for the test.

So, how bout it guys - does anyone else out there have any suggestions to help out our friend and fellow driver in Virgina, near Fairfax?

"h.pepper", thanks for the post! That's a likely issue regarding the third-party examiners.

"rikdev50s", thanks for the update regarding the OOIDA website - I'll take a look at that once I finish up here.

To all: I took road test yesterday (Jan 20, 2008) and YES, I PASSED THIS TIME!!!

Anyone needing guidance on pre-trip exam portion of road test is encouraged to check the post I added: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-academy-licenses-suspended-8.html#post744620

The checklist I posted is for STRAIGHT TRUCK use (note lack of checks for fifth wheel/kingpin, glad hands/air lines, tandem axles, etc) but would be a good starting point regardless. If I get any requests, I can post the same for tractor-trailer. (I'm going to edit the post to indicate that it is intended for STRAIGHT TRUCK USE.)

Finally, "wjf1957", I agree that all of us affected need to unify somehow, perhaps with a website of our own, an online service group (such as Yahoo! Groups), a social networking page (such as Facebook), or through some other method. Any reader out there with good ideas of how to go about this?

Personally, I like the idea of a hosted website, with an easy-to-remember name, but I'm not sure I have the time to invest in a large-scale project like that. If there are any readers, or perhaps their spouses/significant others, out there that would like to devote time to such a cause, then by all means.

Otherwise, at this point I'm leaning to the Facebook or Yahoo! Groups idea, because if it's ultimately left up to me to do it, I won't have to deal with site design or web hosting issues. I know little about Facebook, but I have used Yahoo! Groups in the past, although that method would (I believe) require affected drivers wishing to join to have (or create) a Yahoo! member account.

THANKS TO ALL!

 

TO ALL:

The LandLine Magazine article "License testing shutdown leaves "thousands" of drivers in limbo" is VERY interesting, even though it essentially confirms what has already been said in this thread.

I've contacted The Trucker's Report forum staff with a request to post the link to the article - I'm not sure if it constitutes a trucking website or a news site - if it if I get approval I will post for all to read.

Tony

 

"License testing shutdown leaves “thousands” of drivers in limbo"

"Thousands of truckers may soon be traveling U.S. highways on expired CDLs without even knowing it.

"Drivers who obtained a commercial driver’s license through an unnamed third-party tester in Tennessee between May 2005 and January 2008 may be required to do a complete retest, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety. . . ."

http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2009/Jan09/011909/012009-01.htm

Many thanks again to "rikdev50s" for finding this article!

Tony

 

"safety1st", to my knowledge, nothing in this Forum's prohibits publishing the link the the information you found.

"IMPORTANT NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY TESTERS
"January 15, 2009

"The State of Tennessee has determined that knowledge and driving skills tests provided in Tennessee to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) were not given in accordance with the Rules of the Tennessee Department of Safety, nor Federal Regulation 49 CFR 383. Consequently, Tennessee intends to retest a large number of drivers. . . ."

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Notice_to_TPTs-_TN_retesting_263562_7.pdf

 

Also, here is a sample letter being mailed to affected Michigan CDL holders:

"The State of Tennessee has provided us with information that the knowledge and skills tests provided in Tennessee to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) were not given in accordance with the Rules of the Tennessee Department of Safety, nor Federal regulation 49 CFR 383. Unfortunately, this means you must be retested in Michigan in order to maintain your CDL. . . ."

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Notice_to_drivers-_TN_retesting_263565_7.pdf