CSA may save your future/job.

I just got my C.D.L. and have a lifelong 100% clean driving record. I wonder if this will aid me in getting my first driving job?. I would think companies would want to fill their ranks with no score or low score drivers to prepare for CSA 2010.

 

Pure Myth.

 

The way I read here if the company I may work for tells me to do something against my hours of service or insist I drive equipment that isn't right or safe I will be able to refuse and the company has to take care of the problem. They wont be able to force or punish you for valid concerns. I can see this trade becoming much more safe for the public and less black listing for the driver. Your clean licence might become a valuable item!

 

One correction, you will not lose your CDL regardless, the CDL is provided by the states not FMCSA. You may not be hireable with a trucking company due to your csa report but you will keep your CDL

 

This might be the best thing to happen to trucking. Hopefully it will put a premium on quality drivers.

 

On a positive note; When I was in my last week at school 3 national trucking companies faxed a company memo stating they were raising their starting pay for students. The raise averaged 3-5 cents a mile. Also last week I visited the Schneider training facility for a tour, I found out Schneider has once again started the reimbursing of school costs to new drivers.I guess that might also mean other companies will be giving experienced drivers in their companies raises also. (we shall see)

 

My personal opinion is we won't see it fully implemented for at least another year. The reason why is far too many drivers would lose their jobs and cause way too much chaos in moving goods, unemployment, etc. Government can't handle this.
I think they are quietly delaying a few months at a time so the old stuff falls off. Kind of an unspoken truce where drivers and companies can get their acts together.
As for ultimate outcome? I think this is a way for the government to get rid of the little guy...employers of 10-100 drivers. Force consolidation, fewer larger companies. It's easier to control a few large and mega large companies than hundreds or thousands of smaller ones. Easier to extract political donations too.
Just look how the government consolidated banks, telecommunication and airlines.
Trucking is just the next one on the horizon.
I think the independent O/O will be able to continue just as before, but with a few more restrictions, one being Electronic Recording Devices on board.
I also think the way around much of the ballyhoo for the employers will be lease operators. Look for more legitimate lease operations. Ones that make it fairly even keeled for an operator to be an independent trucker, leased to his company. Not the fleece programs that exist now.
Why?
Because it transfers liability for many of the CSA2010 requirements to the L/O or O/O and away from the employer. If an operator keeps his nose clean, he'll be OK. If not, it's on his neck and leaves the trucking company out of the picture. Helps keep the trucking company scores lower. Makes the drivers be more responsible for their actions.
I wouldn't be surprise to see the government begin a guaranteed loan program thru SBA that helps drivers lease or by a tractor legitimately. This would get the banks loaning money, and give political capital to the politicians.
Just my take on things.