Insurance companies and 2yrs Experience

Its really your second post, asking the same exact thing.

Somebody will get to you,

take a number !!!

 

Not all companies use the DAC reporting system. What I would do if I were you is ask your boss for a letter recommendation. The problem in your situation is the insurance company may not recognize grain hauling as OTR experience. It just may not be far enough for them. I think it's stupid but for alot of companies they dictate what they want.

Why couldn't you look around for something that is similar? It may not be grain but it could be bulk cement or something else. You never know how many people might know your boss and snap you right up on his word. IMO, if the pay is good the local job is much better than any OTR job you could find anyway.

Just a note. I've seen a few drivers that have started at your age driving gasoline and they fit in just fine.

 

DAC is a totally independent for profit company. It is not required by trucking companies, insurance companies or the DOT.

DAC actually is no longer in existence. It was bought out by a company called Hire Right. So calling it a DAC isn't proper. Still everyone knows it by the name DAC.

Some trucking companies subscribe to Hire Right some don't. I have worked for 3 that doesn't. Most of the bigger companies do. Your Hire Right file contains work history, accident records, incident records, drug and alcohol tests, criminal background and shows your available status for rehire. It contains this info ONLY from companies that subscribe to Hire Right. If you work for a company that doesn't subscribe to Hire Right or the previous DAC then you WILL NOT have a file if you contact Hire Right to get a copy of your history. It is NOT your DOT record or your state driving record either. It is just a template that companies use to collect evidence of your past employment history. Mine has some false information on it. I never had it corrected and it has never kept me from getting a job.

I would say hauling grain for a farmer doesn't get reported to your Hire Right record. You should ask your employer if he ever reported to DAC or Hire Right. Unless the owner subscribes to it, you will not have a record while you are employed with him. Which it sounds like he doesn't. If not then you will need to get his complete address, name and contact info if you ever want to use him as a driving reference. Most companies will want to see a driving school on your record. If no driving school then most will require at least 1 year of VERIFIABLE driving experience. Just listing on an application that you have drove for XYZ Trucking company that has went out of business won't work. Example: I worked for a company once that didn't subscribe to DAC. They also are no longer in business. I just list this GAP in my Hire Right as UNEMPLOYED. My driving history there can not be verified. Companies that subscribe to Hire Right will want someone they can call and ask questions to. Hope this helps.

 

The answer is no. What your talking about is insurance companies have what are called underwriters. The underwriters say who and what the insurance companies can cover. The insurance company is just an agent for the underwriters.

When your stating that the owner says the insurance company tells him who he can hire. What he means is the AGENT requires him to provide PROOF of two years experience from any driver that he hires. It has nothing to do with DAC or Hire Right. It's just the insurance company that he has went with requires this.

As an added note. I've thought of getting my own authority before and I've called insurance companies. Not one single one has said that I would be required to govern my truck at a specific speed. That comes from the COMPANY that you hire on with NOT the insurance company.

 

Buzzard i don't know what your getting at actually.

Here's all I can tell you about the process. When you go to work for an OTR company what they "LOOK" for is driving experience and driving schools. If you go to school most companies will want a transcript from your school for verification. I was given mine when I graduated and I still have a copy of it for my records. They also will look for OTR experience. Some OTR companies will NOT hire you if you have had ONLY a seasonal job, regional job or local trucking job. The reason for this is for example, if you work 1 year local in Florida and get a job OTR you will still have zero experience in winter mountain driving.

OTR means just that Over The Road. The large companies won't trust you that you will automatically have the knowledge to operate a truck in the mountains of Colorado in the winter time. School won't prepare you for this either. School plus one year of experience with an OTR company probably will though.

The training companies take a huge risk hiring student drivers straight out of school. They put you with a driver trainer for at least 2 to 4 weeks. If the trainer feels like you are qualified to let you go out on your own then the company officially hires you, gives you a truck and lets you go out on your own. I've heard of guys that quit soon after getting their own truck and no company will hire them unless they go back through school, get placed with another trainer or take a refresher course and get placed with a driver trainer as well.

I'm not saying your trying to get around the system but why are you trying to go OTR without experience or without going through school? I guess it can be done but it won't be easy. Back in the old days companies were more relaxed than they are now. My grandfather just went up to the courthouse and told them he wanted a CDL. He never went to school and his CDL was printed on paper like a Social Security card. Now it's different. We have the DOT rules and regulations to go by. We have companies that have standards that has to be met and qualifications as well.

The best advice I can give you is to go to school. Either a trucking company sponsored one or state ran one. Then immediately go to work for a training company. They will place you with a driver trainer and then you will be out with him for at least 2 more weeks. After that just get your 1 year experience with that company and then you will be able to go to work at just about any company out there. Good luck on whatever route you choose to go.