Returning Trucker

Used to drive for a major company, but was fired in May 2002 for failing their company driving test. Drew unemployment at that time which the company disputed. During administrative hearing, it was brought out that, had I passed the driving test, I would have been retained.

I feel that the reason I failed is that I "argued" with the tester. He challenged my shifting, saying that I was wasting fuel. I was surprised at this assessment and pointed out to him that the company's goal was 6.5 miles per gallon and showed him the truck's data on the trip computer that I was averaging 7.8 mpg. This led to a discussion which he apparently felt was an argument.

The reason for this test was that in the first five months of 2002 I had 5 "incidents", all of which the company determined that were not my fault. However, that month (May2002) I was assigned to a new dispatcher who saw the list of "incidents" and set up a driving test. These "incidents" (the company's own term) were primarily getting hit while parked.

Earlier that same day, I had a regularly scheduled company-wide periodic driving test WHICH I PASSED.

After the second test and upon being informed that my employment was being terminated, I decided to no longer drive and let my CDL expire.

Since that time, I have relocated to another state and recently completed truck driver training at the local college. I have now run into a major problem. Although my DAC has always been clear (no accidents, no tickets, no violations, DAC verified and is still clear), the company I worked for has me listed as "Not Eligible for Rehire" due to "too many accidents".

It seems to me that my best shot is to wait 8 months at which time it will have been more than 10 years since all the above happened and that employment will not be required to be reported under the FMCSA rules.

Are there any kind of CDL jobs that exist that are not subject to FMCSA rules?

 

I may not have been clear in my original post, but I did pull my DAC.

Anyway, after being refused employment by my original employer and by one of the "training" companies, Swift & CR England have both indicated that they'll put me through orientation as a noob. Will try Swift for a year.