Protect your CDL

thanks for all the great "look outs" for the new guys.

 

yes, thanks for all the insight, i will be sure to keep all that in mind.

 

especially us students!!!
dont screw around in the 4 wheeler!!!
I have a pristene MVR but i didnt always! It took along time for the points of my youth to go away!! so beeee careful! Make sure you wear your belt and the kids are straped in. leave early dont haul ### to school if you are driving.
You dont need a ticket a day before graduation.

 

you are absolutely right

 

so all folks with existing bad records are pretty much screwed?

 

I don't think so. I believe it all boils down to time and reaching your goals. If you want the most out of your job then you're going to need to stand out more than the others that might want the same position, run, or job. To do that you need a clean record. But if you don't want the higher paying jobs and the choice to go where you want then once you're hired your bad record is already known. Just don't make it worse.

 

GasHauler is right on. If you do have a damaged CDL, the only thing that heals it, is time. You may have to find a job where they arent quite as picky, but dont expect a lot from them. They know they can get you cheaper because they are hiring damaged goods. Dont expect their equipment to be top of the line either, it all goes to keeping most of what comes in, in their pockets and letting as little out as possible.

Most of the majors have the same standard, nothing more than 2 incidents, accidents, violations in 3 years. Some use a point system, based on time and severity of the incidents. It is not hard to exceed their point limit.

In some cases I have to wait as much as 18 months before I will be an acceptable applicant (and my incidents were a couple of 'bad luck' things and then a moment of distraction and carelessness resulting in about $5000 damage to another truck).

What bothers the heck out of me are the recruiters that lied to me and said I only needed a couple of months, and then they could bring me. When I called back a couple of months later, I got the real news, "wait another year!"

I will back OTR Oct 1 - small company, but competitive in the pay scale, and worthy of any driver to seek employment with. You dont need a big name on the side of the truck to get paid what you are worth, but more importantly the respect that you are due.

 

You are right, same thing happen to me, as you called “bad luck”, your CDL is important, for 4.5 points DMV put me 12 months in probation, one more ticket I be suspended for 6 months, its 12 months I’m not driving, my probation end November, please let me know when you apply new job? Two weeks before or maybe month ? I was driving for Knight Trans. I was driving brand new “P”, dedicated runs, I blow up 4 years of benefits and the best, they can not take me back because of insurance, they are going to pay more for me, so they prefer take me out form the company.
Appreciate your help thanks

 

how about folks with infractions on the regular DL, dose this effect the CDL?