What makes a good record?

About three million trucks in the US. I say this forum is about two to three percent of that. Had over fifty tickets, most of them where fix-it over a twenty year span, maybe 10 to 12 moving in the same time frame. Drivers with 20 plus years with a clean record are few, some might be lucky and others are just real good drivers. So a good driving record can be obtained when you space things out through the years.

 

I doubt u have seen even close to the majority of the 8 million CDL-A drivers in the US. U have a long way to go to even see a substantial portion of them.

 

Each company is a little different. For example, a company may say no DUI within last 5 years on the application, but during the interview may say no more than two in your lifetime. Unless you've been flying down the road pulling a Bonnie & Clyde, don't worry, there are companies that will hire you. As you said, most of it is just internet talk. Some guys on here are fresh out of prison after many years, and drivers tell them they may as well flip hamburgers because no one will hire them. But, they go to school, get their CDL and have no problem finding work. The big thing on tickets is reckless driving and DUI, but many companies, after you've been clean for "X" amount of time, will hire you.

 

Moving violations are the main problem. Most carriers will allow 2-3 moving violations within the last 3 years. Depending on the economy and driver pool, those restrictions may change one way or another. If you have a speeding ticket of 15 mph or more over the posted speed limit, it is considered reckless driving and many carriers won't hire you as long as it is on your record. Most only go back the last 3 years when checking your mvr, so it will eventually drop off. If you have a number of tickets within a short time period, it looks worse than if they are more spread out. The thing is that each carrier makes their own policies when it comes to their minimum hiring requirements.

 

As a person who hires drivers, I look at the overall picture as objectively as I can.

I'm looking...........well accepting drivers with no less than 2 years Over The Road Experience. Why you ask. First we don't having a training facility or ride along program, so I am looking for people with real experience, verifiable experience, drivers who can step into a tractor trailer and actually drive, not a person who needs to be trained to drive.

And note that driving is not the only thing I am looking for. Can they keep a Daily Drivers Log, you would be surprised on how many can't.

Can they change a clearance light? No the one on the top right front, the one in the middle, bottom?

Do they actually do or can they do a "pretty good Pre-Trip". I don't expect them to adjust brakes but I would like them know that brakes need to be adjusted on tractor or trailer, Ill call a mechanic in to actually do the work before they leave.

No more than 6 points on MVR, Motor Vehicle Report. If they have 6 or more, pretty good guess they speed or other accumulative problems.

I look at DAC report, if I see minor stuff. no problem. If I see that the "guard rail" jumped out in front of them, 2 times, I'm pretty sure that the guard rail is not the problem.

Booze, if you have a DUI, 5 years ago with no recent problems, OK, but 5 years ago with recent suspicion of ongoing problem, nope.

Lets see, that leaves the Felon who just got out of prison who wants to try truck driving. UnBondable, Insurance Company looks at me like I m nuts, who in there right mind would allow anybody, new or old, to step into a $150,000 to $200,000 rig, hand them the keys and say, have a nice day when 5 years ago they stole one? I have to let somebody else or some other carrier do that. I can't.

On the other hand, a person who has paid there debt to society, been rehabilitated and looking for a fresh chance, is a good bet for doing the right thing. With a proper nudge, could be a driver of the year type of guy.

FMCSA Pre-Screen, if you get stopped 4 times per year for the same log problem or same lighting problem or can't write a BOL number on the Drivers Daily Log, or have the same chafing hoses, speed related problems, been placed OUT OF SERVICE twice or can accumulate 10 CSA Points "per stop", Ill pass thank you.

Whats a good driver, a person who can actually can answer a telephone when called, take the load, arrive on time to pick it up, travel the miles need to get it there in a timely manner within HOS, not run in to anything or anybody, arrives on time and calls back to dispatch with "empty, wheres the next pickup". Vs calling me in the middle of the night with can you give me a ComCheck, I'm hungry, your going to have reschedule that final drop, I stopped to see Aunt Martha and went on a bender for 2 days and don't have a clue why that telephone pole scrapped the side of the brand new trailer you gave me and I'm Overweight/Gross.

Everybody makes some errors, I have certainly made mine, drove myself for 10 years. Had to do some things I didn't want to do. Now that I'm in HR, I see that I was not the "companies problem child" but I have the same guys who call each Friday with "do I have a check, how much is it, oh no, that can't be right I didn't call you in the middle of the night for that Cash Advance so I could eat............Oh yea, just got stopped by DOT, couldn't remember to draw a line, they noticed that the hoses are rubbing on the trailer, 2 clearance lights were out, and apparently I forgot to close the doors and while I was getting creative, I left a bunch of receipts on the right seat that the officer placed me out of service for.....my memory must be better than theres.

Its not everyone, just several who take up a bunch of time...............we won't even talk about the driver who leaves a shipper, drives past 2 CAT Scales and get cited at the first weigh station for being 5260 pounds over on Gross, gets a $300.00 ticket and says that it must be somebodies else's problem.

And remember, I have the majority who take the call, get the job done, without problems, call back when empty looking for the next one and a pleasure to talk to about nearly anything.

Which one of these people are you?

 

In a word ATTITUDE.....When a driver starts out now and in years past he/she had to pay some dues. Maybe by working at a less that stellar company with not so good equipment or a company that has only one thing in mind and that is go....go...go...regardless of the HOS. But eventually you either take the wrong attitude ( I'm gonna get mine and @#$%^ everybody else ) or you remain a professional and keep your head on straight and get a really good job (read career). The wrong kind of attitude can make or break you in any business...but in trucking the wrong kind can lead to someone getting killed b/c a driver is/was upset with a dispatcher or customer....leastways that is my take on it. You make your own record....whether its one with zero tickets/accidents/DUI's...etc or one that has a history of hopping from one terminal to the other b/c you don't play well with others....but ATTITUDE is what governs your ability to be successful in the transportation industry.....or not.

 

What is considered a "good" record will correspond directly with how good the company is. Some lower level driver churners will settle for a warm body, more premier fleets will expect exceptional records. And the pay rates usually correspond this way too.

 

Exactly....hit the nail on the head!

 

Candelwood,
It could not have been said better.