Frustrated experienced driver

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Steve D, Dec 14, 2012.

  1. Steve D

    Steve D Light Load Member

    156
    184
    Dec 14, 2012
    0
    Well, humility is a good thing. The problem with going with a Swift or CR England is not being with a trainer a month, it is working under their dispatch for a year. I am 61 and really don't want to be out for weeks at a time being jerked around by a driver manager. Actually, the best offer I got was from Knight in Phoenix. They said they would send me out with a trainer, no need for a month of school, and that would last as long as he thought necessary. I have been driving local for the last 3 months now, running 80,000 lb end dump trailers up and down the hills between Flagstaff and Phoenix. It's as hard a driving workout as you get. I guess I have found that you don't lose those skills, even over 10 years. They are there waiting to be recovered and polished. Yea, I think a trucking company should look at my case, give me a week or two with a trainer so I can prove my stuff, and happily hire me. I know the industry is more safety conscious now and I welcome that. I know hours of service and logbook expectations have changed. OK, the company's safety director can set down with me for an hour and explain that. I still think there is something strange about saying you have to start over at the beginning.
     
    Hammer166 and motocross066 Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. JPenn

    JPenn Road Train Member

    1,829
    1,874
    Mar 5, 2008
    Northern Tier PA
    0
    I would suggest finding a smaller local or regional outfit...often they pay better, treat you better, and are more sane with hiring practises than the mega-carriers. Also, sometimes larger carriers have smaller dedicated divisions that aren't really well advertised (I work for one of these, and the only similarity is the DOT number on the truck, and the governed speed).
     
  4. Steve D

    Steve D Light Load Member

    156
    184
    Dec 14, 2012
    0
    Thanks. That's my plan. The regional carrier I worked for 10 years ago will hire me. I know the owner and the dispatchers and know they won't abuse me. Home every weekend. So I guess I am fortunate to have that option.
     
  5. Excorcist1

    Excorcist1 Light Load Member

    222
    39
    Jan 11, 2012
    Chestertown, MD
    0
    Man this is so funny. I thought I was the only 1 that went through this. Finally got back into driving in 2000. Got to go to a local college that had tractor trailer training for free cause I was a single parent. Only did 3 weeks of the 6 week course because the instructor had a couple of days open at the MVA for student license test. He told me go ahead and take test. I passed and got a job driving regional for 6 months. Then found a local job and drove for them 10 years. But when I tried to get a over the road job, everybody said I didn't have any experience. Even the companies that were ringing my phone off the hook my first 2 years of driving. Finally last year Schneider hired me.
     
  6. twolane

    twolane Medium Load Member

    468
    252
    Dec 16, 2010
    Arizona
    0
  7. Steve D

    Steve D Light Load Member

    156
    184
    Dec 14, 2012
    0
    Now that is just plain weird. Where is common sense?
     
  8. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

    7,296
    6,032
    Sep 2, 2011
    NEPA
    0
    As I understand it, the insurance companies don't tell a company who they can and can't hire based on experience. The insurance companies tell the company what their new premium will be if they hire an "inexperienced driver" and put them in a truck. Companies aren't willing to incur a 50% PER TRUCK increase in premium just to hire on an "inexperienced driver". So when they tell you that it's the insurance company telling them they can't hire you, they're only telling half the truth.
     
    volvodriver01 Thanks this.
  9. Steve D

    Steve D Light Load Member

    156
    184
    Dec 14, 2012
    0
    No doubt you are right. I just wish I could talk to an insurance industry person and see what they base this on. Insurance is all about statistics. Do they have actuarial data that shows an increase in accidents when experienced drivers without experience in the last 3 years return to driving?
     
  10. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

    7,983
    8,384
    Sep 25, 2007
    Rosamond, SoCal
    0
    I did not realize your driving currently, I would look around. I would not go back to school either, local is ten times more difficult than otr.
     
  11. 48Packard

    48Packard Ol' Two-stop Shag!

    8,436
    10,222
    Apr 19, 2009
    Could be anywhere
    0
    Not 38 days, or 39...but 37? That's the strangest number I've heard of, uh.....bar none.:biggrin_25523:
     
    CenutryClass, rickybobby and str8rida Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.