I'm a very new driver and I've had some bad luck. I got my CDL in July of this year and unfortunately I've been let go at two companies since then. I was with Swift for two months with trainers and just couldn't get backing down right. They wanted me to get more experience and come back. I then drove with Western Express for a couple of months and had several parking lot accidents. Nothing major but they let me go because of it. Now I can't find anybody who will even give me a chance. Either they want far more experience than I have or as soon as they hear I've been discharged they don't even want to speak to me. I've had a couple of guys who say they work with multiple companies tell me they should be able to find something for me but after a couple of days they stop returning my messages. I've applied for a copy of my DAC report to see what is showing on it. When I'm up front with recruiters I don't get anywhere. If I lie about my experience I'm sure they are going to find out. Heck I've even been turned down at England and I thought they hire anybody with a pulse.
Can anybody recommend a company that I can try or tell me what I should do? I'll do anything to get the experience I need to land on with a decent company in the future. I just need to get more seat time.
Thanks in advance for any help you folks can give me.
I really need help
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Halfyank, Dec 8, 2016.
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Gardener Trucking-- might be his spelled. Google it
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You say you had several parking lot accidents? I'm not trying to be mean (although this might sound so) but maybe you should hang it up and find something else. Many warehouses and plants are hiring right now. And any of them would probably give you a better quality of life then trucking will. It just sounds like trucking may not be for you.
JRTBud877, tscottme, Jmans and 1 other person Thank this. -
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School. if backing is the issue, then time on the road isn't the solution; you need to do more backing. If you are already having accidents, then you need to practice backing in a safe environment - not in a place with other trucks, people, equipment, and other hazards all around you. Back into a box painted on the ground, with traffic cones around you to represent the hazards you would normally face. This limits the damage that you can do while practicing, but it's likely an environment that you will only find in a school, and they will likely charge you to use it.
It's not a cheap solution, but neither is having parking lot accidents. You'll either have to bite the bullet, and spend the time and money to learn the trade that you've chosen, or choose a different trade.
I think that you'll find carriers more receptive, if you can demonstrate that you have done something to correct the problems that you were having, early on. They are likely to resist making same mistakes, over and over, where it costs them to do so.Pepper24 and CJndaTruck Thank this. -
I appreciate the comments but I'm not quite ready to give up. Call me obstinate. Backing isn't my problem. I've had a problem with concentration that I believe I've over come. I just need another chance to prove it. I don't think the refresher course idea would work as I still have to get past the issue of being discharged twice and having no company that will even talk with me now.
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You will need to do *something* to demonstrate to carrier number 3 that the issue has been resolved. Something demonstrable; something that they can hang their hat on, with their insurance carrier.
Failing that, you could get your own truck, your own authority, your own *insurance*, and run as an independent owner-operator, for a while. School is probably cheaper, but the other is not out of the question - how determined are you?
How sure are you, that you have adequately addressed the problem? How can your prospective third carrier be sure?CJndaTruck Thanks this. -
I think you are missing the point. You want another chance? Go back to school! Otherwise KEEP CALM AND MOVE ON.
Why would I hire someone that can't prove they have taken measures to correct their deficiencies?Fatmando Thanks this. -
You first said you have a problem backing,. Now you say that's not the problem. You won't take experienced driver's advice and go back to the school that shpuld not have allowed you to get your CDL, and now you say you had a concentration problem
YOU DO NOT BELONG ON THE ROAD BEWITH 80,0000 POUNDS BEHIND YOU.
Sounds like you are pretty young and don't want to admit you need more training. You will never get past whats on your DAC without a long history of safety if you don't fix your challenges.CJndaTruck Thanks this. -
I'm not expecting to be put on the road solo right away. I expect to go on the road with a trainer for however long a company would require of me until I can prove I can do the job. I'll work team if that's what it takes. . Whatever it takes. I've spent so much money this year getting this far I don't have any left to go back to school. I'd do it, I just can't afford to.
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