Any other similar experiences starting out like I've had in 2014? This has been hell

I way too often, thanks to just enough brain farts to get me into trouble, at way too many jobs this year, think about doing something stupid, but I am afraid to do so,which is a good thing, but why am I going thru what I've gone thru this year, just to get into a field and learn a valuable skill that I actually, overall, like?

I tried trucking in 2009, went to a CDL school. It took me almost 10 weeks though, once I finished school, to find employment. That was enough time for some things I learned in school to wear off and I (even though I passed the same test to get into their training) was washed out by a major company after 3 weeks of training after failing the final road test. The economy, though, was real bad back then and companies were pickier.

I worked outside the industry from 2010-13. The state Vocational Rehabilitation Dept. paid for a refresher course for me (I have serious ADD). 4 weeks this past Winter. Backing was the only thing I really struggled with, but even that wasn't a total loss, I could back straight and offline without any real issues. Since my UI Benefits ran out though, I tried to drive for this Mom and Pop outfit while finishing my last week in school. I was with them for about 3 weeks, but, when I did my 2nd day alone, my truck broke down. Since it was a Mom and Pop company, they didn't bother replacing it or even putting me in a rental. Then, unbelievably, my Mom was stricken with a ultra aggressive form of Cancer and she passed away 2 months later (this past April). Since that was out of state, I had no chance to work at that time (even if it was in state, I'm sure, I couldn't have worked since family comes first). So, that turned out to be almost 3 months between the time, I stopped working at the one Mom and Pop where the truck broke down and finally finishing the school and getting a chance to drive with another company (Major Regional). Almost like 2009, where that's enough time off for what little skill you have to possibly wear off.

Well, that didn't work out after only 3 weeks. Some dispatcher went rigid on me in training and said that (even though I had no accidents or incidents) that "your backing is poor" and "you were late once". Even if I was late once, what company fires someone after being late one time? Again, I still was able to back, the basic loading dock backs, where you have some room, but what got me into trouble, was my 2 weeks, with 2 trainers, where the backs were mostly difficult angle backs, instead of straight or offset backs into loading docks. I had that changed, though, to a voluntary quit, since, HR, agreed with me, that was an overreach for the safety manager to do that, without talking to HR first. 4 weeks, later, I tried with a huge national company, my backing was a big (or big enough) issue to get me into trouble there, even though, I did pass their road test, which included angle backing, to move into the 2nd week. However, I didn't like one practice they did on the account (thought it was clearly unsafe), while I may have jumped the gun a bit on that one, I quit, since the signs didn't look good, but again, the procedure on the account, about unloading, was very unsafe.

I took the rest of the summer off, with the hopes I could find someone to help me with backing, before I tried one more time. Even if it was just for a Class B (Box Truck) position. Reddaway, called me to interview for that. However, the Terminal Manager told me to accept a Class A since "it pays more". This would come back to bite me later. I was okay with Class B, since, even though that may have hurt me in the long run for OTR driving, at least I would have got experience, being in a commercial vehicle, so I could, drive for the garbage trucks, Fed Ex, UPS and even Reddaway, if nothing else.

My trainer was a something that sounds with glass, but I still passed the road test, under him, that involved a back or two. These people, though, had the nerve to tell me, after only 1.5 weeks, on my own, that my "production" (for local city driving) was too low. I say, had the nerve, since, you would think for someone who was as inexperienced as I was, that the only concern for the company would have been safety, even if I was as slow as a turtle, but not making errors, like taking the wrong pup or going to the wrong address, all the time. Since, then, I admit, I cut a few corners, like not actually checking to locking pin with a flashlight, since I felt more under the gun to make more deliveries. Well today, sadly, I high hooked a trailer. While the only damage was to the back of the cab (cosmetic, tractor still drives), which was a big dent, Reddaway, has a no preventable accidents during probation policy. I'm standing by, for an official verdict, but, sadly, it, even per the union rep, doesn't look good. Probationary employees, with Reddaway, officially, have no rights whatsoever. Even though, my only clear weakness was my backing (production is open to interpretation and subjective, not objective), they don't seem to care.

What really, really hurts about this one, is that the difference between driving as a Class B driver, with Reddaway (no high hooks, or kingpins not locking to worry about, backing, etc) vs. driving as a Class A driver, was.......only 40-45 dollars a month. That's a couple of rounds of twilight golf per month that I gladly would have given up, so I could drive a Box Truck. Talk about bad luck that won't stop. The TM never told me this. I learned this thru the Union Rep today. That's almost irresponsible on the TM's part. I didn't ask anything about the difference in pay, since, I heard, at the time, they had more of a desperate need for Class A drivers, and they still do. In addition, I thought, a response, like, "what happens if Class A doesn't work out, can I still drive as a Class B driver?" would have come across as lacking confidence, in the interview.

I don't know if this is something trying to tell me to give up my dream to have a skill that most other people don't have, but I am really hurting. I'm not exactly that young and time is running out to have a good paying career. Please, I don't understand why all the signs are pointing to "you want fries with that?" or other low paying, unskilled or small skilled jobs.

Have you started your trucking career like this and did you not give up and now are seeing a reward with a good solid career?

Thanks for reading the long story.

 

I'm sorry about your mom. Now on to business. You're unstable. That's your problem. You've laid that out very clearly. Also, skills don't "wear out". I'm not trying to run you off, but trucking may not be for you.

 

Anyone who is fair, will tell you, that if you don't do this, for at least 6 months, consistently and you're new on top of that, that your skills can wear out. Look at hiring ads and see that 1/2 of them say recent experience.

 

I disagree wholeheartedly. And I am being fair. It's like riding a bike. You don't forget. Maybe a little rusty out the gate, but it doesn't "wear off". Have you stayed at any driving job for at least 6 months??

 

I haven't had any similar circumstances. I started in '07. Still running today and loving it. it seems like this just isn't the career for you.

 

I'm confused; are you driving now or unemployed?

 

So you're kvetching about the price of playing an evening round of golf on one hand and having the state fund your trucking training due to your "disability" on the other?
Trainers keep throwing you out of trucks?
Can't keep a job? Is that all that's bothering you Pookey?

Look elsewhere. I'd say trucking is played out for you.

 

It "rusts off". No skill is attained or maintained without practice, or at least use. There's "riding a bike", and then there's "riding a bike". Being able to not fall is "riding a bike", but that's the definition and standard of a child/the unskilled.

The world's best musicians practice every single day because skipping a day takes another day of practice for the finer points of skill to catch up. That may be an extreme example in relation to "driving", but it makes the point.

The only way skill does not deteriorate by lack of use is when very little skill exists.

 

I agree with Joseph1135. Bless your heart for being honest with us, and giving it a good 'ol hard try, and for your dedication and consistence...but some people are just not cut out for it. Period.

Face the facts and move on. To be honest with you...it's most likely a "God send"---trucking is not the glamorous field that some people have in their heads.

I have a good friend that is a Driver Instructor at a local college (and a wife that works at the same college)----trust me----they both know first hand that not everybody's "got it". People can and do flunk out thank God. And they belong ANYWHERE besides behind the wheel of a big truck.

It's nothing to be ashamed of. It happens. Stop stressing over it, and pick something else.

 

Well ...........WOW ...........

Just WOW ........ I am .............WOW ...........