CDL protection, is it worth it??

Yes and no.

Probably wouldn't hurt to have it as a first year driver. Just to CYA until you're sure of yourself and your abilities.

Otherwise.....no.

I've had one ticket in 20 years. Total cost of defense -- $610

Do the math.

There is an additional consideration. Tattle Tales. How confidential is this information after a citation has been issued? Do they immediately notify the company ???

If so, why?

I don't know about Schneider, even though I work there. But SOME companies will move to terminate or have the driver resign, once they are made aware of violations....guilty or not.

As far as I'm concerned, until I have been convicted of a traffic violation.... it doesn't exist.

Another question.... why is THIS specific plan ONLY available at Schneider? Their words not mine. This only furthers my paranoia that it will immediately notify the company upon receipt of a violation.....prior to any conviction.

 

It is availabele everywhere. If you have a wreck and injure or kill someone you might accidently need a lawyer. That would be the only reason I would have it. I don't get tickets either. Tickets don't worry me though.

 

You two guys either work for very small companies that are willing to bend the rules or you're switchers and never leave the yard. After a little over 30 years on the road I have come to the conclusion that these days you will have an event on average of about once every 10 weeks that could be job/career threatening. The big companies will let you go in a heart beat. Experienced drivers are dropping like flies. Dropping down to smaller companies or dropping out altogether. New inexperienced drivers are being churned out of the schools like pills from a pill factory. The one driver had it right about not telling your company anything. You have to fill out the paper once a year and tell your companies of any violation you were CONVICTED of in the past year. Never tell them about a ticket until then ... if then. That's why you need lawyers on your payroll. Never get convicted! I have a friend that got three speeding tickets, three left lanes tickets and two accidents in one year. He never had things like that before and he hasn't since, but he still has his job. I got a few log book tickets and one improperly secured load ticket over a period of almost three years and I don't work there anymore. The insurance company said I had to go. He had a cdl protection plan, I did not. None of those things ever showed up on his mvr. You either have to go to court yourself and beg to pay the cost for a dismissal or send a lawyer in your stead. Otherwise you will find yourself looking for a (lesser) job. It has gotten bad out there. The states only see the trucking industry as a source of revenue. Sharks ... I mean troopers are patroling the roads looking for prey all the time. They prey on the weak. Any little mishap and they will be all over you. Never EVER pull over on the side of the interstate or ramp unless your truck just totally breaks down. Even if you do have a breakdown of some kind, if there is any way you can limp it into a truck stop or rest area - do it! I talked to a driver that told me he had been inspected on every trip for over a month and even got inspected twice in one day. Well I just laughed and told him how I got inspected three times in one day once. The federal government and the insurance companies have taken over. They are the ones running your company simply because of the fear factor they have put into the companies. They tell the companies who they can hire and who they have to fire.

Don't buy the one your company offers. Buy one yourself. Don't even tell THAT to your company.

 

My Motto: NEVER lie, NEVER volunteer information.

I only wished that I had adhered to this motto many years ago. I could have been retired with a pension instead of having to continue to work many more years. Enough has been said.

Good luck to everyone!