CSA may save your future/job.

I just got my C.D.L. and have a lifelong 100% clean driving record. I wonder if this will aid me in getting my first driving job?. I would think companies would want to fill their ranks with no score or low score drivers to prepare for CSA 2010.

 

Pure Myth.

 

Absolutely it will.

The question is, can you hold onto it ? Learn the rules !!!!! While you drivers license contains your DMV information. It now has a second side of information reporting, the CSA.

You'll need to make sure that you get a job with a company that won't assist you in losing your CDL at every chance. It will not take more than a couple of weeks to lose your CDL if you don't know the rules. And don't just take your trainers word for it....read the rules.

Having zero history, you'll be at a disadvantage, up against a experienced and CLEAN driver. I have a history of positive inspections, to balance out any brain fart I may have within the next 12 months. But that doesn't mean I can't lose mine, it just reduces the probability.

 

The way I read here if the company I may work for tells me to do something against my hours of service or insist I drive equipment that isn't right or safe I will be able to refuse and the company has to take care of the problem. They wont be able to force or punish you for valid concerns. I can see this trade becoming much more safe for the public and less black listing for the driver. Your clean licence might become a valuable item!

 

One correction, you will not lose your CDL regardless, the CDL is provided by the states not FMCSA. You may not be hireable with a trucking company due to your csa report but you will keep your CDL

 

Not so.... My company has projected they will lose up to 25% of their drivers, when the switch is thrown. Many of them long time employees. Read: Seniority Drivers with records.

Hell we had a clown get an over gross ticket...twice in the same day. He crossed the LA scales, got a ticket. They let him leave!!! And MS nailed the dumb ### 15 miles down the road.

These are the types of drivers everyone is dealing with out here right now. Soon to be "former" truck drivers.

Me, myself, and I pulled a dumb ### move the other day. I just knew I had lost my job.

But the fact that I had never done it in the past (ever) and it wasn't a safety issue. They scolded me, and are still scolding me for it. But I kept my job, because of my MVR and safety record.

I have ONE ticket in the past 20 years. Can you say speed trap And have passed every roadside inspection I've had. And I've had a lot in the past 3 years.

 

This might be the best thing to happen to trucking. Hopefully it will put a premium on quality drivers.

 

On a positive note; When I was in my last week at school 3 national trucking companies faxed a company memo stating they were raising their starting pay for students. The raise averaged 3-5 cents a mile. Also last week I visited the Schneider training facility for a tour, I found out Schneider has once again started the reimbursing of school costs to new drivers.I guess that might also mean other companies will be giving experienced drivers in their companies raises also. (we shall see)

 

My personal opinion is we won't see it fully implemented for at least another year. The reason why is far too many drivers would lose their jobs and cause way too much chaos in moving goods, unemployment, etc. Government can't handle this.
I think they are quietly delaying a few months at a time so the old stuff falls off. Kind of an unspoken truce where drivers and companies can get their acts together.
As for ultimate outcome? I think this is a way for the government to get rid of the little guy...employers of 10-100 drivers. Force consolidation, fewer larger companies. It's easier to control a few large and mega large companies than hundreds or thousands of smaller ones. Easier to extract political donations too.
Just look how the government consolidated banks, telecommunication and airlines.
Trucking is just the next one on the horizon.
I think the independent O/O will be able to continue just as before, but with a few more restrictions, one being Electronic Recording Devices on board.
I also think the way around much of the ballyhoo for the employers will be lease operators. Look for more legitimate lease operations. Ones that make it fairly even keeled for an operator to be an independent trucker, leased to his company. Not the fleece programs that exist now.
Why?
Because it transfers liability for many of the CSA2010 requirements to the L/O or O/O and away from the employer. If an operator keeps his nose clean, he'll be OK. If not, it's on his neck and leaves the trucking company out of the picture. Helps keep the trucking company scores lower. Makes the drivers be more responsible for their actions.
I wouldn't be surprise to see the government begin a guaranteed loan program thru SBA that helps drivers lease or by a tractor legitimately. This would get the banks loaning money, and give political capital to the politicians.
Just my take on things.

 

True in a sense... but it will mean at least 6 months off of work. It could mean even more, if the last violation pushed your score high enough. There are provisions to remove a driver from the road...on the spot. And it won't be left to the State. It will be left to the officer on the scene.

Where does that leave you in the pecking order of getting hired, anywhere?

The weighted scores could hurt for a very long time. Why would any company hire a driver within 3-10 points of being suspended ??

Our company is saying 90 points, you're gone.

Let's assume that you have a previous major violation dropping off your record in 30 days. That's 5 points. Would you be able to return to work ???

Who the hell would hire a walking time bomb ? Companies don't make money off loads that are stuck at scales, waiting for another driver to show up.

These driver scores will affect the company score...for 2 years.