Don't know WHAT to do - lost my CDL

Greetings Members!

I joined this forum several years ago. I'm coming back here for advice. I lost my Illinois CDL about five years ago and don't know how to get it back. I had Haz Mat, Tanker, Double/Triples, the works! Here's what happened.

I was fresh out of driving school in 2010 and I was out looking for a driving job. I had just inquired at one company. I was only going two blocks and got caught not wearing my seat belt. I tried talking my way out of the ticket, but the cop said he "was assigned to do seat belt enforcement and it's out of my hands." I told him that Illinois law dictates that CDL license holders that are issued a citation must retake all the written tests to renew their license. He said he'd never heard of such a thing and told me to go see the States Attorney and plea deal it down. So I drove straight to the courthouse.

The States Attorney actually thought I was pulling his leg. "You want to plea deal a seat belt violation down to a parking ticket?!" I told him Illinois CDL license holders that are issued any citation will be required to take all the written tests over again, when they renew their license. " I'm unaware of such a law." He said, " A seat belt citation is an 'equipment' violation....no points will go on your license. I really don't see a problem. But if you want to reduce the ticket, I'll do that for $450."

I was stunned for a few seconds. I knew people that had pled DUIs down to Reckless Driving for $500. I felt $450 was an exorbitant price to pay to get "just an equipment" citation reduced. So I plead guilty to not wearing my seat belt and paid the "bargain" price of $75 dollars. "You're saving money." he said. "Don't worry about it!" he said. Famous last words. I left the courthouse with that creepy feeling that I was making a big mistake. I just didn't know why. What was the worst thing that could happen? I'd spend a full afternoon, taking tests at the SoS facility and save $375 dollars.

About this time, I landed a job with a small, local trucking company. I was finally working full time, in a KW day cab, home every night, Saturday work - only if I wanted it. It was the job 'they' said I'd never find. Everything was finally working out. That was until one Saturday afternoon when I was out riding my Harley. A woman pulled right out in front of me....at the last possible second. I put the bike into a slide and hit the car's rear axle at just under 60 mph.

As I laid on the ground, still conscious and assessing my condition, I thought maybe I was gonna be all right. There was not a mark on me. I knew my spine was damaged by compression from the impact. But I could wiggle my fingers and toes. The ambulance crew seemed very concerned. I refused to go to the closest Hospital. I wouldn't recommend that place to anyone. So they air lifted me by Lifeline helicopter to Rockford Memorial. Before we arrived, I was unconscious.

My next memory was of a nurse shining a flashlight in my eyes. She said I'd been in a serious accident. I knew that, but I had no idea where I was. I also didn't know that the left half of my pelvis was shattered by the bike frame upon impact with the car. My wife later told me,"You almost died. All your organs were shutting down. Your body was giving up. For once....your stubbornness paid off! But, you were in the Intensive Care Unit for five weeks!

A really good spine surgeon rebuilt my shattered pelvis with several pounds of titanium and stainless steel. But my left sciatic nerve was shredded by my broken pelvis. My left leg will never work again. I spent months in a rehab hospital learning to walk again and my medical bills were well over a million dollars. I prayed my left leg would start working again, but it was not to be.

My license expired while I was in the rehab hospital. It was over a year before I found a doctor that would OK my DOT physical. By that time the Illinois Secretary of State said because my license had expired over a year ago, I now had to start over from scratch! First, I had to take the basic test and get my drivers license back. Just to drive a car, mind you! That's where I stand now. The SoS says if I want my CDL back, I have to take the CDL written tests, pass the pre-trip inspection and take the DRIVING test. If I want Haz Mat again....you see where this is going. Now we're finally getting to the problem I have.

I can get a DOT physical and retake the written exams, but I have no idea where to find a tractor with an automatic transmission to take the driving test. I've called the local CDL driving schools and no one has an auto trans tractor. They just wish me luck. None of the local trucking companies, owner/operators or farmers I know, have auto trans tractors. I highly doubt that a truck lease company such as Ryder will allow a temporary permit holder to rent a rig to take the CDL driving test. And I also doubt that any company would hire me with only a temporary permit in my wallet.

The accident that caused all this was not my fault. And that seat belt ticket was supposed to be "no big deal, it's just an equipment citation." I can't talk the SOS people into just taking my written tests, which is what the statute dictates. And they don't seem to believe they are causing me a hardship by making me take the driving test. I've considered going before a judge and asking if they see a hardship. Beyond that....., I'm out of ideas.

What am I to do? I can't find work, I can't draw disability and I can't draw SSI. I'm also fairly unremarkable,
so an appearance on the 'Ellen' Show and an outpouring of cash from Shutterfly is not in the cards.

 

Hi Bill!

Actually, I applied for a driving job with a local bus company. I was going to drive the little shuttle buses. I trained for a week and was waiting to be called. I kept asking for my schedule ad they said soon. I patiently waited.
They called me and said, "Can you come in for a meeting?"
"Sure! When is it?"
"When can you come in?"
"Oh....one of those meetings"
"Yeah....When can you come in?"
"I'll be there in an hour."
I knew they were apprehensive about the extent of my disability. At best I can walk short distances with a cane. My trainer driver asked if I could carry a bag of groceries if requested. I said "Maybe, if ti's not too heavy."
"Up a flight up stairs?"
"Really?"
"They might."
So they let me go, because they said they were 'going in another direction.' They did ask if I'd consider getting a CDL again, because they also had the big yellow buses. I said, "Sure!" But it was never mentioned again. I'm told that the school district driver physical abilities requirements are kinda tough. Somewhere I was told you had to be able to hop on one foot for so long. Honestly, I'm doubtful if my nerves could endure today's kids. Some are like little, pint size terrorists!

 

Hi Dave,
The answers are yes, yes and yes. The other driver had the same coverage I had, $200,000 each occurrence. My medical bills were waaaaay over a million dollars. My lawyer explained it this way:
"Buzz. If you hit me with your Malibu and caused me to incur a million dollars in medical bills, can you pay it?
"No! (laughing) But what about insurance? Aren't they gonna pay for it?"
"They'll pay up to $200,000. That's what your policy and their policy agrees upon. Not a penny more, usually.
My lawyer got most of the medical bills forgiven. Everything over $400,000. And the Orthopedic Surgeon donate his services. They also fixed my bike that was almost totaled. The other driver's car was totaled, as I almost knocked the rear axle out of the car! So if you get in an accident, make sure it's a commercial vehicle because they usually have well over a million dollar insurance policy!