Getting a job with no experience and with outside CDL training

I have a situation if anyone can help:

I literally got my CDL in January of this year and have run into problems out the tail. I got lucky with Covenant Transport and had no issues with them. Got to my upgrade test and went completely blank on the backing part. Well they ended up letting me go for that reason. A few months went by and I got on with schneider..Had a lot of issues with how they ran stuff but I had a job, well that changed earlier this month. Lets just say this I had a week that I wanted to forget. Was in the ATL yard trying to leave, well dispatch said the trailer wasnt released to me and told me to back up safely and wait. Well I ended up bumping into another schneider driver and had my first preventable accident. No less then a week later I ended up backing my trailer into a spot and over steared a little to much and clipped my driver side mirror with another trailer. Unfourtantly I didnt do my research before I made the call to safety the next morning. I get to the Freightliner dealership and spoke with my supervisor who basically gave me the option to get fired or quit. Right now Ive been riding a roller coaster out the tail. Thought I had a shot with going back to covenant only to find out that they deny me after they accepted me. Had similar situations happen with CRST USA TRUCK as well as Super Service. My employment history sucks because well the economy sucks. I had two speeding tickets years ago but am in the feeling now that my driving career may be done and over with. If anyone has been in this experience and has over come these obstacles please let me know.

 

I would make calls to other companies and tell the recruiter from the beginning what has happened. Try Swift. I know allot of people do not like Swift, but they do allot of hiring. Check them out and see.

 

I highly recommend going through some type of college program. I did and it was not only a fun experience but I learned so much from the instructors.

 

The only companies who will put you on are the worst of the worst. Where do you live? Most companies will pass on an application when they see 2 preventable's. This is why this industry can go through so many drivers because after a few minor accidents or incidents no one wants to touch you. When CRST rejects you. You can pretty much hang it up. But still put out apps and if they offer you to go to orientation. Pack light because they may send you home. I hear western express and carolina cargo may give you a chance but the pay stinks. Good luck.

 

Hey man its time to find another career. This one is definitely not for you. You are not a professional driver! There is absolutely no excuse for having two preventable accidents in a row! Thank God you didn't hurt anyone due to your not paying attention or watching what the hell you were doing! In the trucking industry as professional drivers we don't just keep going until we hit something and then stop! You were even given a second chance and still didn't have the brains to pay attention to what you were doing!

Ya I guess this post is harsh but come on, smarten up! If you are going to be a professional, then act like one! What if you weren't paying attention to the kid standing on the corner when you clipped a curb?

Why had you not gotten out and looked while you were backing?

I almost didn't post this because it was too harsh but maybe it will get some other newbies attention that are doing the same crap! Sorry to the rest of the forum...

 

^^^Ouch dude.

 

To the OP I would go to a credible school its hard enough to find a good company to start with as it is, let alone if you do it privately. Look on line for grants and loans, depending on your circumstances you may be able to completely finance a good school with out taking out to many loans or any at all.

If you decide to go with company training do your research on the company. To me you'd have to be able to handle a whole lot of BS going the company way, at least from what I have read here on the forum. At least if you go the school route its alot shorter of a time frame that you will have to deal with someone elses personality.

Research. Its not a four letter word, the headache now, will save you a big one later.

As for the second question i cant answer if you have any hope of finding another company willing to take a chance, but about the second time I spilt food on a customer, I knew i'd never make a great waitress. I could have kept plugging at it, but I found out i'm much better at other things.

Good luck to both of you, follow your dreams, but keep your head out of the clouds.

 

Well obviously I am not a professional driver if I'm not driving right now. The funny thing is I have seen and heard stories of accidents real accidents not incidents and a 30 day suspension there back out on the road and a little DUI as long as its been 7 years or so a company will take a look at you how much sense does that make. Am I in the belief that this is a career path for me yes, have I hit a bump yes, have I learned from my mistakes yes. Until the last company out there says no I am gonna keep applying. To the other posts unfourtantly I have gone to a certified school and believed the hype of everything. Out of Clearwater area and yes I have noticed first hand that companies dont like people that live out of Florida. Like I said if companies are taking the time to go through the process with my app and turning me away then I have to be close.

 

My advice is to flood the market with online applications. When you broke the mirror or hit the other truck, that was on private property, so won't be on your MVR, but may be on your DAC. As for living in Florida, FFE has two terminals there..driveffe.com
Google : truck driver jobs (then put in one online application at each website)

Here are more online apps:
westernexp.com
carolinacargo.com
gotruckers.com
TruckJobSeekers.com
pantherII.com

careersingear.com
driveforgreatwide.com
cdldriverjobs.com

Pour a nice hot cup of coffee and fill out the apps. Best wishes.

 

I'm in Florida and companies can be and are more discriminatory in their hiring here but it's not that they don't like people living here. There are many jobs here for drivers, MANY. Based on your comment about "hype" I'm laying odds you went to Roadmaster in Tampa which has tons of complaints and unsatisfied students. Their primary goal is profit not education. Not quite sure what you meant about not doing your research in regard to your call to safety. As harsh as it is to accept, Chompi is right, you were provided a second chance and now you have to go the extra mile. When you crunched the mirror you could have offered to pay for it out of pocket since it was your second incident. It could have made all the difference in the world in regard to your now-stained driving record and your job. You need backing practice. Your backing needs work, period. Were you aware of this in school? That is the time to address any weak spot(s). Contact your school and see if they will accommodate you. If not, take a refresher. If you can't afford it, put an ad on CraigsList and find a driver with a truck who will help you for an afternoon for a few bucks. If you're not positive about your backing ability, you're going to have another incident. Trust me on this, you need additional practice. Get it now not after you land another job. Good luck.