Getting a Trucking job With a Misconduct on your record

I was wondering how hard it is to get a driving OTR job with a misconduct on my employment record? I got a great clean driving record, however my last employer terminated me on FMLA leave claiming I took too much time off work to take care of my dad who was dying of cancer. They claimed that this was misconduct when I came back to work and got rid of me on the spot. This was not a truck driving job, but more an office job. I got good references from former co-workers and my former employer says they won't mention the misconduct on background checks...just if they ask the question if I would be eligible for rehire the answer would be no. The bad news is I just can't take it off my resume I worked at this former company many years.

I am working now a lower wage job now, luckily this employer either didn't check my references or my former employer didn't say anything bad about me in a reference check . I am thinking of working this low wage job a few months to a year to try to ... I don't know cover up my previous employment. After I establish a better record with the new job I am thinking of quitting to go to what I really want to do and that is OTR trucking.

Your thoughts on my ability of getting an OTR trucking job? There was nothing criminal I did wrong in last job, clean criminal record.

 

A misconduct.....whatever that is.....means nothing. Carriers look at how long you stayed at jobs and your MVR. The day I got approved for trucking school, I got fired from the job I had only for 2 weeks. Can't tell you why I got fired to this day, but I don't think companies will care. You were taking care of your dad. It wasn't like you were playing hookie.

 

DO NOT GO TO CDL SCHOOL UNTIL YOU FIND A DRIVING JOB.

There is no driver shortage. Read that over and over if you have heard otherwise. Experienced drivers with perfect records are not getting hired quickly right now. A newbie with no experience will wait even longer. CDL schools will ALWAYS claim "now is the time to get training" because that his how CDL schools pay their bills.

If you have people at the former employer willing to vouch for you the event is not likely to stop you from getting hired in trucking. But the industry is very slow so it doesn't need as many drivers as last year.

 

As indicated above....what will really matter to CDL carriers is/are:

• Your previous driving record (any accidents/citations)
• Your previous criminal history (if any)
• Can you pass a DOT physical
• What medications you are currently taking
• Can you pass a drug screen (hair follicle &/or urine specimen)

Being fired for taking care of a sick parent is (in my opinion, at least) basically a badge of honor -- & not any remote reason to terminate/discipline someone.

-- L

 

I wouldn't worry about it. The economy is your biggest enemy right now. Not many places hiring OTR and if they are they ain't paying great for the most part.

 

Sorry but this is like asking if it is ok to drive with the tires flat on the bottom - irrelative.

Don't worry about it.

 

Misconduct? We live in an "at will" employment time. The only "misconduct" I see here is your former employer GASLIGHTING you. I'd have told him to kiss my hairy.........well, that's just myself. I'm surprised you bought into his malarkey! I'd think most employers would laugh at the audacity of a petty tyrant like him. Consider yourself lucky THAT jackwagon cut you loose. I hope you filed for unemployment, because this is a CLASSIC ploy by shady employers to convince people that they would therefore be ineligible for unemployment just due to what THEY say (FWIW, THEY have to pay for your unemployment benefits, so fight them on that point).
As to whether you go to a driving school before or after finding a job, I'm of the feeling that if YOU are motivated enough to take out a loan and get trained at a DECENT, INDEPENDENT trucking school, you will be better-served, and have more choices as to where you want to work. Employer-owned training schools teach you the bare-minimum, and also tend to keep you as a trainee longer (at lower pay), then you are stuck with them for at least a year, or else pay them more for their sub-standard training than it was worth.
And, as to the mythical "Driver Shortage", well, that is a fallacy invented by the trucking industry themselves to get special treatment, like bringing in lower-wage foreign drivers. I've heard about this supposed "driver shortage" for 40 years, and never once have I seen a shred of evidence as to it's existence. There may be shortages in specific areas; lord knows, back in the late 80's my company found it hard to get driver to run dedicated loads to Quebec, so they offered a premium on that freight and I really cleaned-up on those runs.
So, how badly do you WANT to drive OTR?? Really??

 

You're good to go. Best trucking these days for new drivers are refrigerated and flatbed. List all employment for whatever the application asked for. May be employment for previous 3 years, 5 years or 10 years if you're an experienced trucker.
Submit the short applications off each trucking company website before calling.
~
CDL Training - Stevens Transport

 

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