I have 2 tickets within the last 3 years on my record. Can I get hired?

In my opinion, it should be three years of ticketless driving at a minimum with NO other law enforcement contact before you can sniff an air-ride seat...BUT I am known to be a heartless SOB.

Just so this old geezer knows the circumstances...you have:

AND

For those keeping score ....


Is this correct ??? Is this possible without a suspended license somewhere in there?

Oh and just so you know, if you happen to find someone who will put you behind the wheel of their truck, you haven't seen anything with cops who "The main thing the police have to do in this area is write tickets". You are desiring to enter a world where the rules...let me put it the way Walter Sobchak (my avatar) so eloquently put it "You are entering a world of pain".

 

If you start now then you would be wasting your time. If you truly learned from your mistakes, then give it time for that to show on your MVR. 3 years and those points will clear. Then start looking for a job driving a CMV. Carriers don't care if you learned from past mistakes. They care about the points on your MVR, as 6 points will render your CDL suspended. If you have 3 points already, you're not giving yourself alot of play room -- considering most moving violations for CDL holders carry at least a 3 point penalty.

 

Most companies allow you 3-4 tickets in 3 years. Of them tickets, none can be reckless driving or conduct. So how ever that careless driving ticket is interpreted lays your fate. After 3 years you'll be okay.

Just learn from your mistakes and try harder. Driving is alot like poker. You want to play the odds in your favor to reduce the risk of an accident or statiscally have a hand that wins more. That means good habits.

 

I keep hearing this but I don't believe it is correct. It is not correct in my home state. IMHO, wreckless driving is a generic term used in the trucking industry and covers both wreckless driving and careless & imprudent driving.

In my state a state ticket that is not speeding, DWI/DUI, leaving the scene or driving while suspended is a Careless and Imprudent. This is wreckless driving and covers things like unsafe passing. As a matter of fact, at the Missouri Highway Patrolmen's discreation, a speeding ticket above a certain speed will be written as C & I. If I'm not mistaken, the same ticket written by a local LEO will be wreckless driving. Not sure on this one though.

I don't believe there are any hairs to split here. Careless/Wreckless citations are indicative of a driver who takes risks and lacks regard for laws. No company or insurance wants that big a liability waiting to happen.

If anybody can site some rules or regulations that show a difference between wreckless driving and careless driving, please do. Over the years I have had license in several states and each state usually referred to it as one or the other.

 

I'll bet you can get a job, but it won't be the best one. Most companies want five years on the wreckless driving. Many want three years and there are few that consider less. Since you're new welcome. I'll share my standard advice, take it for what it's worth.

You need to research and find out what the important questions are. You can make an above average living but you will make sacrifices that other jobs don't require. I want new people entering to find out what's going on and make a plan.

Read the "good companies" and "bad companies" section on this forum and get an idea of what company you want to work for and what kind of trailer you want to pull. Don't just go to school and then try to figure out where to go.

You need to look at your driving record and criminal record. Many don't take this into consideration and find out they can't get a job after school. The school likely won't mention this because they want your money.

I don't know your financial situation. Don't take training from a company if you can afford it or get it with financial aid. You will be their slave for up to year. If you leave they will trash you DAC and credit record.

Just know that training and trucking company recruiters will do nothing but lie to you. They will let you talk about what you want and then tell you what you want to hear. Trucking is about moving freight to make money for the company. Your home time, family, paycheck and everything else comes second.

It is not like any other job. Local is usually backbreaking delivery work 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week. Often you unload dozens of times a day or you are a salesman. In my area most dump truck jobs pay less than a good factory job. Regional is lots of loading and unloading time, fewer miles than OTR and not as hard as local but will wear on you and push your HOS limits. OTR is out 3 - 5 weeks with 3 - 4 days home, less manual labor and more miles.

You'll probably have to pay your dues before you get the gravy job. Weekends off, if you are lucky enough to get something like that starting out, may be home Thursday afternoon and leave Saturday night or home Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Loads deliver on Monday early and you leave in time to get them there. Often your home time will be in the middle of the week.

Regardless of your driving choice, after school you will go through company training. This can be six weeks to three months with little or no home time. The first phase is usually $400 a week and the second phase is $500-550 a week. Some pay less. One company pays 12 CPM for training.

 

Sounds like they have a revenue enhancement 24/7/365 going on there.

 

It's a tough state in any vehicle. But then Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio are all tough on trucks.