Job Abandonment?

Then that's a good deal. Just get enough experience under your belt, and go do your thing. There's no shame in restarting.

 

Thanks. Yeah, life dealt me a rough deal. I developed health issues and had to stop. I'm good now but the megas are the only ones that will look at me. I don't have the physical stamina for flatbed or I would've done that. Tanker is my next best option m

 

Hey, tanker guys can make bank. A buddy of mine is an owner operator, runs Monday through Friday locally here in Chicago (home nightly), and brings in $5,000 to the truck.

 

Well, as megas go, the Great Pumpkin seems to be the least worst.

 

That was what I thought when I was a new driver. At least the equipment was well-maintained and safe.

 

That's pretty encouraging. Realistically, how much time do I need to put in driving a tanker before I could get a local job? A year?

 

You should start talking to a prospective employer right now. If they're hurting for drivers, maybe they'll take you in 6 months. You never know.

 

I've read @Chinatown post that his old company (tankstar) I think ? Used to require 2 years now they hire cdl grads. I worked there for a year. Tanker work can be pretty physical some times. 3 inch, 20 ft hoses full of glue or resin that filled it up for one reason or another. #### happens... 100 ft of 2 inch hose on the ground, sometimes only 20.ft. It all has to be picked up, loaded, unloaded and cleaned, and re loaded unless your on a dedicated run. Pumps need washing, your track tankwash crud into the truck and ruin clothes....

The food grade companies pay ok and you don't touch anything. Only drive. Just don't pay as good.

 

There is an app called ACR. It records phone calls and cannot be edited or tampered with. Check your state's privacy laws, but record every conversation.

I worked one for the garbage(literally) company OTTO. In orientation, they had warnings that if you quit without a 2 week notice they would list it as job abandonment on your DAC(USIS, HIRERIGHT, whatever it is now). I quit after my first day of training. I saw everything I needed to see and refused to endanger my cdl and the public's safety.

They did nothing, and I would have fought them tooth and nail if they had.

Here's the thing about Megas, other non mega companies know how crappy the megas are. It isn't some secret that only a few know about. As long as your driving record shows no tickets or accidents, and you have at least 6 months(hopefully steady) employment, you wont have an issue getting another job. You may have to go to another mega, I would recommend Schneider, I drove for them for almost 2 years. They aren't perfect, but it's easy if you pay attention and try to build your skills

Honestly, I had never heard of job abandonment until a few months ago at otto. If an employer can fire you at will, why can't you quit at will? As long as you finish your dispatch and are at your home terminal.