My Situation. Looking for advise...

Go back to a full school. IMHO

 

Most trucking schools that are just that, trucking schools offer a refresher course of some kind as do most companies that do driver training...Central Refrigerated does for sure and I think JB hunt does as well

Tell them about the tickets, don't hide em

Companies are looking for major moving violations like reckless driving, dui, etc..minor speeding infractions were never a big deal in my own personal experience..I've had my share...

Just make some calls to JBH, Central Refrig, PAM, Schneider, Werner etc..and decide whats going to be the best fit and go for it

Petey

 

do NOT go back to a school. A lot of these companies are blowing the insurance smoke something fierce.

I got out of trucking in 1997 with a carry that had to comply with FMCSR. I JUST got back into it starting on Monday.

Everyone gave me the line of "no recent experience" you won't find anyone to let you drive.

Guess what.

I did and for a decent starting rate compared to the 25-28 cpm a training company wanted to pay me.

Get out your local phone book and look up trucking companies. And then find the one for the next area over and use those numbers.

And then hit the local want ads.

If need be, do it the old fashioned way and drive to a place and talk to someone.

But the jobs are there for you. How much do you want to work for it.

Only took me 2 weeks to find something.

 

I live here in the North East, and I can ASSURE you that THERE ARE schools that offer refresher training.

the tickets, you need not mention them.
the injury, this you might have to explain if asked why you left trucking
you can try one of the "mega-carriers" for a chance to get on with them as a student driver.

as for your current license? i would NOT let that expire, because the costs involved in getting it back would be surmountable, compared to what you paid, why back when.

 

Agree..keep the license up

Even in three years things will have changed some...they make minor changes to HOS rules quite a bit...Granted you can get up to date on that part of things during a company orientation but..

A refresher course will knock the rust off your shifting, road handling, backing and so on..also loks good to any company you apply to and opens the doors to most companies so you aren't limited in your choices..

Most of the larger companies require a refresher after 6 months of not drivng and that may be because of insurance or just for their peace of mind but as long as its a requirement then its got to be met if you want to drive for them.

There are drivers who never stopped driving that could use a refresher course LOL

Petey

 

Congratulations!!

Mikeeee

 

Hahahahaa...

Ya, I can't see how having continuing education would hurt. Tell the employer, " I know it cost me some money, but I wanted to make sure I renewed my knowledge of the current regulations etc... Before I asked to be trusted with your equipment."

Mikeeee

 

add "and brush up on my driving skills of a combination vehicle) and it starts making sense..

two people apply after three years not driving...you have one truck to fill..

1 has had refresher course..1 hasn't..from a management standpoint (not a driver standpoint) its a smarter bet to hire the one with the refresher course...that driver made the effort to make sure he was ready to start driving again...three years is a long time to not be behind the wheel of a truck..

habits form..not checking the mirrors as much in a POV...it takes a bit to remember things and get back into thinkng about that 53 foot trailer or remembering the little details of the california length rules....its one less thing I would have to worry about as a fleet owner or fleet manager..the driver that took the refresher is the SAFER bet

Just my .02 and you can argue its like riding a bike...ok..but a bike isn't 80k and 70 feet long either and there's a lot more at stake than a scraped knee..I was always taught to err to the side of safety..

Petey