Prime Inc. rejected my application because I was fired from US Xpress in 2016

OriginalPhil · Jul 13, 2020

Trucker K said: ↑

This is also my issue as well currently working a unionized job for the last 18 years close to 50 years old now. Yes, the pension is good and all the benefits and redundant monotonous boring route runs but at this age having Managers who are younger corporate pretentious morons thinking they are 'King' always trying to write you up for not being in proper uniform, a minute later on the time clock or stuck in traffic (that you can not control) on your way to a customer etc.. it takes a toll on your pysche!!.. One of the reasons I even joined this forum is to obtain feedback from those driving OTR. And even though many say 'Don't Do it'..yet they still remember in it even though a good majority preach on how bad it is. Ironically, in my younger days (mid 20's I did it..back in the early 2000..the only major issues were the truck stop layovers @ $50/day during slow times, only a Randy McNally map book without city inner city surrounding industry area maps & highway patrol always giving truckers a hard time because they had massive mood swings which depending on you obtaining a ticket or not! Now there are Trucker GPSs for low bridge Clearances, no more paper logs so the company can't push you on those tired days as much etc...Note: Did not mean to railothe thread just thought I'd mentioned my thoughts on Otr and get more feedback towards going back to it or not or possibly becoming a Owner Operator.
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You're not railroading the thread at all! It's great to hear the thoughts of someone in a similar headspace/situation. It's the never-ending "stability vs (attempt at) happiness" dilemma lol. Personally, if I was at least 10 years into my current job, I think I would just keep grinding away at it until retirement. Then after retirement, look for a seasonal OTR gig.

I've only had to fill out paper logs in training, but I have to agree that life is a lot easier with e-logs and GPSs for multiple reasons.

buddyd157 · Jul 13, 2020

OriginalPhil said: ↑

My hiring "tier" penalizes us for drawing from retirement before we're 63 (which isn't too far away from 58). Also, we have to put in 30 years. I would be 60 after 30 years of duty, which would leave 3 years of limbo between time served and being eligible to draw from my pension.

What concerns me about returning to trucking most is how easy it was to get fired the first time. At the DOT, you'd really have to give it your best effort if you want to get fired. Between that and the other points you mentioned, I might have to hit the pause button for a while.
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ok, so you cannot draw your retirement until 63...ok, you retire at 25 years of service, and go to work OTR or what ever. you continue to earn a weekly paycheck, and have SS taxes taken out. at 63, you start taking your retirement form the state job.

or you continue at the state job, to further up your pension payout.

it is still a win-win for you.

milkman83 · Jul 13, 2020

OriginalPhil said: ↑

It's really cool to know that a driver on this board had a reason to pass through the tiny town of Hancock! Were you here to refuel at the "Old Bat Factory" convenience store?

I didn't even know that Wagner had their own flatbeds. I'll have to look into that. I've applied to a few other trucking companies, like Wilson Transport and Swift (yeah, I know), just to put some feelers out there. However, I'm starting to have more and more second thoughts about my decision to get back on the road. Long distance truck driving has been the only job that I've ever truly enjoyed, but it would be financial suicide if I went out there just to get fired for another accident.
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I was just out for a drive on my day off. I really enjoy taking 97 down toward Port Jervis, especially in the spots where the road closely follows the Delaware. Even though the Southern Tier isn’t the most prosperous place, it does have a lot of natural beauty (and good people).

I have no idea whether or not Wagner would hire you, but I would at least ask. My suggestion would be to get a couple more years of accident-free driving behind you (DOT or otherwise) and then try OTR again with a clean record. If a company like Willow Run or even Swift says yes, go for it. It can’t hurt to ask. Swift hired me in 2010 with a less than stellar driving record and no experience after being turned down by a couple of better companies.

OriginalPhil · Jul 13, 2020

milkman83 said: ↑

I was just out for a drive on my day off. I really enjoy taking 97 down toward Port Jervis, especially in the spots where the road closely follows the Delaware. Even though the Southern Tier isn’t the most prosperous place, it does have a lot of natural beauty (and good people).

I have no idea whether or not Wagner would hire you, but I would at least ask. My suggestion would be to get a couple more years of accident-free driving behind you (DOT or otherwise) and then try OTR again with a clean record. If a company like Willow Run or even Swift says yes, go for it. It can’t hurt to ask. Swift hired me in 2010 with a less than stellar driving record and no experience after being turned down by a couple of better companies.
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Route 97 is an awesome road to take for leisurely day-off drive. All the way through the "Hawk's Nest" to the Riverside Creamery in Port Jervis for some fried ice cream! RT 97 is actually my plow beat in winter (from Hancock to Long Eddy).

Also, as crazy as it might sound, I wouldn't mind driving for Swift. They seem like a company that offers drivers some decent options if they're willing to invest a couple years. I'd imagine that they have more drop and hook loads than most other companies too, since their trailers are practically EVERYWHERE lol.

LoneRanger · Jul 13, 2020

Isn’t a criminal record mandatory to go to prime?

ZVar · Jul 13, 2020

LondRanger said: ↑

Isn’t a criminal record mandatory to go to prime?
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No. That's CR England and CRST.....

Lennythedriver · Jul 13, 2020

OriginalPhil said: ↑

I think that might be how I got fired back in 2016 too lol. The month prior, my dispatcher nominated me for "Driver of the Month" because I cleanly passed two DOT inspections, always delivered on-time and safely, didn't turn down any loads, etc.

When I called the safety department about my termination, they told me that the combination of my rear-end accident and the major moving violation (for the same accident) exceeded the threshold of allowable points on their safety matrix. Completely understandable, but most likely decided by an algorithm.
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OK let me ask you this, and maybe you’ve already answered it. Was the rear end collision in a commercial vehicle or in a private vehicle? I know people who have had a few minor rear end collisions before they ever went into commercial driving and after two or three years most companies didn’t hold it against them at all. Now if it’s in a commercial vehicle, like others have said that’s pretty much the kiss of death. Because at that point most trucking companies consider you went through training, you’re a professional and there’s no excuse to be rear ending someone.

LoneRanger · Jul 13, 2020

ZVar said: ↑

No. That's CR England and CRST.....
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guess Crime err Prime doesn’t pay.

OriginalPhil · Jul 14, 2020

Lennythedriver said: ↑

OK let me ask you this, and maybe you’ve already answered it. Was the rear end collision in a commercial vehicle or in a private vehicle? I know people who have had a few minor rear end collisions before they ever went into commercial driving and after two or three years most companies didn’t hold it against them at all. Now if it’s in a commercial vehicle, like others have said that’s pretty much the kiss of death. Because at that point most trucking companies consider you went through training, you’re a professional and there’s no excuse to be rear ending someone.
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Unfortunately, this was in one of US Xpress' trucks. The poor woman in the car I collided with was driving her mother home from the hospital (who was in the back seat). She was having a pretty unlucky week. The car was actually a rental, because hers was in the body shop being repaired for another accident she was involved in that week. This is the aftermath of my mirror check that lasted too long:

Pretty "professional" of me, I know.

I'm still curious to see what Swift has to say (a few of their recruiters called me today), but it looks like I'll be road flagging for some years to come. Also, CRST wants me to pay $500 to go to a 5-day refresher course with no guarantee of being hired. If hired, I would have to team drive for at least 6 months. Even though beggars can't be choosers, I think I'm going to have to pass on that latter option.

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