Schneider phone interview. What to expect?

Well all went well until a > 4 year old accident surfaced. This has created complications in my hire process with Schneider in particular, but I'm concerned that this will be an issue for me wherever I go now. Perhaps not after this accident becomes greater than 5 years old, but perhaps also then as well.

Are there any suggestions on what a person with a 4 year old accident, who is right out of trucking school, can do to gain that first year of experience in the mean time? Any known companies for me to apply to to help minimize the pain in searching now that I realize this is a bigger issue for me than I anticipated? I feel as though my options have been really cut down to a much smaller percentage.

I still get phone calls almost daily, it's just that I become either less ideal than the next guy, or completely disqualified by a 4 year old accident.

 

Welcome to the east coast

 

4 year old accident in a non commercial vehicle shouldnt hurt you unless it was a fatality your fault...If it was an accident your fault but no fatalities & that company still wont hire you then you really dont want to drive for that company anyway..

 

It wasn't a minor accident by any means but it was in a personal vehicle and there were no fatalities. Schneider actually gave me trouble with this because they could not place the fault without some pending documentation

I could explain that it was not my fault until I puke but that won't suffice if any paperwork slightly indicates that any percentage of the fault was mine apparently.

 

Most companies will charge you with the accident unless there is iron clad proof it was not your fault.

Get use to it; that's trucking.

 

I'd say if a company won't take a person with a 4 year old accident that the company really screens it's drivers and doesn't just hire anybody which in my opinion is a good thing for the rest of us out here. Now people say 4 years is old and it is but did it involve alcohol, excessive speed, careless and reckless there's so many variables that i feel proud to work with a company that's willing to be stricter in hiring which again makes us all safer. With that said i also believe there could be exceptions made depending on individual circumstances........

 

Truthfully I got cut off by an indecisive biker who was joyriding with his girlfriend when he failed to check the traffic around him as I was consciously making a safety decision to pass him after premeditating it for 2 minutes. I nicked the back of his bike as he passed over. His fault completely but unfortunately it's just looked at as me rear-ending someone and thats whats on paper so it makes my life harder now.

I've only officially been declined the one position because of it, but now that the holiday is over we'll see what my reality actually is as a true job hunt begins. I'm sure I'll find a company that will make a decision based more on discretion, and less on black and white policy.

 

Wanna bet... Most truck companies are told by insurance who they can and can't hire; insurance companies don't give a rats rear about warm fuzzy feeling, only stats. Unfortunately your stats say you have an at fault accident 4 years ago.

Not trying to discourage you, just have heard the story before. Be very, very patient, and expect nothing to happen fast; anything better than that is a bonus.

You may get lucky. I would use one of the online teaser apps, like Best Driver Jobs or something like them, that send your app out to every company; someone may call.

For you it is going to be about you getting as much face time (Or in this case, app time) as you can get.

Good luck

 

Well I have to appreciate your honesty. It is something that I'm fully aware of and it IS discouraging. Schneider said as far as they're concerned, that I just simply may have to wait until august at which point that accident will be outside of the 5 year window. They said a refresher would be reimbursed and I would be eligible for considerationonce again so that is good. Assuming there are no accidents or tickets in the mean time of course.

 

Have you applied with Swift??