Profile For Errol V.

When you say "Masking", I rolled my eyes and said "Not a face-mask issue again!"

I cleaned up your link so it looks like this: How Does Anti-Masking Law Affect CDL Drivers? (Use the blue "Link" above the text entry box.)

Here is the text of the "Anti-Masking" law:

(384.226) Prohibition on masking convictions.

“The State must not mask, defer imposition of judgment, or allow an individual to enter into a diversion program that would prevent a CLP or CDL holder’s conviction for any violation, in any type of motor vehicle, of a State or local traffic control law (other than parking, vehicle weight, or vehicle defect violations) from appearing on the CDLIS driver record, whether the driver was convicted for an offense committed in the State where the driver is licensed or another State.”

I'm not a lawyer, but I will clean some of the lawyer stuff out:

(384.226) Prohibition on masking convictions.

“The State must not mask (hide), ... any violation... [in a way] that would prevent a CLP or CDL holder’s conviction for any violation, in any type of motor vehicle, of a State or local traffic control law ... from appearing on the CDLIS driver record, whether the driver was convicted for an offense committed in the State where the driver is licensed in another State.”

I think a court can reduce a moving violation for many reasons. So your question needs a bit more backup information.

There are challenges for OTR driving on a daily bases, and long term (career), too. For new drivers (I was one, once) the big challenge is learning both the rules & regulations, and learning how to live/survive living in a small box, traveling to new & unfamiliar places, and keeping to schedules. After about half a year, I figured that out. I still am drawn to the traveling and new places idea.

I had to deal with family issues, changing from school teaching to over the road living. The absences did affect my relations with my wife (she hated me being gone) and the income I was able to pull in. That is still something I actively deal with, but "it's better now".

The solitude of the driving gives me lots of time to think, and listen to audio books and podcasts without interruptions (and that's not really a good thing - no interaction with other people).

But I still believe there's lot to enjoy in driving around the USA. I have combined my excitement for driving with my experience in teaching, I have been an CDL instructor for over five years now. I am energized by helping other people make that move to being a CDL trucker.

Lastly, I hope I can exit the employed world after a few years in another sector of transportation - Expedited Freight

Pianoman assumes

it was because of insurance requirements. Does that have anything to do with it?

Think of any insurance as a bet. The wager is you will or won't get some injury/ crash/ bad day. If you do, you "win" and your insurance pays off. And just like a casino, your insurance company wants to minimize risk so they might make rules so you'll live safely.

TruckInsur insists your company, National Freight, only hire drivers with at least five years recent experience or the insurance rates will increase.

So the proverbial "stale" driver must look elsewhere. I'm with Stevo on insurance. I also agree on the bike riding thing. I learned manual double clutch shifting 40 years ago (school bus) then didn't drive for most of the following years. Got my CDL-A in 2015. The double clutch "pop-pop" was right there when I needed it.

My thoughts on having recent OTR experience are:

1. You're out of practice. Just like any skill, if you don't keep up your skills, they might go stale. And we all know the line about "80,000 death machine" and what that represents.

2. Without recent experience, how could the hiring company get a recent employment referral?

Labs use only the last 1-1/2", which represents 90 days.

Sure, rumors abound about how much hair and how far back the test looks. Staying clean for six months is a good thing. And the lab tech can use hair from any part of your body, including pits and chest.

Here's Trucking Truth's take on this: Hair Follicle Testing Methods and Facts

Best of luck!

NaeNae shares a secret:

However, the numbers on the back {of your TWIC card}, are also able to be used for the "trusted traveler" program when you fly

Same is true for a HAZMAT endorsement. You get to skip a lot of waiting and keep your shoes on by going through the PreCheck line.

Josh realizes:

it’s all been NO because of no recent tractor trailer experience

This is true. I have been teaching CDL for five years. I have asked about OTR with a few companies, and even my intimate knowledge of the regulations and truck driving and safety does not let me skip the "recent experience" requirement.

PS: If you want to try CDL instruction, let me know. (Email is in my profile.)

A TWIC card is used for access to seaports. Probably a HAZMAT endorsement on your license would be better. Hazardous transport can be from anywhere to anywhere, as opposed to just seaports. Cost is about the same.

Every trucking company is built on its drivers. Trucking is a very competitive business, driving a truck has little to do with what company you drive for (A Swift truck works the same as a Big M truck), so the "greener grass" over there is not such a big deal - even 1¢ per mile more. Larger companies will have more resources to keep the drivers "happy ". You have training from Melton that you would not get at a 6 truck size company.

As Mtn Gal asks, why do you want to break rules? The FMCSA regs are non-negotiable. If it's rules about ride-alongs and pets, smoking, etc., that may be a deal breaker for some, but the truck operation is pretty much set.

So three votes (so far) recommend staying with Melton.

Jeremiah, if you don't want to approve each and every respondent you need to open the form permissions, allowing anyone with the link to open it.

On your form, top left is "Settings"

Scroll down & open "Responses".

Turn off "Restrict to users of (your domain)".

For lazy people, a direct link you don't have to copy/paste:

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