Comments By Schism

Melton and Roehl would not take me until July of this year due to an out of state suspension for unpaid ticket . There are more companies which have the 3 year old rule .

Western ...which ran my HireRight prior to issuing a bus ticket never mentioned the speeding ticket or the suspension .

I met a driver in orientation who has 4 years driving experience that was turned down by CR England. driver has over 70 csa points . But he drives for Western .

They have an industry reputation as a second chance company . I'm sure there are other companies but it may be a good start for you two.

The trucking industry needs smart drivers . I've watched many hours of trucker mistakes on YouTube but I still took the challenge . Don't drive white knuckle scared ...but always be aware of what you are driving .

You are not the first IT crossover into trucking...and you won't be the last .

Companies hold to their own background criteria . Some companies with hire a dui or certain felony convictions if they are date back to # years. Other companies with not hire either under any condition .

You really have to get him to dig in and start calling some recruiters and see what they have to say. There is no harm in research prior to cdl school.

I can't speak for their cdl school..I have my cdl but roehl pulled HireRight report on me . Western Express and Melton did the same .

I imagine any transport company looking for new cdl drivers or students will definitely check out perspective drivers as common practice .

Big grats ! Thank you for your service and best of luck in the trucker pursuit .

It's a company driver outfit . Like I said above the LO option is very new.

Western has a pretty new lease op program. I won't give you second hand information with the details I've gotten from new lease drivers. If it's something your interested in its best to call for details .

Most folks here advise against l/o and o/o programs because there is little pros to the numerous cons .

The driver trainer and myself was in Denver CO on Monday picking up rebar coils at Rocky Mountain Steel . Prior to leaving the truck stop that morning we were in total agreement that two of the trailer tires needed to go .

With the blitz coming he decided to swap trailers instead of stopping to get the tired fixed. It's his truck...I'm just the new guy....but he swapped out a trailer with bad tires for a trailer that throws the abs light . We are no better off . But his over two decades of experience comes with a plan to disconnect the abs light on the trailer , which does nothing for the dash light.

I know his hrs...give or take because we have rolled together for 9 days at this point and qualms is a fickle mistress who never let's you forget .

We stopped at dusk on i25 south and I knew it was coming ...my turn to roll...A mere 4 hrs from potential DOT hell . We punch me in ...pretrip and I put er in gear and release the tractor brake and start to roll away when I notice the valve won't stop breathing . Here we go....9 days on the road and I'm in this situation . I back up and pull tractor protection valve...let it run for 30 seconds and try again . It doesn't stop breathing . (Sigh)

He says.." if it ain't bleeding below 100 psi it's fine...roll " (headscratch)

I try and roll...hoping what he calls a minor non dot air leak will stop . I managed to make it to the top of Raton Pass on I 25 south...get thru the scale and park it .

I said there is no way this thing is legal...I'm not doing it. The truck never got above 105 psi and never reach cut out pressure . I've got a 6% grade down ..an air leak...an need an abs light.

On DOT eve . We try the tractor brake a few more times..it's no use..we are hosed..He is mad... company breakdown staff are mad..telling me I am bat crap crazy for shutting down at a scale house . 7am the next morning comes around and he 11/14 is fresh and he delivers to albaqurque nm himself.

I don't know what else I could/should have done sans call safety and have then Out of Service the tractor.

I would appreciate any opinions here folks... I've had a great 10 days otr with this mentor except for that one bad nighf.

I've been thru Poconos in PA , Denver CO seeing the Rockies mountains as the skyline left to right and was walking distance to The Big Texan in Amarillo TX all in the same week. I didn't hate it.

I enjoy Indiana Jack...Big Rig Talk and Sergie Dratchev a lot !

Jack has such a pleasant demeanor ...BRT is a hoot..Canadian as he is...and Sergie is a flatbedder for Landstar .