Comments By Tanker Man

Always nice to know there are still kind people in this world!

Surprisingly enough that all just changed. A miracle happened and I am set to start Groen**** on September 5th.

Ya, not so much the fact I need in immediately, but I am rather limited on my options. I got charged with DUI in 2012 but got found not guilty. However, I still lost my license for a year(yes I blew but it was high). So anyway long story short, the way it shows up on my MVR, I am not really eligible until this fall for Werner. However, Werner, MCT, and TransAm are really only my other options at this time, unless I am missing a few that take 3 year old DUI's.

Oh ok that's good. It is ridiculous you have to go through school, but it should be stress free and easy. Power through it. Keep me updated. Werner is worth waiting for, but there are companies that won't require school if you need in immediately.

Oh ya, I've got my CDL with tanker and hazmat endorsements already. Just don't have enough training hours.

Oh wow that sucks. Did you at least get your CDL?

Ya, not so much the fact I need in immediately, but I am rather limited on my options. I got charged with DUI in 2012 but got found not guilty. However, I still lost my license for a year(yes I blew but it was high). So anyway long story short, the way it shows up on my MVR, I am not really eligible until this fall for Werner. However, Werner, MCT, and TransAm are really only my other options at this time, unless I am missing a few that take 3 year old DUI's.

Oh ok that's good. It is ridiculous you have to go through school, but it should be stress free and easy. Power through it. Keep me updated. Werner is worth waiting for, but there are companies that won't require school if you need in immediately.

Oh ya, I've got my CDL with tanker and hazmat endorsements already. Just don't have enough training hours.

Oh wow that sucks. Did you at least get your CDL?

From the time I've been lurking about the forum, it seems you are the only TransAm company driver on here. However, I could be wrong. But I do have a lot of questions I would like to get answered from you regarding the company driver gig at TransAm. It seems most of the research I have done, a good majority of folks have a lot of bad to say about TransAm, mostly being about the lease program. Rest assured, I have no intentions on even thinking about leasing as it is way to dangerous financially to even consider as a new driver. So some of my main questions being, what has been your worst week and best week with TA as far as mileage goes? I know they do force disbatch for company drivers, how many times have you had to run NYC? I am not planning on becoming rich from this company, but assuming I do go with them, what can one realistically expect to make weekly once training is complete? Do you typically have a long wait period between loads? I read you're blog during your orientation, twice to be exact. I just read a lot of negatives about the company and I would really like to get a straight shot from the company driver view instead of everyone's negative aspect on the lease program. I have actually thought about going out and checking their terminal out in Olathe, I'm not that far from there, about 2.5 hours. But again I would like more info from a company driver view. I appreciate your time!!

Oh ya, I've got my CDL with tanker and hazmat endorsements already. Just don't have enough training hours.

Oh wow that sucks. Did you at least get your CDL?

Definitely following this! I have been working with the recruiters to get on board with Werner, unfortunately, my schooling I went to wasn't long enough as far as hours go so I have to go back to another school :/.

You're human, we all make mistakes. Most importantly you didn't get hurt or harm anyone else, so thank goodness for that! However, just as most of these folks have already commented on here, it is going to be very wise for you to hold off on getting your CDL and going to school. I was charged in September of 2012 for DUI, and blew well over the limit. Of course, back then I had no idea or thoughts about getting into the trucking industry. However, late last year in to early this year, I had decided I wanted to go trucking. Well anyway lets skip back to the legal process of my DUI. As I said earlier, I blew way over the legal limit. I had my court hearing for my driver's license and obviously lost that battle, as I should have. Then came the big court date. Got found NOT GUILTY, however, I won't lie, I should have been convicted. So now lets skip ahead. Earlier this year, I had applied to Schneider and a few other companies feeling really well about my start in a new career, especially since I didn't have anything holding me back, well or so I thought. It wasn't until I went through my phone interview with Schneider that I realized a NOT GUILTY verdict still will hurt you and here is why. In Kansas, we have a court for the Drivers License and Criminal Charges. Since I lost my license, it obviously still showed up on my record as a DUI, however, it only showed up as a restriction and not a violation. Now here is what is really getting me right now. Even though my charge date was 2012, I am not eligible for most companies until 2018 because the only date that is showing up on my MVR is the date the DUI interlock was installed on my truck. So technically speaking my DUI is almost 4 years old, but because I went on a military deployment right after my court date and waited until I got back to put the interlock in my truck, in the trucking world's eyes, its only 3 old unfortunately. A very large handful of companies will take drivers that have DUI's that are 5 years old. There are some that will take you after 3 years and one company that I know of will take you after 2 years, but your best bet for better companies and options is 5 years after. Best advice is to keep your head up and learn from this experience. It does suck, believe you me, I am still finding out. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

Red Viking Trucker is probably one of my favorites on the ol YouTube. He puts out a ton of information for new drivers and CDL holders.

For those of you that went the sponsored route to get you CDL, did these companies give you the option of otr, local or regional? Home time is important to me so otr is not something I would be happy with.

If you are located by a swift terminal then after about 3 months otr you can go local. When you first start though OTR is the industry standard especially when you want a better job that will get you home, this isn't always the case however because another person on the forum hauls for a ltl company and never did otr. So it possible for options to get you home more or even be local but it will take more research. Side note, do not take a dollar store acct if offered one it is very hard work and you will have to back into places that are too tough for a new person. If anything be prepared to be otr especially if you live in an area like me where there is not a whole lot of trucks/freight.

Just to touch bases on the dollar store accounts, I do know Werner has a few different dollar store accounts. If you get a free moment YouTube search Werner enterprise dollar general account. You will see what Devin is talking about. A lot of hard work. Brett was on one of these accounts and can testify regarding the hard work. I was offered that position at Werner and respectfully declined.

As far as your schooling goes, make sure you are going to a school that is going to actually teach you about truck driving and not just teach you what you need to know to get your CDL. I made the mistake of doing a CDL course and that's all it was good for. Granted I did get my CDL out of it but a majority of companies wanted to see that I went to an approved trucking school. My suggestion is whichever route you decide to go, either company sponsored or paying your own way, look at some companies and obtain a list of approved trucking schools for companies and see if the school you're looking at is on any of the lists. Just my .02! Best of luck!

Ditto to the above responses. Companies typically have a requirement as to how old they want the felony to be. However, considering it was 35 years ago, I don't see that being an issue, depending on the felony. Only thing you can do is apply and find see what is said. Worst that can happen is they say no!