I am new to the profession. and have found myself in a situation that I could use some guidance on. After being laid off from my previous profession as an engineer for a defense contractor, spending 2 years on unemployment. seeking a job and another year caring for an elderly grandparent to make it by I decided to try truck driving. I actually was steered to it by a family friend who drives because I was tired of a cubicle, love to see the country and at 33 have. perfect driving record. I went to CR England since they would sponsor training which I could not afford to pay for out of pocket. I started.school onn 3/4 and was on the road with a trainer 3/26. I completed the first phase of training 5/1 with about 21,000 iles and went back to Utah to do an upgrade (written and road tests) to phase 2 of the road training. At this point I waited about 2 weeks to be assigned a new trainer and when that didn't happen I was bused back to AZ to transfer my CDL because my UT one was going to expire. I got that done and on 5/25 I got on a truck and completed a run to So Cal for a guy who was out of hours and was told I would be assigned to a new trainer in Mira Loma. I arrived on Memorial day weekend so nothing was going to happen until the following Tuesday so I stayed with some family right down the road until then. Tuesday came and I contacted my training coordinator in UT who intructed me to contact the placement coordinator in Mira Loma, which I did. He then told me he would get a trainer arrainged and call me when that was done. For the first weeks I kept calling him daily for status, he then basically told me to stop bugging him and he would contact me when a trainer was available. I waited about another week with no word and calls going unanswered and was getting a bit nervous about what was going on not to mention broke. I spent a few more days trying to contact my coordinator back in UT who did not return calls or emails. Finally I went back in person to meet again with the guy in Mira Loma on 6/18 who then told me the guy in UT had been fired but on 6/13 had entered in the system that I had quit, so I no longer had a job and was on the hook for the school for about 2k because I had not fulfilled the commitment to the company. So I called HR and explained I had not quit, sent copies of correspondence with both of the guys to them showing this to which they replied I would have to submit a rehire request but would have to wait 60 days to do so because I had quit or was fired. Well I knew I didn't quit, they said I wasn't fired and unless I did the rehire request I would have to pay back the 2k. So I was pretty much stuck waiting 60 days because I did not want to have to pay that,, thank god I had family in Mira Loma area who needed work done so I had a place to stay and food to eat because I was told if I got a job, no matter what documentation I had, I would havw to pay them back. Okay 60 days was up 8/20 and They got the paperwork going, it had to go back thru the training departments to be signed off on so I could go back for a refresher and get back on the road. Well on 8/26 I was infomed the rehire request was denied due to the misunderstanding with the training coordinator and the info he had left behind in the system regardless of the info I had sent them. But good news since it all appeared to be a misunderstanding and not that I quit they changed it to where I was fired so I didn't have to pay them back (they said good news I know being fired doesn't look good for me but least I don't owe. So now Ineed to find a new job. Talking to a handfull of companies I am running into this problem: 1. I am not a recent grad because it has been more than 90 days. 2. I don't have "recent" driving experience because I have been off the truck longer than I was on. So I have a current and valid CDL and medical card, no points against my CSA record and minimal driving experience. I have an AZ CDL am currently in Riverside CA and looking to eventually be based out of Indianapolis IN (oh failed.to mention during all this I got divorced and now my ex has moved with my children to IN). I can afford living expenses until I get a paycheck but can't afford to pay a bunxh of money for some kind of training course if required. Can anyone point me in the direction of some companies I should be able to get on with given the circumstances? I am not saying none of this was my fault I know I could have handled some things differently and am not suggesting anyone not go to England as they are a good company, just it is challenging and I am learning that the hard way. I love this job and must say the month and a half I had onn the road was the best I have had in a long time. I think I fit this industry, just need some help getting going again. I appreciate any advise, guidance, wisdom or anything else anyone can offer. Thanks all! Joe B.
Posted: 11 years, 3 months ago
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Newbie needing guidance, advise and/or words of wisdom
I am new to the profession. and have found myself in a situation that I could use some guidance on. After being laid off from my previous profession as an engineer for a defense contractor, spending 2 years on unemployment. seeking a job and another year caring for an elderly grandparent to make it by I decided to try truck driving. I actually was steered to it by a family friend who drives because I was tired of a cubicle, love to see the country and at 33 have. perfect driving record. I went to CR England since they would sponsor training which I could not afford to pay for out of pocket. I started.school onn 3/4 and was on the road with a trainer 3/26. I completed the first phase of training 5/1 with about 21,000 iles and went back to Utah to do an upgrade (written and road tests) to phase 2 of the road training. At this point I waited about 2 weeks to be assigned a new trainer and when that didn't happen I was bused back to AZ to transfer my CDL because my UT one was going to expire. I got that done and on 5/25 I got on a truck and completed a run to So Cal for a guy who was out of hours and was told I would be assigned to a new trainer in Mira Loma. I arrived on Memorial day weekend so nothing was going to happen until the following Tuesday so I stayed with some family right down the road until then. Tuesday came and I contacted my training coordinator in UT who intructed me to contact the placement coordinator in Mira Loma, which I did. He then told me he would get a trainer arrainged and call me when that was done. For the first weeks I kept calling him daily for status, he then basically told me to stop bugging him and he would contact me when a trainer was available. I waited about another week with no word and calls going unanswered and was getting a bit nervous about what was going on not to mention broke. I spent a few more days trying to contact my coordinator back in UT who did not return calls or emails. Finally I went back in person to meet again with the guy in Mira Loma on 6/18 who then told me the guy in UT had been fired but on 6/13 had entered in the system that I had quit, so I no longer had a job and was on the hook for the school for about 2k because I had not fulfilled the commitment to the company. So I called HR and explained I had not quit, sent copies of correspondence with both of the guys to them showing this to which they replied I would have to submit a rehire request but would have to wait 60 days to do so because I had quit or was fired. Well I knew I didn't quit, they said I wasn't fired and unless I did the rehire request I would have to pay back the 2k. So I was pretty much stuck waiting 60 days because I did not want to have to pay that,, thank god I had family in Mira Loma area who needed work done so I had a place to stay and food to eat because I was told if I got a job, no matter what documentation I had, I would havw to pay them back. Okay 60 days was up 8/20 and They got the paperwork going, it had to go back thru the training departments to be signed off on so I could go back for a refresher and get back on the road. Well on 8/26 I was infomed the rehire request was denied due to the misunderstanding with the training coordinator and the info he had left behind in the system regardless of the info I had sent them. But good news since it all appeared to be a misunderstanding and not that I quit they changed it to where I was fired so I didn't have to pay them back (they said good news I know being fired doesn't look good for me but least I don't owe. So now Ineed to find a new job. Talking to a handfull of companies I am running into this problem: 1. I am not a recent grad because it has been more than 90 days. 2. I don't have "recent" driving experience because I have been off the truck longer than I was on. So I have a current and valid CDL and medical card, no points against my CSA record and minimal driving experience. I have an AZ CDL am currently in Riverside CA and looking to eventually be based out of Indianapolis IN (oh failed.to mention during all this I got divorced and now my ex has moved with my children to IN). I can afford living expenses until I get a paycheck but can't afford to pay a bunxh of money for some kind of training course if required. Can anyone point me in the direction of some companies I should be able to get on with given the circumstances? I am not saying none of this was my fault I know I could have handled some things differently and am not suggesting anyone not go to England as they are a good company, just it is challenging and I am learning that the hard way. I love this job and must say the month and a half I had onn the road was the best I have had in a long time. I think I fit this industry, just need some help getting going again. I appreciate any advise, guidance, wisdom or anything else anyone can offer. Thanks all! Joe B.