Profile For Cody S.

That is a preventable accident. You were passing a vehicle when road conditions were not good.

That just doesn't add up correctly. I'm not trying to be combative or critical, I'm just saying that these kind of kinks in your story are going to be big red flags to any potential employment. This was a preventable accident. You are going to have to recognize that to get past it. I have dealt with a lot of people in safety at these big trucking companies. I don't think you are going to find anyone that thinks this was not your fault. It doesn't matter that you don't have a citation. A roll-over is well nigh impossible to sweep under the rug. You didn't even really say it was a roll-over in your first post. Did you notice how we kind of figured that out and then you came out with it? We don't roll trucks over and then have the luxury of it not being considered our fault. A roll-over is a preventable accident. I can't conceive of a highway patrolman telling your aunt something like he did. Don't take that wrong. I'm not accusing you of being dishonest. I just think your aunt was distraught and maybe just kind of heard what she wanted to hear.

This one is going to be tough. I don't know how to advise you other than what I did previously. I hope you can get behind the wheel again, but you need to be prepared - this is going to be one tough uphill struggle for you. That's the reality of your situation.

Old School, understood. That has been bugging me somewhat, the passing around the other vehicle. So now I know to be upfront, and assume full responsibility for it. Not taking any of this the wrong way, sir. I appreciate the raw honesty, sincerely. It was an uphill battle getting into this industry in the first place, gonna have to fight through it again!

What tickets were you issued that resulted in 12 base points?

I haven't received any tickets, for anything. I received one dot violation during an inspection, tire went out on me shortly before being pulled in for an inspection. And I lightly bumped a guard rail in June, no damage to either that or the cab though. Other than those two matters, the big wreck in August is the only other thing that's happened.

No other vehicles were hit, and I reviced no tickets or citations. The patrolman told my aunt, over the phone, that the incident was not my fault.

Hello Cody, and welcome to our forum!

I am probably as confused as you are right now, so let me explain what is so confusing. Let me pull a quote from your post. Here's the part that has me confused.

I talked to another person from the safety department after that and was told that the accident was not showing on my safety record or report and is apparently not being counted against my CSA....which is 36 according to what I was told.

Basically you've been driving at C.R. England for 5 months. What in the world happened that gave you a 36 on your CSA score? I'm fairly confident I can say that this accident is putting that score on your CSA record. It doesn't matter if C.R. England hasn't put it on your safety record/report at the company yet. That was a D.O.T. reported accident. You have two separate issues that are not necessarily equal. Your CSA score is not company related. That score comes from things like moving violations, accidents, and any type event you were involved with in a CMV which garnered the attention of law enforcement personnel. It doesn't come from any reports or records that your company is keeping on you.

Was this a roll-over accident? I've seen plenty of truck accidents in my day. I even had a driver working for me who rolled one of my big trucks over, but I've seen very few accidents where the driver was ejected from the vehicle. Were you wearing your seat belt? Are you withholding some pertinent information from us? To get ejected indicates a serious accident. You are probably very fortunate to be alive! Were there weather conditions that contributed to this accident? Was your speed excessive for the road conditions? You referred to it as both a "skid" and a "hydroplane." Those are two different types of accidents. Were there other vehicles involved? Did your truck have to be towed? This was a serious enough accident that your CSA score has really taken a big hit.

My question to you all....Once I'm fully released by my doctors, which probably won't happen until next month, how should I proceed if I want to continue with this career? What companies would be good to look into? Appreciate it guys, I really want to continue with this career!

Cody, I'm just not sure we have enough information here to help. I'm not even sure we can at this point. You had a very serious accident, and it seems that C.R. England is not going to re-hire you. That makes it really tough to get back in the driver's seat anywhere else. You've also got a 36 on your CSA score which is another big blemish to deal with. I wish I had better news for you, but you are in a bind. All you can do is apply everywhere and be up front about what happened.

I hate seeing these type posts as a person's first post in here. I always wish we had been involved helping you from the beginning. When a rookie driver has a bad accident it is usually really tough to get past it. Minor accidents can sometimes be managed so that we keep our jobs or our careers. Serious accidents have serious consequences. I sincerely hope you'll survive this and be able to share with us the outcome. I just don't know what advice to give you other than put out applications everywhere. Maybe, just maybe, someone will give you a chance, More than likely you'll need to land a job in a small company hauling scrap metal, recyclables, or gravel. Maybe you could use your CDL with a road construction contractor or something like that. You may have better success seeking employment ads somewhere like Craig's List. I don't think you are going to get on with a major carrier. I'd focus on smaller companies that are willing to fudge a little and take a chance on you.

Old School, my apologies. I realize that was a bit jumbled. As far as the CSA score goes, I had another minor incident in June but that was during backing. I was trying to back up a slogjt Incline to a dock and the air supply was low, so the cab jumped forward and lightly bumped a guard rail. My partner tried to tell me not to even bother with reporting it but I did. So I'm sure that added to it. I also had one for violation, due to a tire going out eight before I was spelled in for a DOT inspection.

Now, as far as the accident goes, I WAS wearing my seatbelt, I never take that lightly. I remember going around a vehicle, but I don't recall exceeding the speed limit. The next thing, I can remember, is that the cab lost traction, was spinning out. I remember the cab going to the left side of the road and making impact with something and then going to the right and the cab starting to turn over on the driver's side. I lost consciousness as the cab was turning over.

They found me outside the truck, in a pool of blood.

Alright guys, first time poster here. So, I went out to Salt Lake at the end of February and went through CR England's program to get my cdl. Passed my exam March 12th and was hired on March 16th. However, on August 30th, I had a pretty severe hudroplane (or skid I guess) accident and was ejected from the vehicle during a wreck in Oklahoma City.

I was hospitalized in Oklahoma City for 8 days and spent another 13 days in Physical therapy there. I've been home since the night of September 20th. I'm currently still out on injury, and on Worker's Comp.

However, earlier today I spoke to an individual who told me I will not be able to return to work because the accident was an 11 point accident (apparently over 7 is automatic dq)...and I was apparently supposed to be told this in August, but THAT safety manager is no longer with the company. I talked to another person from the safety department after that and was told that the accident was not showing on my safety record or report and is apparently not being counted against my CSA....which is 36 according to what I was told.

My question to you all....Once I'm fully released by my doctors, which probably won't happen until next month, how should I proceed if I want to continue with this career? What companies would be good to look into? Appreciate it guys, I really want to continue with this career!