Fired For Accidents, Will I Be Able To Get A New Job?

I was recently fired from Covenant, my first job, started in January. I had 2 minor accidents in parking lots with minor damage in March and April then in October during the heavy rains in Dallas I lost control and jackknifed, probably totaled truck and empty trailer, no injury, no citations. A recruiter told me that I should look for a job with a mom and pop company because none of the big names will hire me for at least a year of safe driving. Any advice or companies that may hire me?

Todd, here's what you have got to do - start applying everywhere you can - be relentless about it. We've got a place where you can Apply For Truck Driving Jobs that allows you to fill out one application and have it sent to a bunch of different companies at once. You can also scour Craigs list - they will often times have smaller outfits looking for drivers that may give you a shot. I would call Western Express and talk to a recruiter over there, they have been known to hire some folks with an accident or two on their record. What ever you do just keep at it, there's probably someone out there willing to give you a shot. I would get started immediately though because after the first of the year the hiring will probably slow a little and then crank back up in April.

Thanks, Old School. Will do that.

Mom and Pop companies are also good advice. I was in a much worse situation, and I ended up, after about three months, working for a mom and pop.

Also, PRAY.

Dave

Reading this kind of thread makes me wonder.....unless it was reckless driving or negligence....why do companies fire you for an *accident*? I understand the equipment is expensive and all but, if you are a careful driver, it can happen. It baffles me that you can so easily lose your job in that manner. Am I missing something?

Reading this kind of thread makes me wonder.....unless it was reckless driving or negligence....why do companies fire you for an *accident*? I understand the equipment is expensive and all but, if you are a careful driver, it can happen. It baffles me that you can so easily lose your job in that manner. Am I missing something?

Although I truly empathize with Todd, he wasn't fired for one accident, he had three within a 7-8 month period, and one of them was serious, perhaps totaling his truck. Most carriers have a 3 strike rule for accidents, with different rules for length of time between accidents. It's about risk, statistics, and the likelihood of this being a pattern.

It's an unforgiving business and the rules for us are far more strict than those for driving a car. This should make everyone of us stop and think about safety and what we can do every day to continue operating in a safe manner. I once talked with a Walmart driver with 3 million miles of accident free driving over the course of 20+ years. During our conversation he said even with all of his experience and careful driving, that his accident free streak could end the very next day.

Ok, makes sense. Thank you

Hey Todd A. - sorry to hear about your bad luck, look on the bright side, at least you or someone else was not injured.

From reading your post, there does not seem to be any citations on your CDL. Now this might be showing my naivete, but if there was no police report or tickets given, then your license is clean, no? So would that not make looking for a job a little bit easier, or will Celadon disclose your accidents to any new potential employer?

In any event, all the best in your job search.

Todd - thank goodness you and no one else has been injured. Recommend you get a copy of your DAC Report from HireRight.com. This way you will know exactly what your previous employer has reported so as you re-start your driving job search you'll be able to explain what has/has not been reported.

I was recently fired from Covenant, my first job, started in January. I had 2 minor accidents in parking lots with minor damage in March and April then in October during the heavy rains in Dallas I lost control and jackknifed, probably totaled truck and empty trailer, no injury, no citations. A recruiter told me that I should look for a job with a mom and pop company because none of the big names will hire me for at least a year of safe driving. Any advice or companies that may hire me?

Perhaps things have changed but I doubt it. My heart goes out to you driver but reality is that the Trucking industry is really run by the insurance industry. The old days are long gone when a mom and pop could do an end run around the insurance company who insures the company and it's drivers based upon a minimum requirement regarding CLAIMS so it may seem a small thing, and very may have been a couple insignificant "accidents" the system does not allow any wiggle room for companies to hire whomever they wish and even more so with the whole realm of homeland security. It is also in part fueled by the great turnover of drivers which is why so many driver training schools exist. If you want to keep trying to become a trucker you will probably need to go back through a truck driving school again and start over. That is the only way I can think of which may work. Put yourself behind the desk of a Trucking Company owner. He can only work within whatever parameters his insurance company allows. I had a friend who once wanted to hire me (accident free) and he tried but the insurance company came back on him and said I lacked their required experience.