Out Of State Ticket Doesn't Appear On My Driving Record.... Do I Report It On My Application?
Topic 12209 | Page 3
Wow, this question really grew legs! I got a call From the PTL recruiter today asking me for more info on the ticket and documentation for my previous employment ( one employer for 37 years). She asked me if I was for MORE than 15 over the limit and I answered -honestly- that didn't recall what the over the limit speed was, but it was NOT 20 over because that is a reckless driving offense in VA and requires a mandatory court appearance....( I was babysitting kids for my niece who is a lawyer in D.C. and she knows all about VA traffic violations and had to hired another lawyer to defend her in a +20 MPH ticket a few months earlier).
I do believe that these trucking companies are probably well informed about the records of their prospective drivers and know how to dig down to get all the information that is on record. In situations where the record itself is not telling the whole story it could be a problem, but in my case I was absolutely driving above the speed limit to move with the flow of traffic, and with my out of state plates got pulled over. I will own that. In this market I don't think it's a deal breaker, but I am enjoying my CDL school training so much that if no one wants me to drive their truck I might have to go buy my own :)
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I know this thread is almost a year old. Lol. I have a similar situation, I have a total of four tickets, one of them are not inmy home state and one accident that i was not at fault for.My question is it worth going to CDL school? I,m weary of if or any companies will hire me based on that. i figure its about a 50/50 shot. Would just like everyone's opinions or suggestions. Thank you in advance.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I know this thread is almost a year old. Lol. I have a similar situation, I have a total of four tickets, one of them are not inmy home state and one accident that i was not at fault for.My question is it worth going to CDL school? I,m weary of if or any companies will hire me based on that. i figure its about a 50/50 shot. Would just like everyone's opinions or suggestions. Thank you in advance.
It depends on the length of time since the tickets and accident. Most companies seem to want three years clean. Four tickets sounds like a lot to me. Why not try doing a comonay sponsored program? If accepted and you complete the CDL, you are hired right away.
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Nick asked:
is it worth going to CDL school?
Although the question you really want to ask is, "Will anyone hire me with my less-than-spotless driving record?"
The only way to answer that question is also the easiest way: apply to as many companies as you can! Specifically the ones that provide training. If even one of them offers you an opportunity to attend their training program than the answer is yes. If every single one rejects your application, then the answer might be no.
If you send out enough applications (I sent out 30 and was approved by 8 - you may need to send out more, or perhaps less) then the answer is:
More than likely...
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Thank you for the advice sir. So, should I apply before attending? Maybe I'm hawing the wrong application but a lot of the companies I looked at didn't have the option for Student Driver" on it. If that makes sense. I just don't wanna be out over $4000 for a license I can't use.
Nick asked:
is it worth going to CDL school?
Although the question you really want to ask is, "Will anyone hire me with my less-than-spotless driving record?"
The only way to answer that question is also the easiest way: apply to as many companies as you can! Specifically the ones that provide training. If even one of them offers you an opportunity to attend their training program than the answer is yes. If every single one rejects your application, then the answer might be no.
If you send out enough applications (I sent out 30 and was approved by 8 - you may need to send out more, or perhaps less) then the answer is:
More than likely...
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
You simply fill out the application and for the question asking if you have a CDL , say no. They'll figure it out, I promise.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Thank you for the advice sir. So, should I apply before attending? Maybe I'm hawing the wrong application but a lot of the companies I looked at didn't have the option for Student Driver" on it. If that makes sense. I just don't wanna be out over $4000 for a license I can't use.
Nick asked:
Although the question you really want to ask is, "Will anyone hire me with my less-than-spotless driving record?"
The only way to answer that question is also the easiest way: apply to as many companies as you can! Specifically the ones that provide training. If even one of them offers you an opportunity to attend their training program than the answer is yes. If every single one rejects your application, then the answer might be no.
If you send out enough applications (I sent out 30 and was approved by 8 - you may need to send out more, or perhaps less) then the answer is:
More than likely...
Company sponsored programs will either acceptnyou or not and you pay nothing unless you get into the program. With my company I got the permit and CDL and paid nothing as long as I worked for them a year.
They might get you to orientation then kick you out, but you would be out nothing but a bus ticket home. Much better than the four grand.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Also remember that "company sponsored training" isn't always the same as a company that trains you.
I'm going through a company that actually trains me for the cdl , and they pay for that up front as long as I give them a year.
"Company sponsered training" may simply mean that YOU pay for your own school, and the company will reimburse you later.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Also remember that "company sponsored training" isn't always the same as a company that trains you.
I'm going through a company that actually trains me for the cdl , and they pay for that up front as long as I give them a year.
"Company sponsered training" may simply mean that YOU pay for your own school, and the company will reimburse you later.
As an added note to this - and will probably confuse EVEN MORE...
There is NO SUCH THING AS FREE TRAINING. The difference in training is whether you have to lay out cash UP FRONT (or take on a "student loan obligation" - where you are responsible for making payments), or whether the company takes out payments or makes them for you.
"Company Sponsored Training" where you are not training IN HOUSE AT THE COMPANY - are typically done at a school the company REFERS YOU TO DIRECTLY - and the company takes on the payments (deducting them from your PAY CHECK over the course of the 1-2 year payback period) - but you still take on the OBLIGATION TO REPAY THE SCHOOL.
Other "private schools" we've heard of, will train you to obtain your CDL - with a PRE-HIRE from one of their "approved partners", in which case - the company agrees to pay the school back - but you are still OBLIGATED TO MAKE PAYMENTS.
Still other schools - you take on the FULL OBLIGATION for payment (either cash up front, or student loan) and get hired by a company that offers REIMBURSEMENT where they will pay you a certain amount every pay period, up to the agreed upon maximum. You are still obligated to pay either the school or finance company regardless.
EVEN IN THE CASE OF COMPANY IN HOUSE TRAINING - you are OBLIGATED TO REPAY THE COST OF YOUR TRAINING. Some companies will send your training obligation (balance of what you owe) to a COLLECTION AGENCY, and/or even BLACKLIST YOU FROM GETTING A HIRE AT ANOTHER COMPANY, until your training obligation has been repaid.
There is NO FREE RIDE. The only difference is in whether or not you have to lay out the cash YOURSELF. The easiest and least out-of-pocket way to go has typically been to sign on with a company that does THEIR OWN IN HOUSE TRAINING - and remain with that company for the required time in order to REPAY YOUR TRAINING OBLIGATION.
I believe the only "free ride" that happens, is with certain companies that continue to reimburse training in year two, past the "obligated payback period", putting the cash they took out in year one BACK IN YOUR POCKET. At that point, your training was FREE (as in cost you NOTHING). I look at this as more of a "retention bonus", as most folks stay with the company long enough to get "off the hook" for their training, and then move on to (what they think are) "greener pastures".
We have a number of long term members here - that have remained with the company they started/trained with (better the devil you know) and get the benefits that seniority (long term relationship) seems to bring.
YMMV
Rick
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
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As I mentioned previously, there are a number of different systems that can be used for BG's. DAC criminal checks haven't found stuff, that's come up on other systems. FBI's NCIC get's every time you are put into handcuffs and booked - but doesn't necessarily list dismissals or convictions.
As elaborated by Brett - don't over-analyze the questions on the applications, looking for loopholes. Provide the information that is requested. If there's something you think might be "grey area" - provide the info, instead of having to explain why you didn't.
Another example.
I had an accident last year - hit a pedestrian. No ticket, no liability. It was a drunk homeless guy, that frequently played dodgeball in this particular intersection - likely LOOKING to get hit (for a payout). The cops who responded knew the guy, as the the EMS guys. I have the long-form accident report that puts the drunk guy that ran out in traffic at fault. He DID find an ambulance chaser to sue me - and of course the insurance company gave him "shut up and go away" money to, well - shut up and go away. I would not allow them to release the settlement, until I had a letter from underwriting stating I had ZERO LIABILITY in the incident.
Since I didn't get a citation - you would think it wouldn't show up. But it IS on my MVR (since it was reported on a long form), and it will be in the "secret database" that insurance companies use to see claims. I have a copy of the long-form report and letter from the insurance company in my cloud account - so I can provide it to any potential employer.
So if they ask for CONVICTIONS - give them CONVICTIONS. If they ask for CITATIONS - give them that. If they ask for ARRESTS, give them that.
Anything you're trying to figure out a way to NOT DISCLOSE - is something that's likely to be FOUND ANYWAY.
Rick
MVR:
Motor Vehicle Record
An MVR is a report of your driving history, as reported from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. Information on this report may include Drivers License information, point history, violations, convictions, and license status on your driving record.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.