I have been preemptively hired for a small company after I get my cdl. I went out with their driver trainer for half the day, drove safely, and was hired. The transmission did not have a spring loaded lockout for reverse/low and I found it extremely difficult to be in the correct gear. I managed, but I could feel no separation between any of the gears. (sorry i dont know the proper terms for the problem) ---It felt all hotdog down a hallway (for lack of a better expression) when I was trying to find gears, and had a hard time not grinding reverse. Should I decline the job? Should I state that I would not feel safe driving it? Should I nut up and just drive hoping for a better truck or a learning experience to be better in the end. --- I really dont want to get stuck on that truck and have the feeling I may end up on it. I also cant help thinking that most/all of their trucks are hammered. Id like to assume that i was put on the worst truck that way if I was god awful I wouldnt hurt a nice one, but even the trainer recommended changing companies asap.(???) I am going to have a talk with the trainer next we meetup but also dont want to burn any bridges or seem ungrateful. I do need the job after all. I do still have a week left and have clean driving/criminal record
Is there a particular reason why you don't want to work for a larger company, since you have a clean record? Most large carriers will have nicer equipment than smaller ones, mostly because they have the deeper pockets needed to fund regular maintenance and purchases.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Jonun, C.S. Makes a great point here. Worth considering. We have seen countless examples of drivers going to work for small mom and pop outfits, who quickly regret their decision because of trashed equipment, lack of process, inconsistent pay and low mileage. Granted there are exceptions to this, but unless you are very familiar with the company you wrote about, I would be very cautious and ask a lot of questions. See below:
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.
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I have been preemptively hired for a small company after I get my cdl. I went out with their driver trainer for half the day, drove safely, and was hired. The transmission did not have a spring loaded lockout for reverse/low and I found it extremely difficult to be in the correct gear. I managed, but I could feel no separation between any of the gears. (sorry i dont know the proper terms for the problem) ---It felt all hotdog down a hallway (for lack of a better expression) when I was trying to find gears, and had a hard time not grinding reverse. Should I decline the job? Should I state that I would not feel safe driving it? Should I nut up and just drive hoping for a better truck or a learning experience to be better in the end. --- I really dont want to get stuck on that truck and have the feeling I may end up on it. I also cant help thinking that most/all of their trucks are hammered. Id like to assume that i was put on the worst truck that way if I was god awful I wouldnt hurt a nice one, but even the trainer recommended changing companies asap.(???) I am going to have a talk with the trainer next we meetup but also dont want to burn any bridges or seem ungrateful. I do need the job after all. I do still have a week left and have clean driving/criminal record
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.