Ways To Get Fired In Trucking?

Yea just out of curiosity. I'm not that guy lol & this is not one of those "I have a friend" things lol.

Never a doubt in my mind about that T! Although we've never met, I can tell that you are not "That Guy". I do hope we cross paths one of these days, I'd love to meet you. Have thoroughly enjoyed your posts over these many months. If you wear that silly a$$ hat around the Truck Stops, I'll surely recognize you!

I hope to meet you as well TM! & I can promise you I WILL NOT have that hat on my head! glad things worked out for you! Your headed home now? Have you started driving yet? Aww man I'm curious!

Mr. T, each company is going to have certain policies in place that will dictate what type of offense will get you terminated. I work for knight, and they have a complete intolerance for things like not obeying traffic signals, and U-turns. If you get a caught running a stop sign, or a red light, or maybe speeding in a construction zone, you are history here, same goes for U-turns Lately since they started using these forward facing cameras they have actually canned some people who were considered really great drivers - the cameras are revealing their formerly secret sins. The safety director recently told me that it is heartbreaking to have to let some of these people go, but he is under directives of management above him to get rid of people who commit these types of offenses. Some of the upper management considers these as critical events that indicate a proclivity for risk. Managing risk is an important aspect of trucking management, although the ways they go about it are in a constant state of flux. Technology is aiding them with knowing what is going on in each individual truck, but it is also catching up some formerly considered safe drivers in it's ever expanding net of entrapment.

I recently saw a driver get canned for medical reasons. He was having some health issues, and the safety department deemed him as too much of a risk to be on the road while taking the new medications that he was required to be on at this point in his life. So, there are a lot of ways to lose your job in trucking besides rolling a truck.

Oh wow didn't know all of that! I guess it's a lot more than I thought.

Different companies have different hot button issues. For instance, if you do a U-turn on a public roadway as a Stevens Transport driver, you will be fired. Period. No warning. One strike and you're out, with no possibility of rehire, and Stevens Transport will put a nasty little note in your record for future employers to see, indicating that you ignored company safety policies. The only exceptions being fully protected U-turn lanes specifically designed for protected U-turns (bridge underpasses and overpasses have them fairly frequently in some states) OR, if you are directed to make a U-turn by a emergency responder, and if that happens, you better get something in writing, or at the very least get a badge number and name.

Oh wow! One strike & your out! Dang. But I fully understand the reasoning behind the No U-Turn Policy

Don't forget the classic "modify the company truck" reason for firing. My company has a very low tolerance for any kind of moving violation since they figure that's in your control.

Theron hope things are going well for you. The Swift Driver Handbook that you received during orientation, covers policy, procedures and accountability.

I have seen drivers getting fired for drinking, multiple accidents, refusing loads, chronic delivery failures, leaving the trailer door open between stops (in a reefer no less) and repeat critical events.

The inverse of this; one of our drivers laid a trailer down during a snowstorm. He was suspended for a couple of weeks but returned to work. That was two years ago. Today this driver is one of the top performers with a stellar safety record. What saved him was his great attitude and work ethic.

Theron hope things are going well for you. The Swift Driver Handbook that you received during orientation, covers policy, procedures and accountability.

I have seen drivers getting fired for drinking, multiple accidents, refusing loads, chronic delivery failures, leaving the trailer door open between stops (in a reefer no less) and repeat critical events.

The inverse of this; one of our drivers laid a trailer down during a snowstorm. He was suspended for a couple of weeks but returned to work. That was two years ago. Today this driver is one of the top performers with a stellar safety record. What saved him was his great attitude and work ethic.

To add to this, the relationship this driver had with our DMs and terminal manager contributed greatly to his continued employment.

Theron hope things are going well for you. The Swift Driver Handbook that you received during orientation, covers policy, procedures and accountability.

I have seen drivers getting fired for drinking, multiple accidents, refusing loads, chronic delivery failures, leaving the trailer door open between stops (in a reefer no less) and repeat critical events.

The inverse of this; one of our drivers layed a trailer down during a snow storm. He was suspended for a couple of weeks but returned to work. That was two years ago. Today this driver is one of the top performers with a stellar safety record. What safed him was his great attitude and work ethic.

Meant "saved"...i-phone auto fill.

To add to this, the relationship this driver had with our DMs and terminal manager contributed greatly to his continued employment.

This is true for Stevens Transport as well. Even if you are in a preventable accident, if it is your first offense, it wasn't a disastrous accident involving other people being injured, and you can convince the safety team that you actually learned from it, you have a good chance to remain a Stevens driver. But let them catch you making an unprotected U-Turn in a public roadway, and you're done.

Holding your phone in your hand while driving. When I was in orientation they had a fellow who upgraded, got into his brand new truck solo, and drove 1/2 mile away from the terminal. He cornered so hard it triggered the camera. He got a Qualcomm message to return to the terminal. When he arrived they showed him the photo of him talking on his hand held phone. Guess he was so excited to get his new truck he just couldn't wait to tell the folks back home. This is XPO's latest crusade - talking or texting hand held will get you fired first offense.

talking or texting hand held will get you fired first offense.

As well it should. One of my biggest pet peeves is all of the drivers I see out there texting while driving, 4 wheelers and truckers alike.

BustersBuddy wrote

talking or texting hand held will get you fired first offense.

Miracleofmagick replied:

As well it should. One of my biggest pet peeves is all of the drivers I see out there texting while driving, 4 wheelers and truckers alike.

I meant to respond to this earlier. Totally agree with Miracleofmagick, this is also one of my biggest peeves with truck drivers. This behavior is right up there as one of the worst things you can do while operating a truck. Zero tolerance. Whenever I witness a truck unable to maintain their lane, 99 times out of 100, they are messing with their phone. Our job is to drive, undistracted. Not only is this a fire-able offense, but it can also warrant a citation with a hefty penalty (fine and out-of-service) to the driver and possibly their employer.

For specifics click on this link: FMCSA Mobile Phone Restrictions