Driving Record

Topic 16348 | Page 1

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Kramer's Comment
member avatar

And now for the first stupid question of the day - and before anyone replies that there are no stupid questions, be advised that I have made it a point, and taken great pride in the process, to ask the stupid question of the day for more than twenty years (We seem to assume that acknowledging that a question is stupid implies that the person asking the question is therefore stupid. However, nothing could be further from the truth.) - inspired by a thread from the Ladies Category:

I've recently received my cdl permint, and now i want to go to a company that sponsor your training then you work to pay them back.... Now my issue is I've called a couple places and the issue is either i they cant hire me cause i had a suspension on my licence or not enough work history (i was a at home mom)....can anyone please help me with some information that can help me with my issue, like giving me a company that dont requires that much information?

Every case is of course different, but here is mine:

I have one accident, one citation, and one suspension on my record. I was involved in a non-injury/non-fatality accident in Jan '13 and while not cited for causing the accident, I was cited for following to closely (or does that indeed assign cause to me? Any thoughts on that?). I did not appear in court for the citation, just mailed the payment for the fine.

Unfortunately, the clerk of the court did not record my payment, so in Apr '13 I received notice that my license had been suspended for failure to pay the fine. I sorted the mess out with the court by presenting a copy of the canceled check to the clerk's office and the compliance date recorded as the date prior to the cancellation mark on the check. The clerk said that she would contact DMV with instructions to reinstate my license since it was suspended due to the court's error.

That's the explanation, not the excuse.

I neglected to check with DMV to ensure that my license was indeed reinstated. Fast forward to Sept '16: I get to the counter and announce my intention to test for my CDL learner's permit only to be informed that my license is suspended. I decide (right or wrong) that it is likely to be an exercise in futility to get the court to intercede for me, so I simply pay the reinstatement fee and continue on.

The short story here is that my license was suspended for "failure to pay fine" from Apr '13 to Sept '16.

Nonetheless, I have still received pre-hire letters from several companies: Swift, USA Truck, Covenant, and Western Express. Of course some companies rejected me due to the accident, and others due to the citation. Some companies only rejected me due to the length of the suspension only.

I guess the moral of this story is that every case is different and only after full disclosure (to the members of this forum if asking for advice, or to the company if applying for a job) will you know the outcome.

But that's not what I wanted to ask the forum...

I came to ask about the FAST program.

I start CDL training at the community college next month. I have - thanks to Trucking Truth - my learner's permit and all my endorsements. I also have my TWIC card and my passport. I was wondering if you all think it useful to get the FAST card as well.

So finally, the stupid question of the day: FAST card, yes or no?

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.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

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.

TWIC:

Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.

Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Kramer's Comment
member avatar

Oh, I forgot to mention that I also have a BIG gap in my employment history. I've been retired from the IBEW since Dec '14, so no employment to record for 2015 or 2016.

Some employer's rejected me for the employment gap, others couldn't care less.

G-Town's Comment
member avatar

Do you intend to work for a company that does frequent border crossings? I am no expert on this topic, however if your sole intention is the lower 48 with infrequent crossings, a Passport/Passport Card will suffice.

For more information click on this link: FAST Card Threads

Kramer's Comment
member avatar

Add Celadon to the list of employers who have invited me to attend orientation.

Kramer's Comment
member avatar

While I'm not specifically targeting companies that frequently cross the US-CA border, I don't want to limit myself to running the lower 48.

Whatever company and whatever routes provide the most potential for success will be my only criteria for choosing my next employer.

Thanks for the link. Why didn't I do that search myself?

Oh, wait... I'm still to green to even be called 'rookie'.

So hopefully I get a pass for failing to search.

And of course the simple answer to the stupid question of the day is, "It can't hurt, its only $50, and its good for 5 years. So why not?"

Maybe that's the question I should be asking...

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.

G-Town's Comment
member avatar

You're welcome.

Self deprecation aside, the search feature (upper LHC of the page) is a great way to get answers to your questions. What ever is on your mind has likely been asked...

All good!

Rick S.'s Comment
member avatar

FAST Card is only good, if your company, the shipper and the receiver are all registered with the program.

Also keep in mind that you will have to interview with USCIS (Border Patrol) at a border crossing within 60 days of the Canadians approving you. This means making an APPOINTMENT at a border crossing that does FAST interviews, and GETTING TO that appointment ON TIME.

If you're not working for a company that does a lot of trans-canada work - probably not worth the hassle of getting one. While every potential endorsement, TWIC , HazMat , etc. will enhance your ability to get work - FAST card is the biggest PITA to get out of all of them.

Rick

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

Shipper:

The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.

TWIC:

Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.

Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

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