Advice Needed...

Hi guys. I am looking to have a change of pace and start a new career as a truck driver. I have a question. I was involved in a very minor rear-end Collision 2 years ago. I was cited with careless driving. This precludes me from a lot of carriers. Do you know of any companies willing to hire and train new CDL drivers who have a careless driving crash within the last 3 years? Mine was 2 years ago. Thank you in advance. Justin

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I'm not just dead sure where a careless driving sits but the link above is about as good a place to start as any.

Hi guys. I am looking to have a change of pace and start a new career as a truck driver. I have a question. I was involved in a very minor rear-end Collision 2 years ago. I was cited with careless driving. This precludes me from a lot of carriers. Do you know of any companies willing to hire and train new CDL drivers who have a careless driving crash within the last 3 years? Mine was 2 years ago. Thank you in advance. Justin

YIKES! IF it was minor - why did they give you "Careless Driving" instead of "Following Too Closely"? I mean, both are bad for CDLs, but Follow2Close is usually a single point offense, whereas Careless/Reckless is a major red flag citation.

That stinks - I always recommend fighting every ticket, but now as a trucker, that can be tough since you are out on the road more often.

But the next best thing to do is go talk to the prosecutor. Try to do it at least a week or two before your court date with any moving violations. First - Ask if they will drop it - ha ha ha. Hasn't worked yet, but who knows? But secondly, and most importantly, explain how you need your driver's license to earn money, and your license needs to be as clean as possible. Let them know you plan on going to court to fight it, but you would be agreeable to making an easy deal and taking care of all of this right now. They may or may not make you an offer right then. If not, make your own deal - ask to have them change the charge to something "more accurate" or lesser charges, and agree to plead guilty and pay the fine today.

Got a 15 MPH speeding ticket? Agree to plead guilty and pay the fine right then and there for 10 MPH over.

Get a "Following Too Closely" or "Failure to Maintain Lane"? Offer to plead guilty to "Failure to Obey Traffic Signal". Most prosecutors, especially traffic court ones, are super busy and won't mind getting a guilty plea, collecting the fine, and saving themselves some time - you just made their week easier, eliminated paper work, made the JUDGE that they have to work with everyday happier - and it took less than 10 minutes.

Your CDL is your business. Don't feel bad about making deals to protect your business. Every employer is using lawyers to make deals, find shortcuts and identify every loophole in the legal system to protect themselves, and you should too....And you don't have to be a lawyer to do it! Be polite, keep an even tone, and just ask for what you want. THAT move hasn't failed me or my circle of influence yet.

<----- Not a Lawyer, Not Legal Advice.

Hi guys. I am looking to have a change of pace and start a new career as a truck driver. I have a question. I was involved in a very minor rear-end Collision 2 years ago. I was cited with careless driving. This precludes me from a lot of carriers. Do you know of any companies willing to hire and train new CDL drivers who have a careless driving crash within the last 3 years? Mine was 2 years ago. Thank you in advance. Justin

YIKES! IF it was minor - why did they give you "Careless Driving" instead of "Following Too Closely"? I mean, both are bad for CDLs, but Follow2Close is usually a single point offense, whereas Careless/Reckless is a major red flag citation.

That stinks - I always recommend fighting every ticket, but now as a trucker, that can be tough since you are out on the road more often.

But the next best thing to do is go talk to the prosecutor. Try to do it at least a week or two before your court date with any moving violations. First - Ask if they will drop it - ha ha ha. Hasn't worked yet, but who knows? But secondly, and most importantly, explain how you need your driver's license to earn money, and your license needs to be as clean as possible. Let them know you plan on going to court to fight it, but you would be agreeable to making an easy deal and taking care of all of this right now. They may or may not make you an offer right then. If not, make your own deal - ask to have them change the charge to something "more accurate" or lesser charges, and agree to plead guilty and pay the fine today.

Got a 15 MPH speeding ticket? Agree to plead guilty and pay the fine right then and there for 10 MPH over.

Get a "Following Too Closely" or "Failure to Maintain Lane"? Offer to plead guilty to "Failure to Obey Traffic Signal". Most prosecutors, especially traffic court ones, are super busy and won't mind getting a guilty plea, collecting the fine, and saving themselves some time - you just made their week easier, eliminated paper work, made the JUDGE that they have to work with everyday happier - and it took less than 10 minutes.

Your CDL is your business. Don't feel bad about making deals to protect your business. Every employer is using lawyers to make deals, find shortcuts and identify every loophole in the legal system to protect themselves, and you should too....And you don't have to be a lawyer to do it! Be polite, keep an even tone, and just ask for what you want. THAT move hasn't failed me or my circle of influence yet.

<----- Not a Lawyer, Not Legal Advice.

If your state offers driving school (not driver's education) You may well be able to get it reduced, and possibily a non moving violation.

In NY the state police write tickets on all major highways, and when you go to court, the DA will meet with you and let you plead it down to a lesser offense so that they can keep all the money. It's almost a business. You also will have to go to driving school, usually a saturday course.

I went to court once and they were having us plead in groups of 12 to make it faster.

I was stopped for 85 in a 55 and they let me plead it down to a noise violation. Frankly, it was in a Scion B (the toaster) so I think the cop should have been impressed I got it to 85, but he wasn't amused. :) In all seriousness, I'm surprised he didn't get me for reckless driving.

Considering this was 2 years ago, I'd make sure to keep my mvr clean for another year. Companies generally want to see 3 clean years.

In applications, give exactly what they ask for. Nothing more, nothing less. Be honest, but don't give them things they don't ask for.

There will be companies who'll give you a chance now, but you'll have more interested in helping you get started with 3 clean years can of driving history.

If you really want to start now, apply to a bunch of companies with their own CDL school and see what kind of offers you get, and then decide whether you want to wait another year to get started or not.

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

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These links will help you get started.