SOS

Bruce,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I have enjoyed following your travels and listening to your stories. I thought I would share one of Theodore Roosevelt's most famous speeches, given April 23, 1910 in Paris, and known as "To the Man in the Arena."

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

I hope to one day leave the ranks of the "timid souls," sitting on the sidelines watching real drivers in the arena. And I hope that we will cross paths on our journeys: you either back at Schneider, or somewhere else, and me with steel coils lashed to a Prime flatbed.

but I have had 3 preventable accidents

Ouch. I didn't realize that! I take back my original advice. If you want to continue with this career, I would do everything in my power to get Schneider to reconsider.

TM, so if I were to try to hire on with another company, I know those accidents would be on my record. Would the other companies ask me about the circumstances of these accidents? And would those 3 accidents absolutely disqualify me?

Tractor Man beat me too it. You need to be fighting for your truck driving life right now if you really want to continue to do this. Have a face to face with yout DBL, whatever it takes. Schneider is too good a company.

but I have had 3 preventable accidents

Ouch. I didn't realize that! I take back my original advice. If you want to continue with this career, I would do everything in my power to get Schneider to reconsider.

This is why I commented to Chris L yesterday to be so cautious in parking lots. I learned the hard way. But Schneider saw something in me to let me continue that’s why I’m so surprised it had come to this.

It really didn’t sound to me like the company had any interest in retaining me. I guess I’ll find out next week.

You have the right attitude. Have a good sit down with the powers that be, and fight for your job with them. You have had some bumps in the road, but you have come out stronger after each hurdle.

Try to stay positive, and prepare a good "sales pitch." throw all your cards on the table, go "all in."

Just one question, are you sure you can keep up in a softball game? That ball might be too small to see with your vision problems!

But seriously, Schneider would be crazy to just send you on your way. Keep your head up, and know that we are all rooting for you.

Rob and Danielsahn, those are two really nice comments, thank you.

I have two worries right now. Number one is how to get my truck contents and my old carcass back home. The other thing is the softball game between the flatbedders and box haulers. I was hoping PackRat and Marc Lee would play for the box haulers, but now all three of us are on injured reserve and out indefinitely. We might have to forfeit unless we can get Brett to come out of retirement. And a forfeit is the only way flatbedders win that game.

Rob and Danielsahn, those are two really nice comments, thank you.

I have two worries right now. Number one is how to get my truck contents and my old carcass back home. The other thing is the softball game between the flatbedders and box haulers. I was hoping PackRat and Marc Lee would play for the box haulers, but now all three of us are on injured reserve and out indefinitely. We might have to forfeit unless we can get Brett to come out of retirement. And a forfeit is the only way flatbedders win that game.

With Old School as our GM, y'all door swingers don't stand a chance!

Danielsahn, the only thing you flatbedders would be able to beat us in is if there is some rain and the field needs to be tarped.

Do your best to focus everything on Schneider. If They told me I was being terminated from failure to wear the cpap id show up to the oc with the damn thing surgically implanted on my face asking if we can work it out. I honestly don't think the preventables are the issue especially if they are minor. I was on Dollar Tree and there was a driver on the account who it a power line pole in Kentucky. Knocked out power to the block. And i THOUGHT he said after a year of safe driving with Schneider it went away. Could be wrong though. Either way good luck Bruce.

TM, so if I were to try to hire on with another company, I know those accidents would be on my record. Would the other companies ask me about the circumstances of these accidents? And would those 3 accidents absolutely disqualify me?