Should I Wait After 5 Years To Apply For Prehires If I Have 1 Major Preventable Accident, Trying To Make A Wise Choice And Not Get Sent Home The Hard Way

I had a fail to yield to oncoming traffic and both cars were totaled and minor injury's to both of us. It is my first accident within my whole driving experience. And I tried to apply to Swift. But I noticed that they put on their requirements: No Major accidents within 5 Years. It seemed kind of accurate. I was thinking of 2nd chance companies like Western express, Carolina Cargo, Us transport, Carolina Logistics, Transam. But Im kind of thinking they will send me home after I get there and tell me I am not what they are looking for. Give me your Opinion if I should wait it out, Thanks

How old is it? That determines alot. If it was 3.5 years ago and you haven't had any incidents since for example,that might weigh better. If it was recent (within the last year or several months ago for example) its going to be harder. The older it is, generally the better off you'll be. I'm no expert by any means.

Insurance drives alot of hiring decisions too, if the carrier's insurance agency wont insure you ,then you are pretty much out of luck. Some of the mega carriers are self insured up to a certain dollar threshold so you 'might have have better luck.

I would wait until you get a variety of replies to this post and not just my reply so that you can make the best informed decision possible.

I had a fail to yield to oncoming traffic and both cars were totaled and minor injury's to both of us. It is my first accident within my whole driving experience. And I tried to apply to Swift. But I noticed that they put on their requirements: No Major accidents within 5 Years. It seemed kind of accurate. I was thinking of 2nd chance companies like Western express, Carolina Cargo, Us transport, Carolina Logistics, Transam. But Im kind of thinking they will send me home after I get there and tell me I am not what they are looking for. Give me your Opinion if I should wait it out, Thanks

Apply For Paid CDL Training and be completely honest of what they ask. Those who get sent home lie or try to hide things. These companies invite someone to orientation based on the information they provide then do more thorough checking once you're there. It doesnt make sense for them to buy you a bus ticket to come out just to get sent home. As Moses said, how recent this was will play a large role.

Is this the same accident you posted about five weeks ago?

Hopefully trucking industry doesn't have major big changes in 2024, I will not lie and be upfront about it and will wait five years for this. Just to get one year otr exp or stay longer depends. But in meantime I will do try not to calm my self dow, life has been a nightmare after my first accident. I been lagging and worried of lawsuit. Hopefully they don't press charges. But also there is a payment plan their insurance company will let me do because exceeded property damage limit over 25k that my insurance covers.

How old is it? That determines alot. If it was 3.5 years ago and you haven't had any incidents since for example,that might weigh better. If it was recent (within the last year or several months ago for example) its going to be harder. The older it is, generally the better off you'll be. I'm no expert by any means.

Insurance drives alot of hiring decisions too, if the carrier's insurance agency wont insure you ,then you are pretty much out of luck. Some of the mega carriers are self insured up to a certain dollar threshold so you 'might have have better luck.

I would wait until you get a variety of replies to this post and not just my reply so that you can make the best informed decision possible.

I had a fail to yield to oncoming traffic and both cars were totaled and minor injury's to both of us. It is my first accident within my whole driving experience. And I tried to apply to Swift. But I noticed that they put on their requirements: No Major accidents within 5 Years. It seemed kind of accurate. I was thinking of 2nd chance companies like Western express, Carolina Cargo, Us transport, Carolina Logistics, Transam. But Im kind of thinking they will send me home after I get there and tell me I am not what they are looking for. Give me your Opinion if I should wait it out, Thanks

Apply For Paid CDL Training and be completely honest of what they ask. Those who get sent home lie or try to hide things. These companies invite someone to orientation based on the information they provide then do more thorough checking once you're there. It doesnt make sense for them to buy you a bus ticket to come out just to get sent home. As Moses said, how recent this was will play a large role.

I think when speak with a recruiter for a potential company, be up front and honest with the accident. Give them all the details, don't make excuses, take responsibility as you seem to have done. A lot of companies flat out are going to turn you down at the mere mentioned of the word accident. However the more time passes I think more and more companies might be willing to give you a second chance. I think you might have to start again at a second or last chance company working for peanuts and begin from there Best of luck