RECENT CDL GRAD (GOT TERMINATED FOR VIOLATING COMPANY POLICY)
Topic 28517 | Page 1
Apply everywhere. Did you have a CDL prior to starting at TMC?
If you are hired somewhere else, read all of the contract information, company policies, and pay attention during orientation.
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.
Apply everywhere and expect a lot of rejections. I'm sorry this happened to you, but you learned an important lesson hopefully. Awareness is a big part of trucking. Make yourself aware of the rules and the expectations of your employer.
We’re you in a hotel while out with a trainer? How did they know you had beer in your room? Hotel report you or your trainer?
Yes I had my CDL prior to starting TMC
Apply everywhere. Did you have a CDL prior to starting at TMC?
If you are hired somewhere else, read all of the contract information, company policies, and pay attention during orientation.
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.
No. I was actually awaiting a trainer, because I didn’t get along with my previous trainer. I was in a leave without pay status. It was TMC’s hotel and the safety personnel saw me walk thru the door with a beer.
We’re you in a hotel while out with a trainer? How did they know you had beer in your room? Hotel report you or your trainer?
Richard this is a hard lesson learned. I have seen it before. Like OS said apply everywhere, be honest about your mistake and move on.
I attended school and started with Roehl. They were very upfront regarding their no alcohol policy. They covered it verbally and in writing. I watched 5 people get sent home because they violated it. My guess is TMC covered the policy and you simply missed it. No matter now.
Best wishes for you.
I've attended orientation at TMC twice. Both times they made it real clear - no alcohol in the hotel. They even warned us that they owned the hotel and the hotel employees would rat us out. I don't know how you could have missed the warnings. They were both verbal and written.
You made a big mistake. Your DAC is blemished now. You've got an uphill battle. The next time you get a trainer you don't like, just figure out how to get through it. Trucking is tough, especially on new guys with a stubborn streak.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
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.
Richard,
Im not going to judge you but just recently, last year I think, the fmcsa stated a separate drug and alcohol clearing house that any offenders must be put in. It is that serious.
Be thankful that you passed that test, and if you do find another company please be more responsible and realize that driving a big truck isn't a joke.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
Fm:
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.
PJ were you in the infamous class that celebrated graduation a little too hard and almost all got sent home? They still talk about that in GYCDL.
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.
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I’m a recent CDL grad and I got terminated for “violating company policy” by TMC. During training on my home time I had beer in my hotel room and TMC fired me for violating company policy. Because their company policy states you can’t have beer when they’re paying for your hotel stay. Which I wasn’t aware of. I was only with TMC for a week... They even gave me a “reasonable suspicion” test for Alcohol — which I passed. I blew .000... What can I do now???
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: