RECENT CDL GRAD (GOT TERMINATED FOR VIOLATING COMPANY POLICY)
Topic 28517 | Page 3
My trainer said his trainer drank beer on the truck during 34 hour resets and said I was welcome to do the same.
That trainer of yours......SMH
If I'm not mistaken the BAC threshold for a profressional drivers is .04 and the FMCSA is looking to reduce it further to .02. If you have alcohol on your vehicle while you are loaded and get stopped by DOT it's a big problem.
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
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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.
I don't know about other companies, but at Roehl if they are paying for the room it is considered the same as their property so the same rules apply as if you were at a terminal. It isn't free time if the company is footing the bill. Good luck in the future and don't give up.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Well, Moose doesn't drink, sir. So, he would never have such an issue in CDL school. Now if the trainer I would have to bunk with stinks of BO, that is a whole nother horse of another color. Bunking with 60 snoring/farting men in basic training in one open bay was a bummer but the drill sergeants never put up with funkiness. At least one smelly troop I know got threatened to have a wire brush used on his nether regions by the guy in the smokey the bear hat.
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.
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.
Wolding technically doesn’t even allow us to use the company vehicles while we are at the terminal to go to dinner if the restaurant serves alcohol.
If you can’t avoid alcohol and/or drugs, you have no business behind the wheel. Of a truck or a 4 wheeler.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
I was at TMC for one day, (sent home for medical, was even paid for my time so no hard feelings) but yes, they are very clear and very strict. The hotel employees check the trash, and watch everyone like a hawk. The handbook says no alcohol and the bus driver also repeats that rule. It has been three years so not sure if they said it at the office or not. Melton had the same policy, no alcohol. If they found an empty container in the trash from your room you and your room mate would get tested. They basically said, we could drink, but we could not drink on their property or in their hotel, and if they even smelled alcohol on us we would be gone. Was not an issue for me haha, I didn't drink at the time.
For the OP, listen to everything, read everything, and follow the rules. As my orientation instructor at Melton said, "orientation a two week long job interview, treat it that way."
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My trainer said his trainer drank beer on the truck during 34 hour resets and said I was welcome to do the same.
Nope. Not gonna take the chance.
The only time I've drank since I've started is at home and I don't drink for 24 hours before I get on the track.