Disqualified From Prime :( Next Best Option? Or Am I SOL?

I had a recent license suspension for failure to appear. It was from a $50 dollar ticket I forgot to pay and that ticket was from my registration being expired. (Yes...im very mad at myself and I've done beat myself up enough over it) I also have 2 at fault wrecks and 2 speeding tickets (last 3 years) on my record. I applied for prime 2 years ago and was accepted to the truck driving school. Everything was clear and I was supposed to pick a date to go to school. Well life happened and I ended up not going. Now I really want to do this more than ever. I want a career and I know I'm a fast learner. I've spoken to so many family members, friends and aquaintences over the years who work in the trucking industry and they all love it. I just recently got a job that has me being in contact with multiple truck drivers throughout the the day and I don't know. It's like the more time I spend taking to them the more I get my motivation/inspiration back to jump into it. But now I feel like my driving record is holding me back :( I'm also known as the one in the family that can't drive...so my sister always makes fun of me when I talk about how much I want to start truck driving and that just kills my belief in myself. I've also been ghost following this forum/site for YEARS. I just finally decided to make this account though. I also know you guys preach about not listening too much to others when they give their bad opinions about certain schools because one bad experience for one could be a good experience for someone else. A truck driver I befriended at my job told me NOT to go with CRST. BUT idk. I think I'd enjoy team driving. Aren't you getting paid more and more home time than solo drivers? She didn't even give me a reason why she said don't go with them...she just said they have a bad reputation. But so does CR England, Knight, and Swift. Out of all of them...I feel like CRST is my best chance to get qualified again. I also have read articles on here about this and the best advice was saying to just apply everywhere and go with whoever takes you. I don't want to do that and end up hatng it :( I guess I just need a little more advice/motivation.

Sorry it so long and I keep jumping all over the place. I just want to finally do something and finish. I was in college for 8 years right out of high school and I did some things that caused me not to graduate from x-ray school :(

With tickets, accidents, and the suspension all less than three years old, you have torpedoed your chances for the next several years.

All you can do is apply everywhere, but everywhere is going to tell you "No" for at least the next three years; maybe longer. If any company offers you a start, go with that company immediately.

Once you get your license restored, you need to protect your driving record. In this business, a license in good standing is everything.

With a record like that CRST maybe your only hope and I wouldn't count even on that. You will probably need to have at least 3 years with no tickets.

There's a lot of people that start out with CRST - many of them, from areas that the other companies don't hire out of (South Florida, for example). So CRST is sometimes your only option. CRE has a similar rep - as do a few others. We have had folks here that have had success with Knight though.

CRST has a rep, as a company that enforces it's "get your CDL loans" and it's non-compete. They are also under a Class Action Lawsuit, for predatory lending and collection practices. OTOH - people SIGN A CONTRACT OBLIGATING THEMSELVES to their arrangements - so there's that.

ALL COMPANIES that take on trainees, are going to get shat upon - usually sour grapes from people who just aren't cut out for being in a walk-in closet that is in motion 24/7 with a stranger whose personality and habits might not jibe with your own. That being said - CRST IS ALL TEAMS - versus other companies, where you will team the first 6 months or so (+/-) until the company can TRUST PUTTING YOU OUT ON YOUR OWN. I have a hard time sharing my 2,400sq ft house with anyone other than my DOG. I would NOT BE CUT OUT for teaming full time.

CRST seems have slightly more of these folks that bail, than others - and you CANNOT GET A HIRE ELSEWHERE - UNTIL YOU PAY THEM BACK.

Now (and I'm not trying to sound mean here) - your recent suspension for "failure to appear" shows a double-whammy of irresponsibility - both failing to renew your reg AND failing to deal with the citation you got for it. Companies consider that if you cannot keep your license valid - you show a lack of responsibility. Sounds harsh - but there you have it.

2 at fault wrecks AND 2 speeds in the last 3 years - demonstrates THE SAME THING. I'm almost afraid to ask what your record looks like PRIOR TO the last 3 years.

As Pack & Bob have elaborated - it's LIKELY TO BE THREE YEARS from the date of your LAST CONVICTION (not the citation date - but the CONVICTION DATE) - before you can even be considered for a hire as a driver trainee.

You can APPLY EVERYWHERE - but you are likely to be WASTING YOUR TIME. The industry is driven by THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES - and with your current record, YOU ARE UNINSURABLE (high risk).

So welcome to the forum - hang out - keep reading and learning. Folks that hang out here before they enter the industry, usually end up MUCH BETTER PREPARED than folks walking in cold. There are decades of combined experience here, and tons of useful information being shared.

Best of luck to you - SLOW DOWN - STOP RUNNING INTO STUFF - KEEP YOUR LICENSE VALID - see you in a couple of years.

Rick

Once you get your license restored, you need to protect your driving record. In this business, a license in good standing is everything.

Thanks for the quick response. So....the first at fault wreck was in March 2018, so it's almost 3 years old. Also....the ticket I forgot about paying happened when I was in the process of changing addresses. I didn't know the DMV doesn't forward mail until after the suspension happened... which is why I didn't realise it was suspended. It was suspended on the 13th and I got pulled over on the 14th. Fully unaware...but yes, I know. It's still my fault and my responsibility but life happens. It just sucks because I didn't realize how bad forgetting about a $50 ticket could mess me up. My bf was driving until I got it reinstated. I forgot to mention that I have a valid license. I got it reinstated a week after the suspension. I just realized that I was approved by prime BEFORE the 2nd wreck was on my record. Is there a way around this if they are in different states?

Welp thanks for all the responses. It definitely was an eye opener. Maybe in another year or 3 I'll try my luck again :(

I would just wait. Take some time and work on your driving habits. Learn to slow down and be aware of your surroundings. The truth is Prime could have hired you and sent you out with a trainer and you could think you were set. If that trainer goes back to prime and says you have poor driving habits and it's not safe, Prime will let you go and so will any other company.

Look into the Smith system and employee those driving habits into your everyday driving and try to stay 5 MPH under the limit. You also want to limit how many employers you have from now to when you reply. Good luck.

Once you get your license restored, you need to protect your driving record. In this business, a license in good standing is everything.

Thanks for the quick response. So....the first at fault wreck was in March 2018, so it's almost 3 years old. Also....the ticket I forgot about paying happened when I was in the process of changing addresses. I didn't know the DMV doesn't forward mail until after the suspension happened... which is why I didn't realise it was suspended. It was suspended on the 13th and I got pulled over on the 14th. Fully unaware...but yes, I know. It's still my fault and my responsibility but life happens. It just sucks because I didn't realize how bad forgetting about a $50 ticket could mess me up. My bf was driving until I got it reinstated. I forgot to mention that I have a valid license. I got it reinstated a week after the suspension. I just realized that I was approved by prime BEFORE the 2nd wreck was on my record. Is there a way around this if they are in different states?

Welp thanks for all the responses. It definitely was an eye opener. Maybe in another year or 3 I'll try my luck again :(

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Is there a way around this if they are in different states?

There's likely not "a way around it" - there are no "shortcuts" in this industry - they get people killed and result in multi-million $$ lawsuits against the companies insurance.

Aside from the usual DMV checks - the insurance companies keep their OWN DATABASE of claims (called a CLUE Report). So ANY ACCIDENT for which there was a claim - will show up - and if you LIE ABOUT IT (leave it off an application) you are likely to get CAUGHT - and lying on an application will get you BOUNCED.

I got ahold of a copy of mine from my attorney when I was settling a lawsuit against someone who HIT ME. And they're not as pretty or well regulated as a DAC Report or Credit Report. I was a WITNESS IN AN ACCIDENT - and had 6 entries just for an accident I ONLY WITNESSED (because it was a multi-car and 6 people filed claims). All in all - I had THIRTY ENTRIES on that report, going back over a DECADE - where only one of them were accidents where I was (technically) at fault. I had a "not at fault" accident that was settled by my insurance company to "make it go away" - where I refused to let them settle, until I got a "non-liabiity letter" from their underwriting department (which I've had to use twice - once WITH MY OWN COMPANY - to get my rates fixed). The other side was trying to show that I was "an irresponsible driver", because I had so many entries on the CLUE report - but the fact of the matter was, there was only ONE ENTRY that showed an at fault accident.

(I make note of this, because many people think your MVR is the only thing that gets checked. Safety/Insurance Department also checks you out, and ANY CLAIMS will show up).

Also....the ticket I forgot about paying happened when I was in the process of changing addresses. I didn't know the DMV doesn't forward mail until after the suspension happened... which is why I didn't realise it was suspended. It was suspended on the 13th and I got pulled over on the 14th.

So it sounds like you also may have been cited for "driving on a suspended license" also? This isn't a good thing to have on your record either. The fact remains (and I'm really not trying to play pile on here) - if you GOT A TICKET for an expired registration (which you should have known and been responsible enough to keep your reg current), then didn't appear/pay the ticket (which you should have known you would have to deal with, since they don't just go away), then got pulled over with a suspended license (which you didn't know about - but SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, since that's what happens when you fail to appear/pay) - that, again - isn't a good look for a trucking company application.

You also want to limit how many employers you have from now to when you reply. Good luck.

This is likely to be LESS OF A FACTOR at the moment - with C-19 employment issues. But job-hopping can also be problematic - not so much AS LONG AS YOU CAN DOCUMENT your periods of employment (and unemployment) for 3 years PRIOR TO APPLICATION.

I get it - life happens. expired/fail to appear/license suspended - could happen to ANYONE THAT WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION. I was a screw-up in my younger days - plenty of tickets, suspensions for "forgetting to pay them". I put one of my ticket attorneys kids through college (especially when I had my Corvette back in '05). That was 30 years ago - I grew up - got more responsible in all aspects of my life. Haven't had a ticket in over a decade.

Rick

Welcome to the forum you might try western express they’re a really forgiving company and be 100% honest with them don’t leave nothing out with the recruiter and they will tell you yay or nay before you come in I live in az they sent me to a ca terminal and everything the recruiter said has happened I’ve got a pretty extensive past criminal history with a lot of bad driving history they took me but my stuff is 20 yrs old!!!! Another student though who was otr training with me had several accidents with his old trucking company got hired and had to sign a contract with them. But they took him on !!! So you might give western express a call

I had a recent license suspension for failure to appear. It was from a $50 dollar ticket I forgot to pay and that ticket was from my registration being expired. (Yes...im very mad at myself and I've done beat myself up enough over it) I also have 2 at fault wrecks and 2 speeding tickets (last 3 years) on my record. I applied for prime 2 years ago and was accepted to the truck driving school. Everything was clear and I was supposed to pick a date to go to school. Well life happened and I ended up not going. Now I really want to do this more than ever. I want a career and I know I'm a fast learner. I've spoken to so many family members, friends and aquaintences over the years who work in the trucking industry and they all love it. I just recently got a job that has me being in contact with multiple truck drivers throughout the the day and I don't know. It's like the more time I spend taking to them the more I get my motivation/inspiration back to jump into it. But now I feel like my driving record is holding me back :( I'm also known as the one in the family that can't drive...so my sister always makes fun of me when I talk about how much I want to start truck driving and that just kills my belief in myself. I've also been ghost following this forum/site for YEARS. I just finally decided to make this account though. I also know you guys preach about not listening too much to others when they give their bad opinions about certain schools because one bad experience for one could be a good experience for someone else. A truck driver I befriended at my job told me NOT to go with CRST. BUT idk. I think I'd enjoy team driving. Aren't you getting paid more and more home time than solo drivers? She didn't even give me a reason why she said don't go with them...she just said they have a bad reputation. But so does CR England, Knight, and Swift. Out of all of them...I feel like CRST is my best chance to get qualified again. I also have read articles on here about this and the best advice was saying to just apply everywhere and go with whoever takes you. I don't want to do that and end up hatng it :( I guess I just need a little more advice/motivation.

Sorry it so long and I keep jumping all over the place. I just want to finally do something and finish. I was in college for 8 years right out of high school and I did some things that caused me not to graduate from x-ray school :(

I had a recent license suspension for failure to appear. It was from a $50 dollar ticket I forgot to pay and that ticket was from my registration being expired. (Yes...im very mad at myself and I've done beat myself up enough over it) I also have 2 at fault wrecks and 2 speeding tickets (last 3 years) on my record. I applied for prime 2 years ago and was accepted to the truck driving school. Everything was clear and I was supposed to pick a date to go to school. Well life happened and I ended up not going. Now I really want to do this more than ever. I want a career and I know I'm a fast learner. I've spoken to so many family members, friends and aquaintences over the years who work in the trucking industry and they all love it. I just recently got a job that has me being in contact with multiple truck drivers throughout the the day and I don't know. It's like the more time I spend taking to them the more I get my motivation/inspiration back to jump into it. But now I feel like my driving record is holding me back :( I'm also known as the one in the family that can't drive...so my sister always makes fun of me when I talk about how much I want to start truck driving and that just kills my belief in myself. I've also been ghost following this forum/site for YEARS. I just finally decided to make this account though. I also know you guys preach about not listening too much to others when they give their bad opinions about certain schools because one bad experience for one could be a good experience for someone else. A truck driver I befriended at my job told me NOT to go with CRST. BUT idk. I think I'd enjoy team driving. Aren't you getting paid more and more home time than solo drivers? She didn't even give me a reason why she said don't go with them...she just said they have a bad reputation. But so does CR England, Knight, and Swift. Out of all of them...I feel like CRST is my best chance to get qualified again. I also have read articles on here about this and the best advice was saying to just apply everywhere and go with whoever takes you. I don't want to do that and end up hatng it :( I guess I just need a little more advice/motivation.

Sorry it so long and I keep jumping all over the place. I just want to finally do something and finish. I was in college for 8 years right out of high school and I did some things that caused me not to graduate from x-ray school :(

Not looking good for you

Welcome to the forum you might try western express they’re a really forgiving company and be 100% honest with them don’t leave nothing out with the recruiter and they will tell you yay or nay before you come in I live in az they sent me to a ca terminal and everything the recruiter said has happened I’ve got a pretty extensive past criminal history with a lot of bad driving history they took me but my stuff is 20 yrs old!!!! Another student though who was otr training with me had several accidents with his old trucking company got hired and had to sign a contract with them. But they took him on !!! So you might give western express a call

I had a recent license suspension for failure to appear. It was from a $50 dollar ticket I forgot to pay and that ticket was from my registration being expired. (Yes...im very mad at myself and I've done beat myself up enough over it) I also have 2 at fault wrecks and 2 speeding tickets (last 3 years) on my record. I applied for prime 2 years ago and was accepted to the truck driving school. Everything was clear and I was supposed to pick a date to go to school. Well life happened and I ended up not going. Now I really want to do this more than ever. I want a career and I know I'm a fast learner. I've spoken to so many family members, friends and aquaintences over the years who work in the trucking industry and they all love it. I just recently got a job that has me being in contact with multiple truck drivers throughout the the day and I don't know. It's like the more time I spend taking to them the more I get my motivation/inspiration back to jump into it. But now I feel like my driving record is holding me back :( I'm also known as the one in the family that can't drive...so my sister always makes fun of me when I talk about how much I want to start truck driving and that just kills my belief in myself. I've also been ghost following this forum/site for YEARS. I just finally decided to make this account though. I also know you guys preach about not listening too much to others when they give their bad opinions about certain schools because one bad experience for one could be a good experience for someone else. A truck driver I befriended at my job told me NOT to go with CRST. BUT idk. I think I'd enjoy team driving. Aren't you getting paid more and more home time than solo drivers? She didn't even give me a reason why she said don't go with them...she just said they have a bad reputation. But so does CR England, Knight, and Swift. Out of all of them...I feel like CRST is my best chance to get qualified again. I also have read articles on here about this and the best advice was saying to just apply everywhere and go with whoever takes you. I don't want to do that and end up hatng it :( I guess I just need a little more advice/motivation.

Sorry it so long and I keep jumping all over the place. I just want to finally do something and finish. I was in college for 8 years right out of high school and I did some things that caused me not to graduate from x-ray school :(

Okay. Thank you! I will definitely check them out.

Thanks for the other responses.