Your words are encouraging I have been applying to companies in spurts every day. For some reason the driver pulse app won’t allow me to complete task the companies are requesting at the moment. This is a small setback adding to the height of the mountain I am trying to climb already. I have gotten plenty of rejection but I’m not letting that discourage me.
Thanks for your kind words and advice!
Using this site and the Driver Pulse app by Tenstreet, I would apply at every company possible. You may get a bite, but I would say to expect all rejections for quite a while. Time will heal that ding to your record. In the meantime, apply everywhere, keep CDL active, keep your med cert up-to-date, and keep your record clean from this point.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
I agree. I’m currently applying to all the companies that utilize driver pulse by Tenstreet because it is streamlined and I don’t have to enter redundant information on each application. My next step is so just as you recommend and hit all of the smaller companies, mom/pops, and Craigslist/Facebook advertisements and hope I can have a conversation with someone so they can see my sincerity that I learned my lesson and can be a safe driver for them.
From all of the companies I applied to so far half of them was a flat out no because of the rollover. The other half said they can likely work around the rollover accident but the careless driving was the deciding factor in their decision to say no. Most of them told me to reapply after If I’m able to get the careless driving reduced to or non moving violation or dismissed altogether. The lawyer hired makes no guarantees but is confident that he can get it dismissed based on his experience in the court that will hear my case. He’s won 16/17 cases there. I’m praying he can because as you said so far that’s been my biggest hurdle.
I try to always have a good attitude and be accountable for my actions. Thank you for the feedback and kind words.
You might even have to start beating the pavement by going to smaller companies that don’t advertise much, or at all. Getting to talk to an owner in person might produce something. All they can do is say no, but at least it gives you the opportunity to ask if they know of anyone else to talk to.
Probably your greatest hurtle is that careless driving citation. That’s a deal breaker not necessarily with all trucking companies, but probably their insurance companies who control who gets hired and fired. Fight to get that reduced to something less serious. Get a lawyer with experience in handling citations like yours. Good luck, you have a good attitude.
Davy you make a very good point and I’m glad you did. I am definitely guilty of having that false sense of pressure that I have to try to run unless the company shuts me down. As team drivers who started out in the early spring the company pushed service time to us but when the winter time came they pushed safety first but I never let go of that mentality of trying to be a “runner”. Big mistake in the winter.
I always heard that if you don’t run in the snow and ice you won’t make any money in the winter from those same types of conversations you mentioned about being tough and running no matter what. I bought in to that crap and look at me now, not able to make money at all because I didn’t know when to fold. It’s not worth the risk at all.
Now that I’m going through this situation I realize that I’d still have a job if I didn’t have that mentality. Sure some loads would get there late but worst case is they fire me for not meeting service requirements. My driving record would still be in tack and I could go get another job with ease.
I hate that I had to have an accident to grasp the the thought process that you have but I’m glad I’m alive to learn better. If given a second chance I will always exercise extreme caution to protect myself and others on the road. As my dad told me after my accident, “the winter is dangerous you should be shutdown quite often when there is adverse weather. You’ll make plenty of money in the warmer months but you have to survive the winter to get to them.”
Thanks for your feedback it has helped me and hopefully someone else who reads the thread.
I'm glad this topic came to light because it shines a light on something I see a lot with new drivers at our terminal (Denver). That is the feeling that they need to run in all weather.
Periodically, I'll hear comments or see posts (not here) that display a mindset that portrays that you must be tough and get out and run in the snow and ice, no matter what.
It's directly opposed to what our safety department and training says, which is to consider safety first and foremost and to shut down well ahead of adverse weather. To be constantly aware of potentially hazardous conditions.
I intentionally chose, and still do, to avoid snow, ice and high winds if I can. And I do so by a large margin. Perhaps I error on the side of caution, but I think that the skills and ability to read the road conditions come slowly and shouldn't be a result of trial and error, because the error portion can be a career ender or a life ended.
I'm definitely for exploring and developing skills in a somewhat controlled environment like a snowy parking lot or open area, but not in a production setting on the road.
To a certain extent, I have this situation coming up tomorrow. I'll likely choose to sit this next storm out and the few days after out. Again, I'd rather be safe than sorry.
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.
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.
I always saw trucks in the ditch and wonder what happened. I have since learned it doesn’t take much to end up there. I totally agree that we should drive within our levels.
On the day of my accident, I made the mistake of being influenced by others driving faster than I was. Against my own thoughts that it was time to slow it down, I hesitated because others were flying by me. Literally minutes later after not acting on my thoughts to slow down I was in the median truck laying on the passenger side, dangling in the driver seat, only saved by the seatbelt worrying is my fiancé ok and was anyone else hurt. Terrible feeling!
Those drivers were probably fully loaded meaning better traction, not hauling doubles , and likely more familiar with the road than I was among other things. Had I been driving within the parameters of what was safe for me and not those other drivers, I probably wouldn’t be in this thread looking for advice and trying to find a job.
Great input on the subject matter, I appreciate the feedback!
Rainy there are plenty of loads on load boards, problem is they don’t pay much. Right now with my situation I run 1 broker load a week. I have been very blessed the ones I have been getting have paid decent.
We all see trucks and others in the ditch regularly. That is on the driver, in my opinion. and the direct result of a poor choice. I’ve heard all kinds of various excuses over time. Nothing is worth taking that risk. We all have different levels of experience. Always drive within your level, not someone else’s!!
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Your words are encouraging I have been applying to companies in spurts every day. For some reason the driver pulse app won’t allow me to complete task the companies are requesting at the moment. This is a small setback adding to the height of the mountain I am trying to climb already. I have gotten plenty of rejection but I’m not letting that discourage me.
Thanks for your kind words and advice!
Using this site and the Driver Pulse app by Tenstreet, I would apply at every company possible. You may get a bite, but I would say to expect all rejections for quite a while. Time will heal that ding to your record. In the meantime, apply everywhere, keep CDL active, keep your med cert up-to-date, and keep your record clean from this point.
Sometimes the app acts weird. Close the app from your active app tray, then reopen it. This usually corrects any issues that I have had with it.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OP Update
Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to come back to this post and make an update just in case there is someone out there searching that was in the same situation I found myself in a little over a year ago.
After being unemployed for a few weeks. I was able to find a job with a company out of Chicago (yes it was one of those Russian/Serbian outfits). They were willing to take a chance on me despite the roll over accident. It was definitely a change from the mega carrier. There was some good things about the company and some bad but that’s pretty much every company. We Had to do the 1099 even though we were a “company drivers”. It wasn’t the most pleasant experience but they paid me every week, except once when we had a load of bottled water shift and rejected by the receiver. We had to pay $1675 for that to be re-palletized unfortunately. Outside of that they were pretty straight forward and honest.
We ended up working there for a year and 2 months. I began to apply to new companies. I still heard no’s from most companies but my rejection rate dropped from about 95% to about 65%.
My Fiancé and I have since left that company, purchased a truck and leased it on to a carrier. So far things have been going well. We’re taking it one day at a time, one mile at a time, but most importantly keeping safety first!
I hope this helps and inspires someone to not give up and to keep trying.
Nighthawk, thanks for the update. So many times people ask for advice and then we never hear back to get the important information about what subsequently took place.
I’m glad you were able to find a way to keep driving. Hopefully, the lease thing works out. It sounds like the whole experience made you a better driver. I admire your perseverance.
I’m glad to hear you managed to get through that rough patch and are still in the industry.
I was leased onto a big company for several years. It went well enough I stayed. You just have to stay on top of your expenses and what they are charging you. Some are better than others. I pray your truck doesn’t give you any major problems until you can save up some money.
Owning your own truck is a different world.
Congratulations NightHawk35! I am glad to see you are still in the game.
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I think that is a very good idea to train with an experienced driver during the winter. I would definitely pitch that to a company willing to hear me out. I doubt the company that terminated me would renege on that decision to give me more training but I’m not above asking.
I will add Pam to my list of companies to apply. Thank you for your feed back.