Looking For Career Advice

I've been driving for a little more than 2 years and my first week driving solo after getting my CDL , I dropped my trailer. I got into a rush because I felt pressured by the loading situation and to save time, did some of my pre-trip out of order on the unattached trailer. That was enough to knock me out of my usual routine and I missed the visual check and didn't realize I was high-hooked until it was too late.

Fast forward to a few months ago..

I had two preventables too close together and got let go. First was sliding into the median when I hit some black ice going well under the speed limit. Tore off a nice amount of the siding on the truck, but no other damage. Didn't need a tow and not DoT.

The second was a few weeks later..

I was on am unfamiliar area and had the proper follow distance. The exit on the right was backed up and the guy in front of me braked quite hard. Rather than brake, I saw the left lane was clear and swerved. Apparently I clipped his front mirror with the end of my trailer when I corrected from the swerve, to stay in control. I was too busy collecting myself from what would have been a gnarly accident to notice.

Safety knew I would have stopped had I known I hit his mirror.

I've been looking for work, but I get crickets from prospective companies once I send my application.

Currently, my application has every preventable listed because I wanted to be upfront about what happened.

Today, I get a copy of my DAC and the ONLY thing on there is that initial trailer drop, which didn't prevent me from getting the job to follow.

I'm thinking about removing the incidents that aren't on the DAC from my applications moving forward.

I want to be truthful, but I also don't want to starve!

Appreciate any advice from those in the know.

Hey Kevin, it's human nature to want to minimize our mistakes. We see it in here on a daily basis.

Once we've minimized them in our own conscience, then we begin thinking it's logical to conceal them from those who might hold them against us.

You'll do your character and your career a great favor by owning your mistakes and learning from them.

Apply everywhere you can. This is a difficult time in trucking. Perseverance will pay off.

You'll do your character and your career a great favor by owning your mistakes and learning ..

I feel that I have owned my mistakes and have learned something valuable from each one.

I'm not sure if shooting myself in the foot is necessarily the smart thing to do, if I don't have to.

I don't have much experience with how to handle incidents with prospective companies that may make me unhirable.

Appreciate you taking the time to comment. : )

Your in a tough spot. The last 2 preventables are close enough to not show up on your dac YET. Your old company may or may not report them. No way 2 know except through them for sure.

What is sure if you take them off your application, then you are falseifying the application. You can bet your former employer will be contacted by any perspective employer. Even if you were to get hired somewhere IF they ever find out you failed to mention them on your application you WILL be let go.

In my opinion your better off owning your preventables and taking your chances than lying on applications.

If you aren't afraid of alittle elbow grease, try looking at local companies as many don't bother with DAC. If your MVR is clean, you will likely find something. I had two very minor incidents in trucking that went on my DAC report despite the company telling me they wouldn't be added due to the minor nature and the zero dollar cost. When I quit said company, they sandbagged me on the report. Mind you, when I worked for AAA, I reported every single little thing. Even near misses because I believe integrity is important. That said, the trucking industry discourages honesty due to the predatory nature of these reports. Even my old trainer warned me not to say anything about minor stuff unless it was "undeniable" which I should have listened, but I digress...

In my personal opinion [mind you, everyone is different] local is the way to go anyway. I did my year of OTR and I won't be going back for a myriad of reasons. Not the least of which is the hook, line, and sinker approach these companies employ when they roll out the red carpet for you. Things like "we treat our drivers like family" and "generous home time" oh and "resets at home" with "detention pay" that ends up being after 4 hours. Sound familiar? I just find the industry as a whole to be a huge scam setup to screw the driver. I make more money now than I ever did OTR through overtime and I feel infinitely healthier. OTR was a cool experience in and of itself, but the jig is up and im glad that I get home every night. Really stop to consider it. I know people on here will likely label me a heretic, but I wouldn't change a thing about what I do now.

I know people on here will likely label me a heretic, but I wouldn't change a thing about what I do now.

That's an odd statement Drew. I've been involved here for more years than most and I can't recall us ever labeling someone a heretic.

I did my year of OTR and I won't be going back for a myriad of reasons. Not the least of which is the hook, line, and sinker approach these companies employ when they roll out the red carpet for you. Things like "we treat our drivers like family" and "generous home time" oh and "resets at home" with "detention pay" that ends up being after 4 hours. Sound familiar?

Honestly, none of that sounds familiar to me.Your comments seem to be carrying a bit of an edge to them. Have you soured on the industry? One year hardly allows you to master this challenging career.

I think it's great you're happy with your new gig, but based on your past year's experience, you will probably find reason to feel disgruntled again. I hope I'm wrong. I hope you'll prove me wrong.

No, I am not typically the disgruntled type. I worked 11 years at one job and 6 at another, and frankly, I wouldn't have left there had I not relocated and needed a job change.

I may have soured on the longhaul side of the industry. I did not find OTR to be a particularly difficult job in and of itself. I found all the surrounding circumstances to be quite irritating which eventually lead to me being apathetic about it. I constantly felt as though I was chasing a dragon for a paycheck. Both companies [mid sized carriers] were extremely dishonest about circumstances surrounding my employment. I won't get into specifics, but it was enough for me to reconsider. Found a great company working local beverage and having a great time. The elbow grease is definitely in abundance, but I am in need of getting back into shape anyway. I enjoy being the "beer guy" and getting paid hourly for my work regardless of whatever issues may arise that are out of my control. Plus with the overtime, it adds up to be significantly more than I ever made OTR with two set days off and home every night to my family. So yeah, for me personally, that was the way to go. But I also have 11 years of merchandising experience in big box so its cool that all of my skill sets are being utilized in unison.

Again, my two cents and I guess the point I was trying to make for the OP was try local and see what you get. They don't use that ridiculous HireRite crap that more or less hamstrings drivers for 7 years over the smallest of mistakes.

I know people on here will likely label me a heretic, but I wouldn't change a thing about what I do now.

That's an odd statement Drew. I've been involved here for more years than most and I can't recall us ever labeling someone a heretic.

I did my year of OTR and I won't be going back for a myriad of reasons. Not the least of which is the hook, line, and sinker approach these companies employ when they roll out the red carpet for you. Things like "we treat our drivers like family" and "generous home time" oh and "resets at home" with "detention pay" that ends up being after 4 hours. Sound familiar?

Honestly, none of that sounds familiar to me.Your comments seem to be carrying a bit of an edge to them. Have you soured on the industry? One year hardly allows you to master this challenging career.

I think it's great you're happy with your new gig, but based on your past year's experience, you will probably find reason to feel disgruntled again. I hope I'm wrong. I hope you'll prove me wrong.

Drew, I'm thrilled you found something that works well for you. It takes all kinds of kinds. Trucking provides all sorts of opportunities. That is good, because there are all sorts of us out here getting 'er done!

It's great to see you in here again. Thanks for your observations and contributions.

So, Drew, now you’re the beer AND cigar guy? Lol

Beer, wine, kegs and such. I wish I had a cigar distribution gig. I would get all kinds of deals.

So, Drew, now you’re the beer AND cigar guy? Lol