Bad Start With CDL And Cannot Find A Job

I started with a company and really feel that I didn't get the training I needed. While I was with my trainer, I was golden and everything was fine. When I went solo, I had three mishaps in three weeks. I pulled over a pole because another driver was pulling into me, caught a "black" pole with my DOT bumper, and then I had a flat and messed up the rim. All are being listed as my fault. Needless to say, the company let me go in July. I am trying to get back into driving and it is now November. Any ideas? I keep hitting brick walls.

Any ideas? Yes. Begin by taking personal responsibility and accountability for your actions. It's not from a lack of training or others actions, you have had three preventable accidents in a very short time.

It may sound cold or judgemental, but many of us recieved very little training as well, yet we don't hit things. We go to the same places you do, driving the same types of equipment. I went solo after only two weeks of training. What's the difference? What are we doing that you are not?

If you can take personal responsibility and accountability for your actions, it's going to show more favorably to a prospective employer.

Given how little freight there is currently, employers have scaled back on hiring and have become very picky if they do hire. I would recommend really sitting down and asking yourself some tough questions, changing your viewpoints and then try going after perhaps class B jobs to atleast stay relevant. Ypu can try applying to multiple companies at one time here, but odds are not in your favor.

Stephanie, I agree with Davy. Even if thee accidents were someone else's fault did you learn anything from the situation? We know only what you say here, so let's go with that.

1. I pulled over a pole: So another driver was pulling into you. Were you on a highway and the other driver was drifting into your lane? (Know what's going on around you.)

2. Black pole, whatever that is. Anyway, backing up you Get Out And Look whenever you are not sure of your surroundings.

3. Flat Tire. The front tires are the only ones that "stand" alone. Did one of them pop? The others are in groups of four. If one of them goes flat you may not know it at all until you do an inspection. I would not advise driving at all on a flat front tire - stop and call your dispatcher.

And "Three incidents in three weeks" should mean that you have talked to someone in the Safety office three times. Did you? But at any rate, 3 in 3 sounds like an unsafe driver. Not a good record to have.

Your professional driving record may show you something. Here is our Drive-A-Check Report information page. Read that, there's a link at the bottom to help you get yours.