Some Advice And Maybe Need Some

I don't want to give you my life story but maybe it'll help someone get an idea of whats at stake driving a truck and maybe I can get some good advice on how to move forward. I started at prime last September got my permt and CDL. everything was going perfect then I became a solo driver my first day I scratched a trailer leaving home base and it was all downhill from that point forward. in 4 months I got 3 tickets and 3 pervetable accidents just a lot of little stuff very minor but it was enough to get me terminated in 4 short months. just take warning that little mistakes can cost you a lot and you have to be very careful out there. So is my career all over or will somebody hire me with the record like that. here is my record Ticket for driving without headlights ticket for driving in the wrong lane ticket for not obeying traffic signs accident above-mentioned scratch trailer accident scraped trailer against a traffic signal accident backing bumped into a car cmyself like 20 dollars worth of damage to a headlight cover.

Try and apply locally I myself am beating myself up for a moving violation thinking I am damaged goods. I feel for ya I hope you can find something, But to be honest I dont think any of the big companies will hire you right now with your record. Keep your head held high and apply apply apply. I know it is very hard to have a positive attitude right now Good Luck John

From what I've read: There are a couple of companies that might hire you still. I do not remember the names. If nothing else: In a few years, after the tickets fall off, you could take a refresher course and pick up where you left off.

John, I'm real sorry to hear of your troubles. Now you know why we always are telling our new folks in here that are just getting started "Don't hit anything". Accidents have repercussions even when they are minor. It is a reality in this business that is hard to swallow for the uninitiated.

I wish you the best, all you can do is apply like crazy if you are wanting to stay in the business. If you just can't land a job you may have to do something else for a few years until these things get a few years behind them. Then, as Daniel said you can go through a refresher and get started again. Many of the Company-Sponsored Training programs offer refreshers. Western Express has a unique refresher where they will put you in a team situation with another driver who is in your same situation for about four weeks and the they will put you in a solo truck of your own.

I worked for Western Express for a while and they would often times hire someone in your situation - you may want to look into it.

This might sound nuts, but it has worked for me. When the next opportunity comes around (and it will), work on keeping a positive attitude and keep your focus on what you want instead of what has happened in the past.

Avoid saying what you want in a negative way: (i.e. - "I don't want an accident")

At a past job I was struggling to avoid making mistakes. I would start my day thinking "I don't want to screw up". Then I would spend the whole time feeling like I was fighting myself to avoid mistakes. Of course I would make some. I read in a book that said your subconscious fails to process No's, Not's, Don'ts, Won'ts, so it acts opposite of what you want. (i.e. - your subconscious thinks "I do want an accident) I had trouble buying into it, at the same time I am always open to putting someones opinions to the test. How do you really know if something is bunk or legit unless you do it yourself, right?

So I started the day saying to my self, "I want to do a good job." The day started off great! Every once in a while I would start feeling nervous or lacking confidence. When that happened, I would repeat what I wanted: "I want to do a good job." It worked! I had a mistake free evening.

Mind you, Keeping no and not's out of your thoughts and speech is difficult. It takes practice and a lot of self correcting. The benefits for me have been outstanding. I have limited self defeating actions drastically. I still run into struggles, they have stopped being self defeating struggles though.

I have a question. Are you really cut out for this? I drive in places where people will not go I back in alleyways in Newark Trenton Camden Philly dodging homeless people cars traffic. I have 4 months experience period like no other experience. This job really isn't for everyone. Maybe u should think about it like cuz those preventable could mean death for someone. There are alot of people out here who shouldn't be driving. I'll give u a for instance my buddy drives we chat at night while going down the road. He called me one night and told me about a swift driver who almost hit him 4 telephone poles n drove in someone's yard. I dismissed it after he gave me the truck number. I got back to the yard n a tractor almost hit me. I glanced at the number it was the same driver. This could of been my ass or my job if they hit me. I took the number in the office and reported it. Cuz some people should not be driving. Just think about it.