Drivers' Corner - Ask the Recruiter

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A number of outstanding questions were sent to me since the last column. Please continue sending questions in and I will do my best to answer as many as I can. If I don't answer your question in the column there is the possibility that a similar one has already been answered in a previous column, so I encourage reviewing the archives when possible. Thank you for making this column the success that it is.

Q

I am 37 and have had my CDL for twelve years. I have in that time about 650,000 miles of accident- and ticket-free driving as well as no positive drug screens. My problem is the three companies I have driven for from 1995 to 2000 are out of business. Since then, I have driven four out of the last seven years for a company close to home. This company has high driver turnover because he doesn't pay well and after you're there awhile he messes with your hours and your money. When I have applied to other companies in the past and now, he bad mouths me to prospective employers. But he will hire me back tomorrow. How do I get out of this vacuum?

A

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon issue. Sometimes past employers are willing to rehire drivers, yet will not provide the best references to other prospective employers-partly in the hopes that the driver will go back to them, and partly just to be vindictive to the driver because he left.   The question is, what should you do about it? First, I suggest contacting the past employer and simply asking him why he is providing a negative reference. Try to work it out in a professional manner-basically, take the high road first.   If that fails, then find out what he is saying about you. Determine if it is blatantly false. If it is, perhaps you have documentation that would support your side or perhaps there is another individual at the former employer that might be able to provide an alternative reference/explanation to the prospective employer.   If all else fails, you can always-in a professional manner and tone-suggest to the past employer that you are willing to retain an attorney to protect your reputation. You should only do this if you are truly willing to retain an attorney and if you are truly confident the past employer is slandering your reputation

Q

My question is: if I have a concealed weapons license, can I carry a weapon when driving and be legal? Some say yes and some say no. I just want to find out what is legal and what is not. Thanks for taking the time to read and I am hoping for a response.

A

This is a very common question with a very clear answer. No, it is not legal to carry a weapon during interstate commerce even if you hold a state concealed weapons permit. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) regulates this. You can find the regulation language in "The Gun Control Act of 1968: Title 18, United State Code, Chapter 44, SS 926." Other provisions of this chapter and related chapters also apply.   The only exceptions to this are if you hold a federal (not any individual state) concealed weapons permit, or if you are a qualified and approved law enforcement or retired law enforcement officer.   In addition, I am not familiar with any carrier that allows a driver to carry a gun. For every carrier I am familiar with it would be a policy violation that could result in termination. Because of this, it is largely irrelevant if a driver holds a permit at any level.   It should also be noted that drivers are not permitted to carry a weapons into Canada or Mexico and there are many carriers that transport internationally

Q

I am currently 19 years old. I heard that at age 18 you could become a local driver. I want to get in under a company-paid training program. Will they let me start out as a local driver? I don't want to go OTR until I am completely used to, and comfortable with, my truck. I also wonder, is going through that program any good? Or is it going to come back on me?

A

I know so many potential people that want to be an OTR driver, yet they are under the age of 21. Personally, I find this to be unfortunate. I believe that the legal age should be 18, as long as all qualifications are met (even if additional requirements were placed on the young driver). Nevertheless, the legal age to run interstate OTR is 21. So, what can be done?   Drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 can legally operate a truck intra-state-that is, locally. So, as far as which carriers might hire you, check the ones that only offer local runs. These are generally hourly jobs and you are home each day.   Most company-paid training programs are only for OTR drivers. Until you are 21, it is unlikely you will find a carrier that offers this benefit. Once you turn 21 and enter a company-paid training program, I would feel confident that it would not "come back on you" and that it will be a quality program. A lot of that depends on you-generally, like everything in life; you get out of it what you put into it.   You can attend a traditional truck driving school if you are under the age of 21, and many offer some form of financial aid to qualified applicants. This might be the best bet if you are interested in earning your CDL and perhaps finding a local driving job until you turn 21.