Layover.com: Personal Responsibility, Older Driver

Personal Responsibility, Older Driver

A number of outstanding questions were sent to me since the last column. Please continue sending questions 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. For next month, let me know what your number one concern about the future of trucking is. Thank you for making this column the success that it is.

I had been driving a day cab with 53 feet reefer for a fruit company. I lost my job due to missing too many days due to family illness and going through a divorce. I am looking for a new job, but my problem is I only have about eight month’s experience and I am an ex-felon. There are programs out there to entice prospective employers such as tax cuts and the federal government paying half my wages for the first year. But as you can imagine, my problem is if employers are willing to overlook the inexperience, not many will overlook my felony as it is a murder charge. I explain it was a fight that went bad as we were both drunk. How can I sell myself to the employer to try to outshine my cloudy past?

You cannot “sell yourself” to any employer that has a policy against hiring individuals with felonies. Everyone has excuses for why they did or did not do something in the past, but that’s just what they are—excuses. Most carriers have policies in place for a reason, whether it is insurance related, the ability to travel to out of country, or something else. Any excuse you might have will not change company policy.

In addition, the lack of experience is an issue, especially because the experience you do have is not really over-the-road experience. And, the minimal experience you do have is somewhat overshadowed by the lack of reliability. Most employers do not dismiss employees for missing days unless there are additional reasons—like missing excessive days. Again, the excuses are there, but they do not overshadow job performance.

The fact of the matter is that most carriers, local and long haul, are looking for reliable, safe, and experienced drivers that are of a good personal standing. The reality is that you have an uphill battle and several things going against you, but all is not hopeless. Keep making calls and eventually you will find a carrier that will give you yet another chance. When you get that chance, excel. I’d even recommend returning to your previous employer and begging forgiveness and asking for another chance.

I'm looking at a mid-life career change from 30-plus years of engineering. I've always been interested in being a driver, since I do enjoy driving and seeing the country. At 51 years old, are there physical parts of the job that I may not be able to do?

The answer to this really depends on your current physical condition. I believe that any 50-plus-year-old that is in decent physical shape should be able to perform the typical duties of a truck driver. As you can imagine, there may be times when you are required to lift boxes of 20 to 100 pounds, or you may have to adjust the way boxes are aligned in the truck by pushing or pulling them, or you need to be able to open the trailer doors.

If you pull a flatbed trailer, you may be required to tarp loads. Other types of loads may require load securement, so you will need to be able to tighten straps and place load locks in the truck.

You need to be able to sit for long periods of time, stay alert, and be mentally fit to understand rules, regulations, and laws.

As long as you can pass the Department of Transportation’s required physical you should be fine. The Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration (FMCSA) offers all of the details of the exam on its web site [http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?rule_toc=760&section=391.41&section_toc=1781]

I had a misdemeanor in May of 2008. It was for public drunkenness. I paid the fine and was released. There were no other charges. I was later told that is how the township raises their revenue. How and why should this affect my driving status when looking for a job?

Any drug or alcohol related citation certainly will be less than positive. How will this affect your driving career? Carriers are less likely to hire drivers with any alcohol or drug related offense on their record. Often, insurance companies will not allow carriers to hire drivers with these types of negative attributes.

Why should it affect your career? Well, it demonstrates a lack of professionalism and responsibility. The insinuation that this is how the town raises revenue is irrelevant. Had you not been drunk, displaying a behavior worthy of a citation, then you would not have received it. Personal responsibility is a good thing, excuses are not.

Drivers' Corner - Ask the Recruiter

Personal Responsibility, Older Driver