Layover.com: Reality and the Future

Reality and the Future

The readers of this column continue to submit quality questions, and for that, I thank you. Please continue sending questions in, and I will do my best to answer as many as I can. Remember, if I don’t answer your question in the column there is the possibility, all right let’s say probability, 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.

Hello, my question is this: I have worked for about four different employers. Also, I have incidents on my license that are not correct. I also have three terminations in three years that are due to driver managers wanting me to drive illegally with my hours and a host of other issues. I’m having a hard time trying to work in trucking to feed my family, please tell me what can I do?

This is a very good question and, based on the information you have provided, I have a couple of suggestions. First, if the incidents that are “not correct” are showing up on your DAC, offer a driver rebuttal to the DAC report. I have written on a couple of occasions about how to do this, so please check the archives. The next thing I recommend is that when you find another trucking job, you should do everything possible to keep it. That means you should not quit even if you are in disagreement with some of the legitimate company policies. Let’s be honest here, you need to establish some record of stability and safety in your driving career, so try to keep the next job you get for at least one year.

The one thing I find interesting is that you have been terminated, not quit, three times for all the same reason. I do know there are some carriers that push drivers hard, but for you to have found three out of the four carriers you have been employed with that force you to violate federal regulations, and then to fire you because you won’t do it, a bit hard to swallow. Looking at it objectively, I see two things: either the trucking industry is not for you, or there are significant personality conflicts.

If you do come across a dispatcher that wants to force you to break regulations and you get fired for that, there are legal actions you can take. You cannot be fired for refusing to obey regulations. Because this happens so frequently to you, perhaps you should document these instances at your next job (you may even have documentation for the previous jobs through your log books). Most safety managers at carriers are willing to step in as well—so communication is essential.

What about teams of two being in the same rig? What if my partner and I want to become truck drivers? Could we possibly work together in the same rig?

Yes, yes, and yes! Carriers that run teams absolutely love it when they get drivers willing to do so. If you and your partner already have driving experience and a solid safety and employment record, a simple phone call to any carrier that runs teams will land you a job quickly.

The challenge becomes if you or your partner or both of you do not have experience and are in need of training. If this is the case, you will likely not be allowed to run as a team until you are both trained and have a certain level of experience under your belt as a solo driver. Even if one has experience and the other does not, most carriers will not allow the experienced partner to train the other driver.

I got my CDL seven months ago from Central Florida Community College. Since then I haven’t driven a truck. That means I don’t have experience. If a company hires me would they send me to take classes again or just training on the job?

Good question! If your CDL is still valid and current you will not be required to attend school again. However, you will be required to go through a training program. There are several carriers that offer student training, so you should have a fairly easy time finding one.

Generally, you will end up going out with an experienced driver for 6 to 12 months (this varies by carrier and driver skill level). During that period, the trainer will help you understand the paperwork, fine tune driving skills, and basically develop a comfort level with you for the carrier.

Drivers' Corner - Ask the Recruiter

Reality and the Future