Am I screwed?

[TiredOfLocal]

Ok here it is. I went through a driving school with a "mega" company back in the spring of 07.

Shortly after finishing training I got into some personall trouble (nothing professional) and was unable to go to work. I kept my DM informed all the time. I eventually got fired and since then I now have a bad mark on my DAC.

Since all of this has happened the only work I can find is a local gig and it sucks.

I have a years experience but it is not OTR and no one wants to even talk to me.

Any ideas on how I can gat back on the road.

BTW. My MVR is spotlessM

[Kevin0915]

First off, i dont claim to be an expert......but i did stay at a holiday inn express last night.

seriously, the first question i have is were you actually given a driver code?? just going thru schooling dont get you 'hired', i dont think. some companies might, but not sure in your situation. Unless you were actually 'hired', and given a driver code, they should not have an excuse to put anything on your DAC.

correct me if i am wrong, someone.....

and it all depends on what kind of 'personal trouble' you were in. If it were a bar fight, and you were charged with attempted murder......yeah, i wouldnt hire you either. LOL

[TiredOfLocal]

Yes I was given a driver code.

And as far as the personall trouble, I'm kinda embarrased to say to tell you the truth. It was a misdemeanor but because of having to go to court and all I was not avaiulable to drive.

[Kevin0915]

well no need to air anyone's dirty laundry....we all have loads of dirty clothes that needs washed.

Seeing how you were given a driver code, etc. i'd hate to say, but the DAC info will probably stick.

[Double R]

Ok here it is. I went through a driving school with a "mega" company back in the spring of 07.

Shortly after finishing training I got into some personall trouble (nothing professional) and was unable to go to work. I kept my DM informed all the time. I eventually got fired and since then I now have a bad mark on my DAC.

Since all of this has happened the only work I can find is a local gig and it sucks.

I have a years experience but it is not OTR and no one wants to even talk to me.

Any ideas on how I can gat back on the road.

BTW. My MVR is spotlessM

You have a year experience driving local. Many OTR companies do not count that. To them, you have zero experience. I know, it sucks. Even if they over look the DAC, they still see you as having no experience. With so many drivers fighting for jobs right now, they are going to take the guy with one year OTR over your one year local.

Try some local compaines in your area(if there are anymore). To them, you have one year experience.

[TiredOfLocal]

I know that local time doesn't count as far as experience goes (for OTR jobs). But there HAS to be some way that I can get back on the road.

[Double R]

I know that local time doesn't count as far as experience goes (for OTR jobs). But there HAS to be some way that I can get back on the road.

Just keep applying at companies. You may get lucky and catch a break. Try some small companies in your area that do OTR, small fleets leased to big carriers, private carriers, etc.

[movinit]

As the others have said there are hundreds of VERY experienced drivers out there looking for jobs and the companies are loving it. Keep watching the ads in your area and keep applying, but it is not likely that you will find something until the economy picks up. Also if you can hang with your current job I would do it because they are forecasting the freight to get much worse in the next few months and being at the bottom of the seniority pile is not a place to be when job cuts start happening.

[INKTOXICATED]

go local, they dont even deal with that dac crap plus u can make real money

[Cluggy619]

You know, you might try JB Hunt.

They only require 3 months of tractor/trailer when I got hired.

I will advise you that you should be careful of what you ask for... You might just get it.

Good luck.

[TiredOfLocal]

Ok, Let's see if I can handle these in the proper order.

As far as staying with my current job in this F'd up economy so as to avoid being at the bottom of the food chain for whatever company I can find.

That is a VERY valid point. One the I HAVE given a lot of thought to. Problem is, is that I'm already at the bottom of the food chain for my company. Also, the pay SUCKS.
(10.00 an hour). On top of this.... I've only worked 2 weeks out of the last month because my truck has been in twice for a new trans. Let me repeat. TWICE, for a NEW transmission. (No, it was not driver error, the Trans failed on the second day out. It just takes them a week to pull it out of the truck).

But the bright side is that I still have a job. I just don't have a pay check.

As far as staying local? Up here in Maine the only way to make money working local is to own your own truck. besides that, I like the open road. I like waking up someplace new everyday, I like the mystery of where I will be next.

I spent 20 years in the military and I've seen the world a couple 2 or 3 times. But I've never seen the country that I spent my life defending. There's some irony for you.

I'm not asking for anything special. I'm not asking for any favors. I'm not even asking for the old "help a vet out" BS.

All I'm asking is do any of you old bug tattered, road weary icons know ANYONE that is at least willing to TALK to me about a job.

Oh BTW. As of two days ago, JB Hunt was not hiring out of Maine.

PS. Please excuse the typing and spelling. This is all being done on my cell phone.

[bentstrider]

That is a VERY valid point. One the I HAVE given a lot of thought to. Problem is, is that I'm already at the bottom of the food chain for my company. Also, the pay SUCKS.
(10.00 an hour). On top of this.... I've only worked 2 weeks out of the last month because my truck has been in twice for a new trans. Let me repeat. TWICE, for a NEW transmission. (No, it was not driver error, the Trans failed on the second day out. It just takes them a week to pull it out of the truck).

But the bright side is that I still have a job. I just don't have a pay check.

I could definitely feel your pain, I spent the last seven months with a small outfit doing container work across Cali, Nevada, and Arizona.
The truck I was issued was in a state of "controlled-decay", essentially falling apart in certain areas, weeks at a time.
The terrible thing was the fact that I had to make sure nothing malfunctioned while away from the yard, or repair expenses would be straight out of the pocket.
Then there was the "git-r-done" style of the dispatchers that didn't seem to give any care, whatsoever to the DOT regulations and whatnot.

I would've stayed with this place as long as I had to, but the fleet-owner leasing out the trucks to the carrier could not pay the '09 paperwork.
So, I've been sidelined for the past, 6 weeks and I'm just fortunate enough to be living with family until I get my employment situation sorted out.

Now, it seems the only thing that appears to be stopping you is the DAC-info that indicates you quit the company that you trained with.
If anything, have you ever given any thought of rehiring back on with them?
I mean, no accidents, no tickets, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[Double R]

TiredOfLocal,

Posting your location was a big help. Try the following:
NATIONAL FREIGHT]
Thye run in and out of Maine alot. They have some dedicated accounts up there also.

PFG-NORTH CENTER]
Not what your thinking. They have alot of OTR drivers that run back and forth along the north east picking up and delivering to other PFG warehouses. NO HAND UNLOAD DELIVERIES! Just docks. It's worth a shot.

Also, did you try CAD's front page
Showing 21 companies in Maine that you could try. OTR companies too.

[Jimbpard]

Try very small companies around you. The smallest that you would never expect to hire a driver.
Thats how I got my start.
The bigger companies seem to have more of a "ringer" they are required to put you through.
Good luck.

[Mackman]

Try very small companies around you. The smallest that you would never expect to hire a driver.
Thats how I got my start.
The bigger companies seem to have more of a "ringer" they are required to put you through.
Good luck.

Very true

All i ever did was local. About 2 years ago i got the OTR bug in me. So i started calling company's and fill out apps. No one would touch me with a 10ft pole. But i did find a small fleet of about 40 trucks that would hire me to pull tanks. But i didnt take the job. So go look at the smaller company's. Good Luck.

[matcat]

I was let go from Swift for a preventable 11 months ago, and it took me that entire time to find something, but I did with an o/o leased onto a small company with 6 trucks. I spent months on FMSCA website going through the safety module just emailing every single company listed in the states I was interested in. I had a lot of luck with that, but the ones interested I couldn't do because of not having proper endorsements, but I did finally find something, if I can do it so can you, just try everyone you can find, like someone else said, the small companies aren't going to go through the hoops bigger companies are going to go through.

[Baldy]

Not sure how far you are from St. Albans, Vermont, but here is a food grade tanker company based in Pennsylvania that is looking for a driver at that location. I'm not even sure if that Job oppertunities page of the website is up to date. It might be worth a look though.

It's located near Plattsburg, NY near the Canadian Border. St. Albans,Vt. - Google Maps

Good luck.

HR Ewell - Excellence in Food Products Transportation

[TiredOfLocal]

I just checked tjhe web site again and JBH now says that they are hiring out of Maine with 3 months OTR exxp.

Are there any JBH drivers out there that would like a driver referal bonus?

JBH does offer driver referal bonuses don't they?

Respond quickly because I will be calling and doing the app VERY SOON.

I don't want to miss out.

[Kevin0915]

I was let go from Swift for a preventable 11 months ago, and it took me that entire time to find something, but I did with an o/o leased onto a small company with 6 trucks. I spent months on FMSCA website going through the safety module just emailing every single company listed in the states I was interested in. I had a lot of luck with that, but the ones interested I couldn't do because of not having proper endorsements, but I did finally find something, if I can do it so can you, just try everyone you can find, like someone else said, the small companies aren't going to go through the hoops bigger companies are going to go through.

what else did they let you go for? having one preventable (unless it was a forbidden 5) isnt grounds for termination. I had one, my 3rd day going solo, i tried to back into a dock where it was VERY VERY little room to turn the trailer. I never put it in reverse, and was in the process of pulling away cause i didnt like how little room i had. I BARELY scraped the chrome off the grille of another swift truck, no crack, no break, just scraped some silver off. And the guy i 'hit' had been solo for 8 months, and had 3 preventables.

so whats the real story?? high idle and/or decline too many loads??

[TiredOfLocal]

Sorry but I think I posted that las message wronng.

I was NOT the one that was let go from swift for preventables.

I was the original message poster.