Profile For Nick

It’s my understanding that pretty much all of the major or well known carriers in the US do hair follicle testing now for pre-employment. It’s just how it is nowadays. If you’re worried about it, which in that case you shouldn’t even be a CDL holder in the first place if there’s even a chance you wouldn’t pass one, but if you’re worried about it, go to a smaller, local, mom/pop company where this might not be an issue. Usually those types of companies don’t have big HR departments and company lawyers to answer to like someone like Werner, Schneider, Swift, etc.

You’re asking them to trust you in a $200,000 truck hauling a loader well over double that. It’s perfectly reasonable for them to want to give you every pre-employment drug and alcohol test available to them. And again, if it’s something you’re even worried about, you probably shouldn’t be considering a job in the industry in the first place. Just my unsolicited two cents.

From Papa Pig:

breaking a contract ... try other companies

How about that when any company you apply to finds you tried to break out of a contract, they put your application in the round file.

Errol I don’t think the question is him breaking a contract but wondering if them not continuing his services is them breaking a contract.

Nick. While dollar General does use bigger carriers like Werner, Schneider, etc to haul their freight they have an expanding private fleet. Kind of like how Walmart or Publix has their own trucks but uses outside carriers for a lot of the workload. They also have a program that will allow warehouse workers to sign a contract and they will pay for their cdl if they haul and unload dollar General freight for a certain amount of time. I personally thought that was awesome because I used to get so mad at the warehouse for how badly they loaded the trailers. Almost like justice and now you get to be in the receiving end of those badly loaded trailers 😂. Either way I have my suspicions of why this arrangement didn’t work but that’s not my place. Our job now is to try and advise and help this driver move on.

Gotcha, I didn’t know they were expanding their own fleet! I’m at Schneider so obviously I know how big of a customer/contract it is for us.

I guess I don’t understand and sorry to sound ignorant here but how were you under contract with Dollar G? It’s my understanding all of their transportation is done by other carriers. Schneider and Werner are the huge carriers of them.

what the local sheriff department would be okay with, as far as crossing state lines and such.

When I mentioned about there being misinformation out there, this idea is a common misconception. I am not trying to say that you are knowingly misinforming anyone, but I do want to clarify the reality of what being on the registry means, when it comes to work.

There is nuance to this, and it requires explaining two different situations. Being on the registry and on paper (probation or parole) and being on the registry off paper are totally different dynamics. On paper, a person on the registry has to gain approval to take a given job. Off paper, a person on the registry is merely reporting the information to law enforcement. The distinction is the ability for the authority to deny approval. Off paper, there is no approval process.

I won't get into how this is different from decades past. Just understand that this is the function now.

Also, law enforcement officers don't conduct home visits for those who are on the registry and not on paper.

If there is a reason to suspect that a person is not actually living at the address being reported, then this would prompt a criminal investigation. LEOs are not likely to tip someone off by announcing they are coming by to see them.

All of this is from my personal experience with decades in dealing with the matter.

I really do appreciate that you provide encouragement to those who might think their situation is beyond hope. I basically just wanted to clarify that one particular dynamic. People in the situation of being on the registry and off paper deserve to understand that they are not asking for permission to live their lives, which includes working to support themselves. I am sure that there are some small counties in some places that try to create this dynamic. Because there are all sorts of reasons for being on the registry: Being guilty as charged, being guilty of something but not that specific charge, being by mere association, and simply falsely accused. Because of the fact that there can be a whole host of reasons why an individual is on the registry, no one who is off paper should continue to be treated like they are still serving a sentence.

I appreciate your response on this. I was giving what limited knowledge I have based on how my friend had to go about it and I wanted, at the end of the day, to provide positive reassurance to anyone reading that my be a RSO and looking to get into this industry and that it is definitely possible and to not be discouraged. I know my friend is on the registry but off paper, as in he hasn’t been on probation in about 4 years and never had to “ask for permission” to get a driving job. He did contact his local department to ask if there would be any kind of restrictions but they reassured him it was totally fine and that there were many others within their jurisdiction that are RSOs and drive OTR. So you’re not asking them for permission, you’re simply informing them of your employment status and where you work. But it’s not for them to say you can or can’t work there. The main thing is being honest with your employer about your background (it would come up on a pre-employment background check anyway) so godforbid, if anyone from the local department you’re registered with were to ever call and verify employment, there’d be no surprises. Again, your employer should know at that point anyways cause of the background check.

And, as you stated, this varies from situation to situation, especially be on paper vs. off paper. It would seem to me that being off paper, it’s certainly way easier to get a job in this industry. I do understand the distinction you were trying to make and I appreciate the clarification. My knowledge is limited to my friends situation since I was there for him every step of the way offering full support.

I drive a 2025 Freightliner and I have a love/hate relationship with the safety systems. The LDA sometimes goes off when it thinks you’re crossing over the line when in fact it’s just weird grooves in the road. I don’t mind the side radar usually. Makes it easier when I’m passing a truck and the amber triangle inside turns off letting me know I’m clear.

Thankfully, we don’t have cameras inside the truck (except the outward facing drive cam to record in front of you) and it was recently reported that we WILL NOT be getting inward facing cameras as our company considers it an invasion of privacy, especially in the sleeper cabs.

I know at my company if we are ever faced with that situation, they want us to just let the hijacker take the truck. Their attitude is we wouldn’t get in trouble for that because nothing is more important than our health, safety, and well being. A tractor and trailer can be replaced. Companies have insurance to pay for the loss of a load. But, a loss of life because you tried to be a hero can’t be replaced. If anyone ever tries to hijack me, they can have it.

Absolutely true that CA has the most hijacked/stolen loads in the nation. It just happened last week in Fontana, CA (which is one of the worst areas in the whole state for it) to one of the majors. Driver came back to her truck after taking a 10 and it was gone. Had been stolen. Tractor was abandoned behind some fence in a field. Don’t know whatever came of the load or trailer.

I have a friend of mine who’s an RSO… he was caught up in an unfortunate situation that lead to having to register. A very low level crime that came with having to do that. Without getting into detail since it’s their personal business and not mine, nicest guy you’ll ever meet and if you knew the whole story of what happened, you’d agree that having to register seems a bit of an overreach for what crime was committed. But, not my deal..

Anyways, that happened about 6 years ago. He struggled with employment, especially when COVID happened. He got his CDL A and is currently OTR for one of the major carriers here in the US. Bottom line is, you absolutely CAN get a job in this industry as an RSO.. it’s one of the few career paths actually that people can have success at even being on the registry.

It’s just a matter of how serious a crime you committed was that landed you as an RSO and what the local sheriff department would be okay with, as far as crossing state lines and such. When my friend was looking to get hired at a company, he actually talked to the SO unit at the sheriffs office where he’s registered and they told him that he was totally fine to have an OTR job and that several other people in his area on the registry are also OTR drivers. He gets a visit once every 6 months from the sheriff just to verify he still lives where he says he does. He’s on the lowest level of the registry. If he’s not home, they just come back when he gets home from a trip.

You can definitely be in this industry as an RSO. You just have to know how to make it work and find a company willing to give you a chance like my friend did. I was surprised a major took him but it just goes to show that everyone is given a chance. He was completely upfront and honest with them about everything knowing it would come up on a background check so he didn’t want any surprises. I can tell they appreciated his honesty and might be why they were willing to give him a chance. Don’t let being an RSO discourage you.

I feel like there will be different opinions on this topic but I came to Schneider recently as a rookie and couldn’t be happier. I felt/feel very comfortable. I’m also a fast learner and adapt well. So it’s just going to be preference. But I would not pass up an opportunity with Schneider if you have it. Best decision I made to get my career going.

I took my CDL exam and road test (WA state) in a manual transmission. 2016 Cascadia with a 10 speed. I knew, especially in 2024, that manual transmission jobs are getting farther and few between now to find. But I didn’t want the automatic only restriction on my license. I ended up getting hired at one of the majors with a 100% all automatic fleet and at this point, I couldn’t even imagine going back. There have been several instances now where I have been very grateful for the ease of an automatic. Especially having to slow down quickly or navigating a downgrade. Donner Pass 5 times in the last 3 weeks! Definitely grateful for automatic bringing 76,800 pounds down it. The Jake brake will work automatically with cruise control to hold the speed. Not that it matters or I’m trying to flex here but I now drive a 2025 Cascadia with automatic transmission and while I’m sure it’s the exact same system as previous models for the last couple of years, it all works great in a 2025. I’d only ever consider a manual transmission job now if the money was just something I couldn’t pass up. At the same time, I’m glad I have the skill and ability to drive a manual, though.

It doesn’t help either that stopping at a Pilot or Flying J every night, our options are the highly processed food they provide, Subway, or Wendy’s. Cinnabon for breakfast in the morning. I appreciate they have a partnership with them so you know there’s always SOME kind of option but it’s all so bad for you. I have found the best way to eat healthy on the road is avoid all the choices the truck stops offer and stick to keeping your fridge stocked with healthy stuff.