Profile For Justin G.

Okay thanks.

So I just finished reading the Company Sponsored programs and their requirments. There seems to be two of them that might be willing to look past my work history, and my theft charges. Central seems to be the most forgiving. Knight I might be able to qualify for. USA I might have a shot at but seems doubtful. I am wondering if it is a better idea to call and talk to a recruiter before I fill out the apps. That way they kinda have an idea of who I am, and they should be able to tell me if thos things are going to be deal breakers. What do you guys think?

Thank you everyone. I think its about time to get the ball rolling.

Okay, I know I have asked a couple of the questions before. But I am going to try and combine everything into one post so bare with me please. I am ready to get going on starting my potential career. There are just a few things I believe are holding me back.

1. I don't have a great work history. Most of my jobs have between 3-6 months. I was pretty inmature coming out of high school, and wanted to spend more time with my gf, and less time working. Well these last two years I have been kinda forced to grow up, and my last job, I probably would still be at, but I was fired for a something stupid. ( Yes I know, no one is ever fired because of something they did, but I really I am not making it up. ) Then there went about a whole year where I couldn't find a real job because it was hard to get people to hire me because I have 2 theft charges on my record. So I did various jobs here and there for cash. So Lets just say my work history sucks.

2. My background check. I have an excellent driving record. But I have been caught shoplifting twice.

3. As for right now, paying for school isn't an option I can afford. I need to go to a Company Sponsored School, which I am sure limit my options ever more given the above.

I have applied at swift which would be my preferd school to go to given I live only 3 hours away from the HQ. I have also applied for CR England. But I have not heard anything from either school and it has been about 1 1/2 months. Does anyone know how hard it will be to find a school that will take me in givin everything I mentioned?

I was wondering about my employment history. I don't have outstanding work history, usually I would work at a place from 3-6 months at a time. There was also an a whole year where I can't provide any verifiable work. I was working but it was for my brother as a general laborer and I was paid cash. how bad will that hurt me?

Okay thanks for the info.

Okay thanks for all the replys. But a little hazzy on one area. Cant advance your load, does that mean you have to leave your load at a truck stop or can you keep it attatced?

I have a question for anyone who can answer. I know I am young, not yet in the industrey, and probably a little nieve, and I understand that brake downs, bad weather, traffic, bad directions, ect can cause stress if your underpressure to deliver a load, but should it really cause all that stress? I mean as long as you drive as many miles as you can before time runs out. Deal with the weather as long as the road doens't get closed, plan for traffic ( yes I know sometimes its unavoidable, or there is traffic when you dont expect ) then really shouldn't your dispatcher understand if you get a brake down, or weather closes the road, or traffic is backed up from an accident, are all things you can't control. Or am I wrong? Do they not really care if its something you can control or not? Like, no matter what if its late its your fault kinda thing? But if thats not the case then, I don't see how you should let yourself get to stressed with it, all anyone can do is the best they can do. And if you are a driver and you really are doing everything you can do, then no one should be able to blame you right?

I have seen some people use the phrase downtime in a few posts. I am confused by what that actually means. I understand there are times where you might run out of hours durring the week. I understand that sometimes you might have like a layover weighting for a new load. I have also herd some drivers talk about how they would drive into town and find a safe spot to park the truck and go to a sports bar, have a few drinks, some go see a movie, some might go to the casino and play some card or what not, but i dont understand how? My understanding is once you are out of drive time, you cant drive your truck anymore right? Like when you run out of hours for the day, or week, doesnt your truck have to remain parked?

Thank you brett, and as awlays thanks for all of the detail you put into your answers. Your answer really put me at ease. I understand that driving on the road can and will be a lot of lonly hours, complimented with extreme stress from bad directions, tight roads, rude and unaware moterists, served with a side of people holding their nose up at you, but thats okay. I can deal with that, am a very easy going person, I adapt and just go with the flow. My biggest concern was actual truck driving school, but you put it in perspective by pointing out that if a lot of people where flunking out of it, that it would be longer than one month. I have a question about what you mean by downtime. I think i will make a new post for that question however. Might be a question a few people considering a career in trucking might want to know.