Profile For Daryl W.

Thanks for the response and sorry for any confusion about my post. I have filled out an online application and am working with a couple of companies to start the process of getting back behind the wheel of a big rig and back on the road. I am going to try and answer some of the questions you did pose, here goes. I was let go according to the company because I did not report to them a prescription I was given for helping calm the inflammation of pinched nerves. I was given a note by my Doctor telling me that if I felt symptoms getting worse to stop what I was doing, working the yard spotting trailers in the middle of the winter here in Minnesota, and get in to see them asap. I saw the Doctor and went in to work that day, working for a few weeks before noticing any issues. Before these issues arrived I did not inform my direct supervisor, via copy of the report from the Doctor until the issues flared up. At that point I scanned and emailed them a copy of the report, which included a line stating that there was a medication being prescribed. According to my supervisor, once he read this report he informed me that my failure to report the Doctors notes and the prescribed medicine were reasons for termination. I was never given a drug test as they were not narcotic type drugs, so that was not the reason either. Phew. Hope this is followable. I am looking to get into a regional run and maybe even over the road when being offered a position of driving again. After filling out the online application on the Trucking Truth website, I have received several calls about driving positions. Now it is to see who I would like to pursue and where they run.

Daryl, sorry to hear about your difficulty. Hey, I have to admit that your post confused me a little, and I'm not sure how to help based on the information given. So, I'm going to ask a few questions.

Are you wanting to continue driving a local job, or would you consider doing over the road?

I'm not sure I'm clear on exactly why you were let go - how would they know that you had gotten a prescription medication? I don't really know of any regulations that say you can't get a prescription and not let your employer know about it. Now if you were drug tested and the medication showed up without you revealing before the test that you were taking that prescribed medication then that would make some sense to me, but I can't quite follow the scenario you've given us.

Did you have a failed drug test? I don't really see how that is possible because you stated that you never took the prescribed medication. I'm just confused, maybe I'm missing something. It appears you are saying they let you go because you didn't tell them that a physician prescribed you some form of medication, but that is not grounds for dismissal, and how did they find out about this prescription?

I don't see a lot of problems for you to get back into driving, but I'm not sure we have the whole story here. Can you be a little more specific with us?

I went thru a local driving school, past my course work, received my license and went to work driving for a local company. All seemed to be going well. I was driving overnights delivering goods, then home days. Could not sleep well even after blacking out my room from sunlight. Changed positions within the company and started spotting trailers in a yard. All was going okay until I had to see a doctor. I was given a prescription that was filled, yet I did not take any of it, and this being my first foray in to the federally mandated/governed career of driving, I did not tell my employer of the prescription and was let go. My question being this; how do I get back in to driving and be upfront with prospective employers about this? Any and all replies would be welcomed.

Thanks guyjax for the response and advise. I did receive a copy of a background check from my application with Schneider. It has really cleared up my fears of the misdemeanors, as none were found in their search. Their company went back 7 years, and like I said, my most recent one was 15 years ago. Have a Safe day out on the roads!

Daryl W.

Thanks for responding Guy. My issues in my past, and I mean 20 plus years ago in my past, that I did not work very much and I was an Alcoholic and Drug addict. I have been clean and sober for 17 years now and have had a very successful 17 years at that. My past includes 3 misdemeanors, 1 of them being uncased shotgun in a vehicle. All of those have been taken care of by paying the fines and any and all probation periods being satisfied. I have had a DUI that happened 22 years ago. Took me 5 years to sober up how ever after that, but I did. The only history from my past I am worried about is passing the TSA background check for carrying hazmat materials. I was discharged from the Marines with a General Discharge under Other than Honorable conditions, and it was for drugs. I have passed a BCA background check how ever to be an Interstate Escort Driver for over sized loads. Do these 2 checks coincide with each other? I was just finger printed and submitted the application to the TSA on Tuesday. Thanks again for your reply!

Daryl W.

Hello all, My name is Daryl and I live in Minnesota and am currently enrolled in a trucking school here. I have been on this website since June of this year and I want to thank you for having this site here to help us all considering a career as a professional truck driver. The CDL study guide was so VERY helpful in getting myself going. I spent almost a month studying the guides before I even joined the school. I am currently licensed thanks to you and the school. I am now learning how to shift a hi/lo transmission and also the HOS guides. Here at our school we have recruiters for companies coming in 1-2 times a week and gives us all a chance to look them over and ask any and all questions we may have at that time. We also have the ability to send in pre-hire applications with which ever company we are interested in to see where we may find a career. I was just reading Tracy from Montana's posts about his fears of his last job situation and training. I too have had some minor issues in my past history, the most recent being 15 years ago. I really had some hesitations about even mentioning these, but being truthful is the key. One major carrier recruiter called me, thanked me for my application and told me I was not being considered because of this past history. I asked politely and professionally why they would consider something from that far back as a disqualifier? She told me it was company policy and I left it at that. About a week later she called me back and told me they took another look at my application and are making me a offer once I finish my school. I did learn a lesson from that and it is that honesty is the best policy and to ask questions. I am looking forward to finishing out my school and getting in with a company and getting out on to the open road as a Professional, safe driver.

Thanks again all of you!

Daryl W.

Thanks for the post. I am currently enrolled in a Truck Driving school in Minnesota and we get recruiters in here every week. I have been in contact with Schneider and one other Company in regards to working for them after completion of school. The other company sent out a detailed list of most of the things you had mentioned in your question list. I am really looking forward to my time out on the road once I finish this school and the training by what ever company I do decide to go with.

Daryl W. aka Bubba D