Profile For RickyTrevor88

Thanks brett, that is exactly the impression I was under as well being that I am a first-year driver and having so many incidents regardless of who's fault it is yes there were definitely times that I could have done things differently for instants my first non-preventable was exactly as you described with parking on the end of a row and having somebody come by and rub their trailer smear across the front and of my engine compartment and other times where I am not in control like when a shipper specifically instructed me to park somewhere but regardless I am still discouraged because I wanted to become an LTL truck driver by putting my on the road experience to good use I'd like to think that I am a safe driver and that I do everything possible to prevent these types of events but you're right there are always things that can be done differently and hindsight and that's part of the learning process they only bad thing is when you have to learn things the hard way and it burns you from achieving your goals or at least postpones them for a significant amount of time they on the road lifestyle is great for people who are able to maintain their families on the road but I am not one of those people while I do enjoy the on the road lifestyle it is too difficult to keep things at home together for me everybody is different but I do appreciate everyone's words of encouragement on this forum and appreciate the responses I have received from this thread all of it has been helpful information and that's about it for this one thanks a lot guys be safe out there

all of the above was correct the preventable incident occurred after one month of me driving on my own so it was at the beginning of the last year of driving I did indeed order my PSP scores and my DAC report prior to applying as well as A 10 year MVR I came in and took a road test took a drug test had my picture taken for my badge and had already previously disclosed my preventable and two non-preventable incidents on the application and was told by the terminal manager that he did not see anything on my record that looked like it would disqualify me from employment there however after I was already a submitted applicant and had that non-preventable occur in the third instance I contacted this company immediately to notify them about the non-preventable and had already been given a contingent offer of employment after I called and told them about the non-preventable incident that happened after I was asked submitted applicant two days later I got a call saying that corporate didn't give me any reasons on why they were taking away the contingent job offer I am still driving with my current company and I am completely baffled as to why they would decide to have me come in and do all of that stuff for them and give me a contingent job offer and then conveniently take it away a day after I notified them of that third nonpreventable incident that occurred

thanks for the advice Big Scott yea that minor back incident happened in my first month of being out by myself and has never happened sinse nor will it ever happen again I learned very quickly that GOAL was a mandatory thing when I have doubts. do you guys think the reason that the LTL company resigned the offer because I got a non-preventable accident during the application process? And yes this is an entirely true story I did my very best to include any and all details of any questions that may arise to my story but I am being honest with the facts here I believe I am a safe driver and that I have very terrible luck like with most everything else in my life and I try not to let it break my positivity but I appreciate the responses and will definitely be asking when I am eligible to reapply. also anything that I am listing here as a non-preventable event has always occurred while I am in off-duty or sleeper berth status and parked somewhere so my company fully acknowledges them as non-preventable.

Come on, no one has any advice or input on this??

I have been working for a major reefer company who I obtained my CDL through. I completed my year contract with them and have always aspired to be a Line-Haul driver after I got through my first year. During my first year of driving I had 1 minor backing incident that was preventable (rookie mistake misjudging where a mudflap hanger was poking out doh!) Also I have been hit twice, once at a truckstop while parked in designated parking spot and in Off-duty status (non-preventable on my end) and once at a shipper by some yahoo that worked at the shipper who had been watching to much fast n furious and lost control and struck my parked truck while I was asleep in the Sleeper berth. I parked where directed by security staff and even got a signed statement from him that I was told to park there and had all my marker lights on.

I ended up getting transported to the hospital and was treated for lower lumbar strain, was cleared by company approved doctor and released to drive after a week (this too was a non-preventable on my end) So fast forward to the end of my year driving with no more incidents, and I finally put in an app. with my desired LTL company of choice. I was called in for an interview/road test/drug test/ background and work history verification and was given a contingent offer of employment. I was very excited as this company pays very well and I would have been home every week for two days!! horray!!

I was called three days later and told They needed to schedule a lift test due to the disclosed back injury from that shipper's employee who hit me (see above) The appointment for the lift test was scheduled. On that same day I picked up a trailer and started having tire problems down the road, I pulled over, contacted the road assist department of my current employer, sent pictures, was told to keep rolling despite my request for a new tire. Well...as you would probably guess, 3 miles down the road, tire blew, went onto the interstate, I pulled over, was setting cones out and some 4-wheeler runs off the road to dodge the obstructing and rested tire. Being a rookie and not knowing better, and following the honor code, I told my company, they told me to contact police, when patrol arrives I claim the tire (now I know too late that was a mistake) This event goes down as my 3rd non-preventable, not at fault, no citations issued incident.

The next day I call and send emails to the future prospective employer of this situation, was called the next day by them and told that corporate had decided to rescind my contingent offer, with no explanation, so.....bye-bye dream job, this has lead me to believe that I'm not even hireable at this point. I'm extremely discouraged, want out of OTR, and am considering going back to welding (a job where peeing in a cup and passing a weld test= hired with no other federal DOT laws to stop me from said employment) Does anyone have any advice for someone who paid their dues and got screwed? Please help!!

We'll Its been a while since I posted last but here goes: I have been a Solo Company Driver for Prime Inc. for 3 months now, It has been a ton of learning but thought I would give some feedback to my first few months alone at the wheel for this company since a lot of people seem to be in the dark about the company side. First let me start by saying that I had an extremely harsh trainer that eventually grew on me and we became great friends after it was all said and done. I know people get discouraged during the TNT phase due to "mistreatment" but the fact of the matter is, these guys want you to learn what they have to teach in a very short amount of time...If you can't handle someone criticizing your every move in a 80'000 pound death machine, then trucking probably isn't going to be your fort`e.

I had a buddy I met during PSD that ended up leaving prime shortly after getting his CDL to go work for another company because he "didn't like how his trainer treated him" Well I kept in touch and guess what?? He has complaints about the company/truck/miles he was getting after he went to ditch out on his agreement...meanwhile I am getting 3000-4000 miles per week IN THE WINTERTIME, and I have an APU and a 2015 TRUCK.....Thats practically brand new futuristic trucking gear right there...but I digress, I am in a lightweight and have the ultimate set-up, A double door fridge/freezer combo (for saving bucks on food) and a really nice shelving system in the back to accommodate a microwave, and my music studio (I like to produce music while OTR).

These lightweights have plenty of space for the lone rangers of the road and if you find yourself in a lightweight, given a little bit of savvy intellect, you too shall reap the rewards! I get a fuel bonus every single week, I don't have to fuel as much as the "cooler" full sized guys do, and I feel like I have more space than I need, so don't let all this talk about not having a condo get you down, because the lightweights definitely hold up for you pioneers of the free road.

I made it 2 months without any trouble and so far my only major mistake was when I was backing in a parking lot in Indiana where I had wide open space to back into a slot next to another prime truck, and my mudflap hanger hit his truck and caused me to take a hard look at what I thought I was doing right when backing. Lesson learned a hard way, but ever since I have become more conscious than ever when maneuvering and have become a better driver because of it. Driving on the company side of Prime is a great gig! I have enjoyed learning how to become a proficient driver, and how to manage my time in a effective manner.

My dispatcher is a cool guy who makes sure I get my miles, and even goes so far as to give me loads before I have hours to drive them because he knows I'm a mile monster! If you are just getting into trucking and want great training, this company is a great way to go, as long as you can suck it up, and learn what somebody has to teach you will be very successful with these guys! I enjoy serving Prime Inc. and I am very grateful for what they offer in terms of giving us rookies a chance at a great career. Don't let all this internet BS scare you from getting into a truck and hauling in an ALL-AMERICAN BIG RIG!

P.S. Thanks to everyone on this forum who have answered questions I had when I was in training I am grateful for you. Be SAFE out there y'all! Only a few months left of winter (thank gawd!)

If the trainer is lease/op, they are the ones paying your checks.... They make a bit more because they get to keep all the revenue (%72 for reefer) and only have to pay you .14cpm, since yall are constantly moving, its more loads that they can accomplish in a given week, which generates more revenue...more loads= more money. Your getting payed a tiny slice of that at 14cpm while in turn they pocket most of the load (aside from truck expenses and fuel)

Oh yeah, figuring out where and how is already gettin my nerves racked. I have a notebook so a "where and how to park" section sounds very key. I'm sure either way, I'll eventually get to that point where Ill be offered a chance for a dedicated or regional.

I'm gunna go ahead and agree with the above... I had my permit and dot physical and it was useless during PSD...but hey I did know all the stuff for the permit written exam lol...but yeah its a waste of your time and $$ that you can otherwise save for your training.

@Rainy very helpful words! Yeah my trainer runs a condo freightliner, Im not a huge stickler for the truck, but I understand the international lightweights are a little roomier, but as you said, Ill be less stressed when I'm on my own and driving so thats my goal. I'm not looking to return home often, but I really hate the northeast as I used to live in Mass and New york for 5 years and have no wishes to return. And if there is a way I can prevent having to haul up there by going dedicated or regional....I want In!! But thanks alot for clearing out my head. Be Safe out there!!!