Profile For Pete B.

This post leaves me with so many questions, before I can even entertain the idea of giving advice… where to begin… you got caught with a drug you use for depression. Do you have a prescription for this drug, or are you self-medicating? Is this drug considered an illegal substance? Yes I know, outside of trucking, marijuana is legal in most states, but in the trucking industry it is illegal. Not saying the drug you got caught with is pot, but you didn’t say what it was, so I’m left wondering…. … You wrote, “it wears off by then.” What does that even mean? You took this drug when you pulled into the truck stop, and expected it to have worn off by the end of your shower and your rest break? Why did another truck driver even report you, were you exhibiting signs of being under the influence of something? Was it erratic behavior? … … Where were you parked if not in a parking spot? Were there parking spots available and you just decided to create your own parking spot? And I’m trying to figure out the timeline here… you pulled into a truckstop, seemed suspicious enough to another driver that they reported you to the police, the police responded, all the while you are still on duty? That’s some hella quick response by the police. … … With so little real information to go on, I’d say you’ve most definitely sidetracked your driving career. Doesn’t matter that your background or clearinghouse is clear if your former company is going to report your termination due to drug use. Moving forward, you need to reestablish your credibility. And use better judgment. If you are clinically depressed, get a prescription for medication that is approved by the FMCSA. DO NOT self-medicate. Apply everywhere, but go ahead and pass on the mega-carriers. They’re going to learn about this history and won’t touch you. It likely won’t be your dream job, but it appears you’ve made a series of bad decisions here, and now have to live with them. If this is a lifestyle/endeavor you really want to pursue, suck it up and do the dirty work for three or so years, then hopefully better opportunities will come your way. Best of luck to you!

Good Morning James,

A good CB set up is subject to the old consumer virtue "You get what you pay for". Please bear in mind a good CB setup will let you hear what's happening miles ahead and will allow you to divert from major delays and also be safer by knowing what's coming around the next mountain curve.

There are many good CB brands. Cobra is a good brand many drivers use. I personally have a President McKinley. It has auto squelch and weather band.

I'd recommend finding a truck stop where you are commonly routed that has a reputable CB shop to provide and install the antenna and coax right there. Then they can hook it up to your CB and tune it right there. I can personally recommend the CB shop at the TA on Burr St, in Gary, Indiana.

All in you will pay $300-$400 if you take this route. Again, what results are you willing to pay for? My CB set up paid for itself in about a year with potential lost time and being able to avoid major delays.

Good luck in your search!

ZJ, I’ve spoken to the guy who runs that shop, real nice fella… great reviews on him, but I don’t think he has an installer. Did you put your CB/antenna in yourself, or did he recommend someone? I’m looking to upgrade… I don’t know if it’s the installation, or my equipment… But my range seems pretty weak. I’m also not very confident in my own skills as an installer…

Do you want to connect with California military truck drivers, or do you want to try and fill alleged critical shortages of truck drivers? Or are you asking how does one transition from the military to a truck driver with a CDL? I don’t think anyone’s responded before now because your post is all over the place… I can’t tell if you are a troll or just really don’t know what it is you’re looking for. The FMCSA already has established pathways for persons transitioning from the military to truck driver. Here’s a link for you: military to CDL holders … … I spent about three seconds finding that link.

Thanks to all... I have conditional offer of Employment from KLLM of Jackson MS actually located in Richland...for their student driver academy..

Congratulations! KLLM is a fine company… I have a friend who started there, then transitioned over to their sister company, Frozen Foods Express, before opting for a daily/local job as a fuel hauler. Good luck, hope to hear that you’re on the roads soon!

Your incidents will definitely make it difficult, but perhaps not impossible. You won’t really know until you start filling out applications. In your case, I would only apply to companies who send you to their own CDL program, or company-sponsored CDL, companies like Swift, Prime, Western Express… check out this link for a more comprehensive list… If you go to a private school or somewhere where you’re paying out-of-pocket for your CDL, once you have that CDL in hand, and then realize you’re not finding a company who will hire you… you’ve just wasted your money on a CDL you can’t use. Going through a company-sponsored CDL program is your best bet. Also, don’t waste your time reading reviews of companies, just fill out the applications and take what you can get. No one becomes a millionaire their first year in trucking, that first year is all about gaining experience. Best of luck to you.

Do not follow Jessica’s advice, because it’s terrible [armchair] advice. Hire a lawyer and fight this? Waste of your time and money. Schneider‘s expected revenue in 2025 is $2 billion. You or anyone who thinks they have lawyers who don’t know the law, and/or don’t know how to manipulate the law are kidding yourselves. Who are you? Someone who is going to have to admit to being a drug user, and who did stop using, and congratulations on that, but not so recently that the drugs aren’t still showing up in your system. This industry isn’t going anywhere. Stay clean, get gainful employment outside the trucking industry for the next three years, and then try again. Stay clean, stay gainfully employed, and you won’t have any issues becoming a truck driver, if that’s what you really want to do.

Congratulations Kearsey, on both accomplishments! I wish you continued success in driving and in health!

Hi Francis, I too work for Schneider, so I’ll share a little advice, which likely applies to the other megas as well…to your point of calling in and waiting on hold for 34+ mins, the fastest way to reach anyone, whether it’s during normal business hours or after hours, is to send in a freeform message from your tablet. Calling in is just going to put you in a queue behind a bunch of other callers, who all have very serious reasons for their calling in (that’s sarcasm), and your leader’s time will vary from a few minutes to who-knows-when before he/she can get to you. Sending in a message will accomplish the same task, but with no wait, which is to let Schneider know you are running late and why, and adds the benefit of putting a timestamp on it, so your butt is covered, which is the main reason you’re contacting Schneider anyway… to cya.

You are discouraged from contacting the customer directly because historically speaking, most of the time when drivers do contact the consignee, it’s to ask if they can deliver early. Enough customers have complained about that that Schneider’s blanket policy is simply, Do Not Call The Customer. Can you call the customer? Of course. But when you do, be your most humble and appreciative self that you can be. The primary reason I’ll contact the consignee is to inquire about overnight parking. Sometimes I get lucky and the conversation does take a turn to delivering early, but that’s never the obvious intent of my call. Phone numbers provided with the shipments are sometimes nonexistent or outdated. This is where Google Maps is your friend. You can pull the customer up on Google Maps, and sometimes you will find a phone number listed there.

Finding yourself in a situation where you’re going to be late making a delivery, is not a good reason to contact the customer. Unless you have a good relationship with a receiver… someone you’ve delivered to previously and have built a rapport with… or you’re on a dedicated account and you go there frequently… send the message in to Schneider and let Schneider handle it. You’ve done your job in letting your employer know you’ll be late and why… now let them handle dealing with the customer.

Lastly, you mentioned grabbing a shower before heading out to the customer… I am sure you realize it now, but that wasn’t a wise move. You’ve got to manage your time better. Work that shower in during your 10 hour break, or after the delivery. When you’re on a load, you have one job: make the delivery safely, legally, and on time. If the appointment time is a set time, try and get there 30 minutes early. That’s acceptable. If it’s a delivery window, try to get there as soon as that window opens. I hope this has been informative.

Best of luck moving forward, stay safe my friend!

Hi Robert, First off, I commend you on holding yourself accountable for your accident; many drivers post their accident stories on here, blaming everything under the sun except the one thing responsible: themselves. Your boss is right; countless new drivers have minor incidents and every company that hires new drivers is well aware of this. This being your first accident, expect a slap on the wrist and in some instances a safety video or two you might have to watch. Sounds like in your case you’re not even going to get the videos. Yes, this will show up on your record, and will remain there for three years. That won’t be a problem for you unless you decide to leave this company to drive for another. For the remainder of your driving career, anytime you fill out an application you must list this accident on the application, even if it’s the only accident you’re involved in and 20 years have passed.

I do have a question for you, though. Do you have mirrors on your fenders? If you do, and you’ve got the regular mirror with fish eye mirror mounted outside both doors, you really have should seen the other driver… The only true blind spot is the space directly behind your trailer, where no mirror can capture what’s directly behind you. Maybe you need to adjust your mirrors. Next time you’re driving, fix your eyes on a car behind you, do this for both sides of your semi. Follow it from a point behind you until it passes you and you can see it in front of you without using your mirrors. The entire time it should be visible in either your fender mirror or your side mirrors.

Other than that, take care, don’t let this incident rattle you, I know you’ll do fine. Sounds like you’ve got a real nice boss who I’m sure appreciated your holding yourself accountable for the accident. Good job; drive safe.

Thanks for the advice Old School, I really really appreciate it! Sorry it took me long so long to get back to this, but you know… trucking. I went with the 4.5 qt. model… I’d like to be able to cook a week’s worth of meals at one time. Of course you’ll get an invite! I’d be honored to have you over to my “house” for dinner! :)