Ways To Get Fired In Trucking?

Besides rolling the truck or getting too many tickets or accidents are there any other ways to be fired? Such as say you have a certain number of loads you delivered "Late" will they fire you after so many of them? Just curious?

I only started a few months ago and fortunately haven't been fired yet. But I've seen (probably on this site) mention of people getting fired for minor things, and people who had multiple accidents and didn't get fired. So my guess is that it really has to do with whether or not they think the driver is worth keeping. I'm guessing that someone who had a real problem with delivering on time, without some good reasons for it, would have to worry a bit.

My employer is very serious about their CSA scores.. among the many ways to get fired are: a preventable accident with damages over $2500, a speeding ticket of more than 6 mph, consuming alcohol any time you have access to a company vehicle, including 10 hour breaks, 34 hour resets, etc. Basically any time you are NOT at your residence on hometime. Consumption of alcohol less that 12 hours before operating a company vehicle. Getting banned or asked to leave one of our customer's properties. Foul language on company property. Not maintaining your tractor in clean condition. Of course this list isn't all inclusive.

Mr. T, each company is going to have certain policies in place that will dictate what type of offense will get you terminated. I work for knight, and they have a complete intolerance for things like not obeying traffic signals, and U-turns. If you get a caught running a stop sign, or a red light, or maybe speeding in a construction zone, you are history here, same goes for U-turns Lately since they started using these forward facing cameras they have actually canned some people who were considered really great drivers - the cameras are revealing their formerly secret sins. The safety director recently told me that it is heartbreaking to have to let some of these people go, but he is under directives of management above him to get rid of people who commit these types of offenses. Some of the upper management considers these as critical events that indicate a proclivity for risk. Managing risk is an important aspect of trucking management, although the ways they go about it are in a constant state of flux. Technology is aiding them with knowing what is going on in each individual truck, but it is also catching up some formerly considered safe drivers in it's ever expanding net of entrapment.

I recently saw a driver get canned for medical reasons. He was having some health issues, and the safety department deemed him as too much of a risk to be on the road while taking the new medications that he was required to be on at this point in his life. So, there are a lot of ways to lose your job in trucking besides rolling a truck.

Mr T, what makes you ask this question? I hope it's just curiosity.

I know of a couple people who were fired. One was solo flatbed and moved to reefer after an injury. While out wi th trainer.. the two got into a fight.. trainee was driving and slammed on the brakes during an argument. After much screaming and yelling the trainer jumped out of the truck and called police. Trainee fired.

One lease op pulled up on compnay property with a beer can in one hand and a six pack in another. Caught on camera and fired.

Another trainee argued with so many trainers and had such a bad attitude they decided she did not reflect the company image

Finally one lease driver of 15 years did not maintain the vehicle. There were so many DOT violations he claimed he didn't have the money to fix. His team mate said it was actually greed... he didn't want to put the truck in the shop and have it sit.

Besides rolling the truck...

Actually, in my experience, rolling the truck doesn't necessarily mean you'll get fired!

Different companies have different hot button issues. For instance, if you do a U-turn on a public roadway as a Stevens Transport driver, you will be fired. Period. No warning. One strike and you're out, with no possibility of rehire, and Stevens Transport will put a nasty little note in your record for future employers to see, indicating that you ignored company safety policies. The only exceptions being fully protected U-turn lanes specifically designed for protected U-turns (bridge underpasses and overpasses have them fairly frequently in some states) OR, if you are directed to make a U-turn by a emergency responder, and if that happens, you better get something in writing, or at the very least get a badge number and name.

Mr T, what makes you ask this question? I hope it's just curiosity.

Yea just out of curiosity. I'm not that guy lol & this is not one of those "I have a friend" things lol.

Yea just out of curiosity. I'm not that guy lol & this is not one of those "I have a friend" things lol.

Never a doubt in my mind about that T! Although we've never met, I can tell that you are not "That Guy". I do hope we cross paths one of these days, I'd love to meet you. Have thoroughly enjoyed your posts over these many months. If you wear that silly a$$ hat around the Truck Stops, I'll surely recognize you!