Had To Downgrade Class A TX CDL. I Want My CDL Back. What Do I Do Here?

You are very right.... a lot of people on here are following your progress and praying for you . We all are waiting for you to give us that good news

Good luck to you...! Be patient with JP. They tend to take a bit longer to process applications. Not a bad thing...

Please keep us posted.

Will do G-Town and thanks again. I sure hope everything goes ok. I got a lot of people praying for me so I think I will be just fine.

Thanks. I sure am excited but nervous also. I need all the prayers I can get.

IMPORTANT Update here: Well as of 1PM EDT today, I have been turned down for CDL retraining with Jim Palmer/Wil-Trans Trucking. I know this is not the response I was hoping for, however, I am optimistic for the future. I will just have to wait a while before I can reapply. I was turned down because of an incident I had at a truck stop when I was a rookie driver with Schneider National that is still showing up on my DAC report. This was from the first time I had my CDL before. I ordered a copy of my DAC before applying to make sure that everything gets disclosed on my application. Sometimes due to time, we forget things. Lord knows I do. LOL, anyway, the recruiter was very upfront and honest with me about the requirements and didn't waste my time any further. I appreciate their honesty and already am wanting to reapply with them when the incident falls off. Speaking of which, how long does it take for an accident to fall off of one's DAC and PSP reports? Whenever that day comes then I will reapply. Not before. Anyway thank you all for your help and I truly am grateful to you all that you all have this site.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

DAC:

Drive-A-Check Report

A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).

It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.

Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

Below is what I sent to the owner of Carolina cargo:

Hey Jim, I have a question, I am a member on a forum called Trucking Truth that encourages people to get into trucking. There is this gentleman on there that is down on his luck. He had to downgrade his CDL back in April 2016 because he did not have money to do his medical back in Texas, moved out to Florida to look for work but unfortunately his wife left him and things got tougher for him, he wants to get back into the trucking world but cannot afford the expenses for his CDL. Is there any position in your outfit or is there any type of training program that you might know that could help him get back in trucking? With your knowledge of the trucking world what can of advice will you have for him. Thank you very much in advance for your input.

Below is what I sent to the owner of Carolina cargo:

Hey Jim, I have a question, I am a member on a forum called Trucking Truth that encourages people to get into trucking. There is this gentleman on there that is down on his luck. He had to downgrade his CDL back in April 2016 because he did not have money to do his medical back in Texas, moved out to Florida to look for work but unfortunately his wife left him and things got tougher for him, he wants to get back into the trucking world but cannot afford the expenses for his CDL. Is there any position in your outfit or is there any type of training program that you might know that could help him get back in trucking? With your knowledge of the trucking world what can of advice will you have for him. Thank you very much in advance for your input.

Do they take you through their own company sponsored school or do you have to already have a CDL to get on with them? I haven't found any info on Carolina Cargo on this site here in the company reviews section.

Another Important Update:

Hey Brett, the homeless outreach center I have been getting help from is finally going to help me relocate to Iowa for more opportunities to get back into this. Plus the cost of living is a lot cheaper and as you stated in your first post with me, if I stay in the midwest there will be a lot more opportunities. Anyway, what I wanted to ask you is when I get there, I am wanting to get a new e-mail address. When I do, will yall be able to change my username and e-mail address on my truckingtruth profile or will I have to close this one and start up a new one? Please let me know ASAP. Thanks. I appreciate it.

Hey that's great news! Really glad to see that things are moving along for you!

We will certainly be able to update your email address for you, no problem. And you can always change the username that's visible to everyone at anytime. If you click the "Menu" button near the top right of the page you'll see "My Profile" as one of the options. You can go there and update your information anytime you like.

Keep us updated and best of luck!

Hey that's great news! Really glad to see that things are moving along for you!

We will certainly be able to update your email address for you, no problem. And you can always change the username that's visible to everyone at anytime. If you click the "Menu" button near the top right of the page you'll see "My Profile" as one of the options. You can go there and update your information anytime you like.

Keep us updated and best of luck!

Will do and thanks. I sure appreciate it. I will update yall again on things when I get residency established in Iowa. This is going to open up so many more doors for me. I am excited to get back into this. BTW: do yall have any info on CFI or Carolina Cargo? Do they train you to obtain a CDL or do you already have to have your CDL to get back with them? Also, I have been reading up on CRST and I know from other driver's posts about them that they are very notorious for holding you to your contract which I think is 1 year? Correct me there if I am wrong please. Anyway when your contract is up, will they give you a notorized letter of release saying that you fulfilled your contract with them? Whoever I end up going with, I will stick with them at least a year, but I want to make sure that I wont be on the hook with them after that 1 year is up.

Do they train you to obtain a CDL or do you already have to have your CDL to get back with them?

Above should read "to get with them." I never worked for CFI, Carolina Cargo or CRST in the past. Anyway, also I am considering Swift as well. So many options, especially once I get to Iowa.

CFI changes about every other week right now. Yes, they are doing training now and we're working on getting their information from them. They were bought by Con-Way, became Con-Way Freight, then bought by XPO, then sold to Transforce, now they're CFI, again. Ask me again tomorrow and there will probably be three more name changes!

CRST is a good company but they mostly only run teams. I believe their contract is 8 months, not 12, and they will certainly release you once you fulfill the contract and I'm sure they'll give you something in writing to show that. But it's a good question to ask their recruiters.

Carolina Cargo is considered a second chance company and there pay is pretty low. We've actually heard from quite a few people that worked there and they had nothing but great things to say about the company. But you can almost certainly find better pay elsewhere.

CFI changes about every other week right now. Yes, they are doing training now and we're working on getting their information from them. They were bought by Con-Way, became Con-Way Freight, then bought by XPO, then sold to Transforce, now they're CFI, again. Ask me again tomorrow and there will probably be three more name changes!

CRST is a good company but they mostly only run teams. I believe their contract is 8 months, not 12, and they will certainly release you once you fulfill the contract and I'm sure they'll give you something in writing to show that. But it's a good question to ask their recruiters.

Carolina Cargo is considered a second chance company and there pay is pretty low. We've actually heard from quite a few people that worked there and they had nothing but great things to say about the company. But you can almost certainly find better pay elsewhere.

Thanks so much. Appreciate the reply. Once I get to Iowa, I have so many options.