Getting A Job While Finishing SAP

I am 8 months into a 12 month SAP program and the company I have worked at for the last 9 months has just dropped their company drivers to go all O/O. I have a good driving record with over 3 years OTR and will have a great reccomendation from this company, does anyone know of any good companies that will hire me as I finish this? I live in FL and don't have a problem staying out extended periods. They would love to keep me, runnng 3000+ mi a week on avg, but I have to buy a truck to stay here and am not sure I want to do that even though they have great routes.

Have you been returned to driving status yet - or are you still in the counseling/program phase of the Return To Duty protocol?

How much OTR experience do you have (or did you have at the time you failed a drug/alcohol screen)? Did you fail for prescription or recreational substances (alcohol, weed, etc.)?

For better or worse - even folks completing SAP , have a difficult time returning to road. If the company you failed a screen with, will actually take you back post-SAP, that's typically your best bet. Most companies will keep you at arms length despite completing a SAP/Return To Duty Protocol, because you are still considered "High Risk".

Most folks in the industry, consider a failed DOT Drug Screen to be the KISS OF DEATH for a driving career. It's incredibly rare that we hear of folks getting back in directly following SAP completion, unless they were a valued employee and their company takes them back. Getting on with a new company, after being terminated for a DOT Screen is next to impossible - at least for a number of years, post-SAP.

Rick

I am 8 months into a 12 month SAP program and the company I have worked at for the last 9 months has just dropped their company drivers to go all O/O. I have a good driving record with over 3 years OTR and will have a great reccomendation from this company, does anyone know of any good companies that will hire me as I finish this? I live in FL and don't have a problem staying out extended periods. They would love to keep me, runnng 3000+ mi a week on avg, but I have to buy a truck to stay here and am not sure I want to do that even though they have great routes.

Are any of the people who are coming on as O/Os willing to hire you to drive one of their trucks? It's risky to work for an O/O, but that might be a good option in your situation if it will allow you to stay on at your company. Just a thought.

I have been cleared and am 8 tests into a required 12. I'm probably going to buy a truck and stay with the company I'm driving for today becaus ethe companies that will hire me won't pay what I'm making now and it just seems easier to take the leap and go O/O.

it just seems easier to take the leap and go O/O.

Oh my friend......I have to say, that really shows a complete lack of understanding about what you'd be getting yourself into. There isn't anything easy about becoming an owner operator.

Ask yourself this.......if it's so easy owning trucks and hauling freight then why is the company you were working for getting out of that business and going into the brokerage business instead?

I sincerely hope you'll look for more alternatives so you can remain a company driver.

I have been cleared and am 8 tests into a required 12. I'm probably going to buy a truck and stay with the company I'm driving for today becaus ethe companies that will hire me won't pay what I'm making now and it just seems easier to take the leap and go O/O.

If you are back driving (as in, completed the initial SAP , and have been back to driving for awhile), and the company will give you a good reference - I would start applying NOW.

You will NEED TO DISCLOSE the failed DOT Screen - but having gone through the initial SAP, and having been back to driving, you aren't going to get an offer from EVERY COMPANY. But the fact that the company you failed the screen with took you back and you have been back on the road passing your monthly screens, certainly works in your favor. You are going to need to PUSH the recruiters though, because a failed screen pretty much puts you on the "No Fly Pile" automatically. LET THEM KNOW that the company put you back out on the road. This demonstrates that you are a VALUABLE DRIVER that made a mistake, and took the steps to come back from that mistake.

If the company you are working for is going ALL O/O - but they are going to "sell you the truck", then they are likely going to be LEASING it to you. As Brett says - the reason WHY a company would go this route, is to take the responsibility for maintaining a fleet out of their pocket, and PUTTING IT IN YOURS.

While a company that will hire you - may not pay as much as you are making WHERE YOU CURRENTLY ARE as a company driver - there is no guarantee you will be making that much there, as an O/O either - once you take on the financial responsibility of the truck yourself.

Taking on that responsibility is in no way "easier" (as Brett elaborates), than simply getting in SOMEONE ELSES equipment - and getting from point A-B on time without hitting anything.

Please let us know what you decide and how you progress. I for one, am certainly interested in hearing how it goes for an experienced driver that went through a SAP, got to drive again, then needed to switch companies. Most of the failed screens we hear about here, are folks that are new to the industry and drop a hot at their initial hire orientation. And those guys have pretty much blown their chances to ever get behind the wheel.

Best of luck to you...

Rick