Personal Car Accident 6 Months Ago Wondering About Affect On Truck Driving School

Topic 2514 | Page 1

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Mark W.'s Comment
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Greetings Folks: I had a minor car accident about 6 months ago in Michigan. Both drivers were issued citation. I went to court and mine had been reduced to +5 over speed infraction. I had my car repaired by my insurance carrier "State Farm." I have been contemplating pursuing a career in trucking and wonder if this accident (the first I had in +25 years), would eliminate this as a career possibility? Would there be a reference to the accident on the DMV report? I know that since the ticket had been reduced to a +5 over speed infraction, I have zero points on my record. Stressing out about this as I sincerely would like to pursue trucking as a career.

Thank for any replys, in advance.

Mark

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

Wine Taster's Comment
member avatar

Minor infractions will not hurt you. They will if you have a lot of them in a short period of time. Just be honest and up front with the companies you apply with. You will be fine as long as no alcohol / drugs were involved.

Mark W.'s Comment
member avatar

Minor infractions will not hurt you. They will if you have a lot of them in a short period of time. Just be honest and up front with the companies you apply with. You will be fine as long as no alcohol / drugs were involved.

I didn't even want to bother enrolling in a trucking school if this personal accident would keep me from getting hired once I have completed training.

Thanks

Wine Taster's Comment
member avatar

If you read on this site about each company, it will tell you their requirements. Here is an example:

Swift Transportation Minimum Hiring Requirements

Must be at least 23 years of age (21 if you have served in the military). Possess a valid CDL Class A License (CDL training available). Pass a Swift written test and a Swift road test. No DWI , DUI convictions within the last 5 years. No reckless driving convictions within the last 3 years. No more than one moving violation within the last year and no more than three within the last three years. No major preventable accident within the past twelve months or more than two in the past five years. No more than one driver's license suspension in the past three years. Applicant must provide a current 5 year DMV printout. Applicant must pass the Workwell Physical Assessment, a DOT physical and DOT controlled substance and alcohol testing. A conviction form must be filled out for all misdemeanor or felony convictions. This does not necessarily disqualify you from employment.

Read up on each company. For the most part, they all require the same stuff.

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.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

DUI:

Driving Under the Influence

DWI:

Driving While Intoxicated

Mark W.'s Comment
member avatar

So based upon that example:

I would likely not get hired by Swift for at least another 6 months until more time has elapsed after my personal auto accident of 6 months ago. I should probably put off CDL training for a few months then..

Thanks for the reply

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.
Daniel B.'s Comment
member avatar

Mark, what you need to do is call the companies and tell them your situation. See if they'll be interested in you. They'll have you fill out an application and then your recruiter will have an answer for you later after they reviewed it. You can't give up because of a text. This industry demands effort, you got to want it - especially with a stain on your record.

So call the companies before you start changing your mind. I would even opt for a Company sponsored school because upon graduation, it guarantees you a job with that company. Your first company isn't important, they're almost all identical. What matters is you getting your foot in the door and then after a full year of safe driving your opportunities will be endless even with that ticket. So just aim to get into trucking no matter the company. Your first company isn't as important as you think it is.

So call every company out there and apply. If you go to a private school you could struggle to find work afterwards that's why I recommend a company sponsored school. Forget about the year contract, you must stay with your first company for a year so that contract means nothing if you have to do it anyway.

If no one will take you then wait. But you need to put your name out there and see if someone will take you. I doubt you'll struggle as much as you think you will. A speeding ticket is bad, but if it were over 15mph then you're done for. Be thankful it was reduced to just 5 over the limit.

Your fate is not set in stone, you easily have a chance. If you don't apply and call to AT LEAST 10 different companies then the only person you can blame is yourself. Your situation could be a lot worse.

Get to work on those companies!

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar

Yeah, I would definitely speak with some companies and see what they say. One accident isn't going to stop you in your tracks. Some companies might pass on you for a bit but many others I believe will give you a shot.

You can apply for pre-hires also. If you're not familiar with that process we have an excellent article about Understanding The Pre-Hire Process. You can use our Truck Driving Jobs to apply, including our feature where you can apply for truck driving jobs with one application.

Pre-hire:

What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?

Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.

We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.

A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment

The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.

During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.

Pre-hires:

What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?

Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.

We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.

A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment

The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.

During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.

Highway Grunt0311's Comment
member avatar

Hey bud, you're stressing for no reason. when I was 18 I got pulled over by a cop driving my pickup truck. I just turned 18 a little prior. When he asked for my license, that's where it went south lol. I had a Florida Id and Military ID but no Class E ( floridas operators) he gave me a ticket for operating a vehicle without a license. Had to get my operators before the court date which was the following week (expedited due to deployment reasons) paid ticket and court cost and thats that. didn't care about my record planed on being a career Marine. two months before I turned 21 I was Medically discharged. day I turned 21 put an app in at crst even told them about the ticket. Hired no problem. even at the company I was with for quite a while. didn't pay it mind. I get my DAC mailed every year so it shows up but its not a issue I guess. So maybe this gives you a little hope. You're not in as bad a situation as you think.

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

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