Terminated During Training, No Verifiable OTR Experience. Any Company Advice?

@Banks,

Unfortunatley, that's what I expected. I applied to CFI and they called me within like 20 minutes, I just have to figure out getting a certificate of completion. They said without documentation of me completing a CDL course, they can't do anything with me.. so for them I have to figure that out.

Since you bring up Dutch Maid, are they a good company to work for ? I haven't heard of them, but just looked them up, Thank you for the responses and advice, I appreciate it.

Packrat answered your certificate of completion question. As for whether or not a company is good to work for, that's subjective. I can't answer that, but at this point that should be the least of your worries. You have very few options and TMC is going to want their money.

Second chance companies are that for a reason. They take more of a risk and in return they pay you less.

You need to change some habits. First, always GOAL. Second, a truck shouldn't be able to run you off the road. If it's snowing stay to the right. Somebody tries to pass you slow down and let them pass completely. As for the accident in your POV, it sounds like negligence. You drifted out of your lane in an area you're probably familiar with. No excuse for that.

If somebody is willing to give you a chance take it and worry about "a good company to work for" later.

You will never get a certificate of completion from a company until the tuition is paid for.

I would also wager that before this Friday, a debt collection company will be handling this for TMC.

I'll be most likely talking to them about that tomorrow. Thank you for the response, i appreciate it.

@Banks,

Unfortunatley, that's what I expected. I applied to CFI and they called me within like 20 minutes, I just have to figure out getting a certificate of completion. They said without documentation of me completing a CDL course, they can't do anything with me.. so for them I have to figure that out.

Since you bring up Dutch Maid, are they a good company to work for ? I haven't heard of them, but just looked them up, Thank you for the responses and advice, I appreciate it.

Packrat answered your certificate of completion question. As for whether or not a company is good to work for, that's subjective. I can't answer that, but at this point that should be the least of your worries. You have very few options and TMC is going to want their money.

Second chance companies are that for a reason. They take more of a risk and in return they pay you less.

You need to change some habits. First, always GOAL. Second, a truck shouldn't be able to run you off the road. If it's snowing stay to the right. Somebody tries to pass you slow down and let them pass completely. As for the accident in your POV, it sounds like negligence. You drifted out of your lane in an area you're probably familiar with. No excuse for that.

If somebody is willing to give you a chance take it and worry about "a good company to work for" later.

Thank you for the information, i figured that'd be the case in terms of limited options, but i figured i'd at least ask if anyone had more knowledge than i do.

For the truck running me off the road, i passed a car & the semi passed me in the right lane, easily doing 70-75. i was doing 5 under given that the left lane was the only one the snowplows had cleared. For the accident in my car, I had only been up that route 2x and it was a 2 lane road, with no shoulder and it was raining. So, even if i slammed on the brakes, the ground was all mud, so it wouldn't have done much.. I'm absolutely not excusing anything that has happened, or blaming TMC for deciding to terminate me, just giving more insight. *the only accident on my MVR is the one that happened over the weekend, that I was given a summons for.

I just figured this would be a good option to get more information on possible companies that might look at me. I called Swift and they said to get 6 months with another company before they hire me. So, should I still look at OTR companies or should I look at another career path, given the current situation.

If for some reason you can't get A-class work -- try looking at B-class companies. They may be willing to overlook more flaws than an A-class company might while you get some time between you and your accidents. I did that after picking up a careless driving ticket in 2016, drove a trash truck for almost two years after Knight let me go for that ticket. (I had acquired my CDL through a private school so they had no skin in my game.)

This may not be applicable without that certificate, so if it isn't disregard this, but it might work out for you.

Best of luck.

I called Swift and they said to get 6 months with another company before they hire me. So, should I still look at OTR companies or should I look at another career path, given the current situation.

RJ, If I were in your situation I would fill out as many applications as possible. Go for the big carriers first. Those who are hiring rookie drivers are going to be your best chance. Don't worry about their online reputations. 99% of that garbage is just that - garbage. You need to get behind the wheel as quickly as possible and get yourself a year in somewhere. You really need that training certificate from TMC. That has got to be something you focus on getting accomplished. I can tell you that this is going to be a real uphill battle. I am hoping somebody will give you a shot. Try CFI. Be upfront and honest with them and explain to them how you have learned from your mistakes, and you just need somebody to take a chance on you. Assure them that you have got the maturity and commitment to make a go of it.

Whoever gives you a shot is doing you a huge favor. You will owe them some big time loyalty. Stay for a full year and prove to them and yourself that you are capable of handling the responsibilities of this career. Once you have gotten a year of safe driving in you are good. You won't need a training certificate at that point and a lot of doors will open up to you.

Safety is a huge factor in your success at this. Make it a priority. Remember these three things...

• Get hired at first company willing to take you.
• Don't hit anything.
• Stay for one full year.

That's the program for you. Get on it quick - don't delay. That will set you up for a trucking career.

RJ,

Dutch Maid Logistics is a 2nd chance company, here in Willard, Ohio. Our own member Optical (the tool box guy, now ..haha!) just started driving for them, after their training. Search out his threads!

Re: the company itself, I'm sure you've done your research, per your above post. My other half interacts with them on a regular, as one of his larger customers is right up the road from their facility. He's got nothing but good to say; medium sized company, pulling reefers; good equipment.

Wish you the best; hope this all works out for ya!

Any way you could just pay off TMC with a loan from a credit union, or something, and get that certificate, however? Might be a quicker solution, if you could.

My thoughts, only.

Best wishes~

~ Anne ~

If for some reason you can't get A-class work -- try looking at B-class companies. They may be willing to overlook more flaws than an A-class company might while you get some time between you and your accidents. I did that after picking up a careless driving ticket in 2016, drove a trash truck for almost two years after Knight let me go for that ticket. (I had acquired my CDL through a private school so they had no skin in my game.)

This may not be applicable without that certificate, so if it isn't disregard this, but it might work out for you.

Best of luck.

I was considering some other options, a few buddies have worked at Class B companies that they can get me on with, but most still require OTR experience.

I at first attended a private CDL school, but I couldnt get my CDL through them for at minimum 2ish months because covid. So, the recruiter from TMC called me and I got my CDL through them.. I appreciate the response. I've been looking at Indeed and Ziprecruiter the last few days.

I called Swift and they said to get 6 months with another company before they hire me. So, should I still look at OTR companies or should I look at another career path, given the current situation.

RJ, If I were in your situation I would fill out as many applications as possible. Go for the big carriers first. Those who are hiring rookie drivers are going to be your best chance. Don't worry about their online reputations. 99% of that garbage is just that - garbage. You need to get behind the wheel as quickly as possible and get yourself a year in somewhere. You really need that training certificate from TMC. That has got to be something you focus on getting accomplished. I can tell you that this is going to be a real uphill battle. I am hoping somebody will give you a shot. Try CFI. Be upfront and honest with them and explain to them how you have learned from your mistakes, and you just need somebody to take a chance on you. Assure them that you have got the maturity and commitment to make a go of it.

Whoever gives you a shot is doing you a huge favor. You will owe them some big time loyalty. Stay for a full year and prove to them and yourself that you are capable of handling the responsibilities of this career. Once you have gotten a year of safe driving in you are good. You won't need a training certificate at that point and a lot of doors will open up to you.

Safety is a huge factor in your success at this. Make it a priority. Remember these three things...

• Get hired at first company willing to take you.
• Don't hit anything.
• Stay for one full year.

That's the program for you. Get on it quick - don't delay. That will set you up for a trucking career.

I've applied to a few mega carriers, Swift said to get 6 months with another carrier. I applied to CFI, since i watch Riding with Dave on Youtube, but the lady i spoke with said they can't do anything unless I have the certificate of completing an approved CDL school. TMC should be calling me tomorrow to give me more information about that. The only thing is that I went through TMC to get my CDL. Thank you for the response, I really appreciate it. I'm hoping everything works out. I really want to be a driver.

Have you tried Western Express? They might give you a shot.

RJ,

Dutch Maid Logistics is a 2nd chance company, here in Willard, Ohio. Our own member Optical (the tool box guy, now ..haha!) just started driving for them, after their training. Search out his threads!

Re: the company itself, I'm sure you've done your research, per your above post. My other half interacts with them on a regular, as one of his larger customers is right up the road from their facility. He's got nothing but good to say; medium sized company, pulling reefers; good equipment.

Wish you the best; hope this all works out for ya!

Any way you could just pay off TMC with a loan from a credit union, or something, and get that certificate, however? Might be a quicker solution, if you could.

My thoughts, only.

Best wishes~

~ Anne ~

Hello Anne, thank you, I looked them up and started the application. Does Optical still work for them , if you know? I'm about to look him up but am new to the forum. I was thinking about taking out a loan, incase I had to, just to not have any issues with TMC.