A Couple Of Questions From A Newbie

CFI trains and hires right out of school. They do have a list of approved schools.

You should contact a recruiter as they would know everything current.

Hi guys, so it seems like bad things Old School was talking about started happening. Last Saturday I was delivering and I was around and hour and a half away from the destination when my ELD time was up. My boss told me to stop, go off duty, switch it to personal use and make a delivery. Once I was empty and finally pulled in to the closest rest area, I looked at my ELD and saw that I've been working for 19 hours total that day. Right now, at this moment, basically, exactly the same thing is happening again. My ELD time is up and I’m around an hour and a half away from delivery place, and he says I have to do that. So, my questions are:

1. How bad is what we’re doing in terms of.. Well, everything? 2. Should I quit and get back to Uber in Vegas, or, is there any chance some trucking company can hire me without 1 year of experience to drive solo for them? Cause obviously, I can’t work like that anymore. It seems crazy and dangerous to me.

Thanks

Oh and just in case you’re wondering, ALL my loads are forced. There is no way I can decline any of them. I’m just really curious right now, how different it is in the companies you guys work for. That ridiculous clown I work for says it’s totally the same everywhere. Is it? Do you guys turn off your ELDs and work 4-5 hours over those 14 available??

That is highly illegal. U can’t turn your eld off. Your well over your limit. When he told you to go off duty and use personal to take the load u should have told him NO!!!! If he wants to fire u then so be it better that then putting your cdl at risk which u did just that. It’s your license and ass on the line not him. Never go over your hours not even for your boss.

Oh and just in case you’re wondering, ALL my loads are forced. There is no way I can decline any of them. I’m just really curious right now, how different it is in the companies you guys work for. That ridiculous clown I work for says it’s totally the same everywhere. Is it? Do you guys turn off your ELDs and work 4-5 hours over those 14 available??

It seems crazy and dangerous to me.

Leo, I am glad you came in here to talk about these things. It's not only crazy and dangerous, it is also highly illegal. Do you have any idea of the ramifications if you were to have an accident while working past your legal hours? Putting your ELD on personal conveyance and continuing to work is a terrible idea - it is illegal. If you were to get in an accident while purposely exceeding your hours and, God forbid, kill somebody, you are the one going to prison for manslaughter. Your boss would simply start looking for another driver while you withered away in prison.

ALL my loads are forced. There is no way I can decline any of them. I’m just really curious right now, how different it is in the companies you guys work for.

Being "force dispatched" isn't necessarily a bad thing. That just means you run the loads they assign you. Being coerced or forced to break the rules is completely illegal. We have coercion laws which make what your boss is doing illegal. You are supposed to make your deliveries within the legal limits allotted you by the HOS rules. I would never use PC to advance a load. It sounds like you are being asked or told to do that regularly. That is illegal. Nobody I have worked for has ever asked me to run illegally. In fact it is a good way to get myself fired! Your boss is nuts if he thinks it is like that everywhere.

Should I quit and get back to Uber in Vegas, or, is there any chance some trucking company can hire me without 1 year of experience to drive solo for them?

You quit Uber for some reason before. I assume you weren't making good enough money, so I don't recommend that. There are a lot of companies that will hire you. Start putting out applications. You can do it right here with one application that goes to multiple companies. Ditch that loser you are working for and start a career where you can hold your head high and operate like a professional. Quit that outlaw game you are playing and quit putting yourself into legal jeopardy.

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it seems like bad things Old School was talking about started happening.

Since you acknowledged I was correct in my predictions, here is my next prediction for your current situation, Your boss is going to start having excuses as to why he can't pay you on the regular payday, or you just won't get paid at all. Your boss is in trouble. He is showing every sign of it. I would get out of that situation as quickly as possible - like today if I could. Or maybe wait until your next pay makes it to the bank and then be done with this clown. Start putting out applications immediately, and keep us posted if you would please.

I'm still a little confused about your training to get your CDL. That could be a snag that keeps you from getting hired. You do have three months experience now, and I am pretty sure someone can hire you based on that. Put out those applications and keep us informed on who is willing to give you a shot. We will do our best to help you.

I see zero upside for you working at this small company. If there is, we would like to hear it.

Well making a long story short, I used to be an expediter for around a year, it was a Ford Transit cargo van and so I ended up being in all 48 cont. states even BEFORE going to a trucking school. I didn’t have any issues with backing or driving in that school, the only difficult thing I faced there was a Pre Trip, since I was not familiar with all those parts at all. I passed the road test with my second attempt just like the written one.

I'm still a little confused about your training to get your CDL. That could be a snag that keeps you from getting hired. You do have three months experience now, and I am pretty sure someone can hire you based on that. Put out those applications and keep us informed on who is willing to give you a shot. We will do our best to help you.

Ok so I told him I’m not gonna do any stupid stuff anymore cause I don’t wanna lose my license or go to jail, so far all the checks are paid in full and on time so we’ll see. But here is one more question I have. Let’s say you’re delivering and picking up on the same shift, so you’re empty and you just arrived for your pickup but unfortunately you only have 3 hours available on the clock. Well after 2 and a half hours nothing seems to happen, you’re walking in, and they’re telling you they’re extremely lazy ooops busy and it’s gonna be a few more hours. But you only have around 20 mins available on your ELD. What would you do? Leave and come back next day?