Driven Women

Make a Mistake—Lose Your Job

Lee Andrese

Dear GG—For 15 years I had been pulling a refrigerated trailer, and decided to get certified for specialized freight such as government loads with police and helicopter escorts. Well, I received my first load— pretty dangerous and valuable stuff—and I was a little nervous. I made a mistake by leaving my truck unattended at the wrong time and in the wrong place. It was an honest mistake. I lost my certification and now no one wants to hire me. What can I do?

Jay Dee
Wyoming

Jay Dee, there are several details missing from your story, and I am certainly not an authority on the type of certification you’re referring to. However, it seems to me that a trainer should have been a part of your virgin voyage. Even with 15 years’ experience, this type of load was new to you and warranted supervision. Do you have too many points? Are you a fugitive? Did you “lose” a trailer? Barring incarceration or a revoked CDL, or a CDL with no endorsements, it escapes me why you don’t have a job. Ask questions to every carrier that denies you employment until you get a satisfactory answer. A satisfactory answer means one that makes sense.

Many moons ago, friends of mine driving team lost their jobs hauling specialized freight for a very similar reason. They both found jobs within moments, however.

Good luck!
Golden Girl