Terminated.
Posted by PomeloResponsible122@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 48 comments
Just got terminated from my first OTR job at a mega. Been on just shy of 2 years. The last 3 or 4 months I was experiencing an insane amount of burnout and fatigue. Felt stuck there due to some personal debt I’m paying off.
I ran reefer so flip flopping between days and nights was not helping at all. I usually stayed out for about 8 weeks. My sleep schedule was a wreck and my mental health was in the trash can. Never felt so relieved to be let go.
I take full responsibility for my actions and I’m not looking for any grief but I got pretty bad about pushing my limits on the snooze alarm and was late to like 4 appointments in the last couple months. Was let go for it last week.
My terminal manager was really cool about it and said he’d cut me a break and give me a couple weeks to line up a job before terminating me in the system. He seems like a stand up guy so I don’t have much reason to believe otherwise.
I’ve got an interview tomorrow for a local gig and an application processing with a better mega for a regional home weekly job. I’m trying to be optimistic but still nervous something is gonna pop up and show I was terminated.
Just wondering how picky companies are about this stuff and how easy I would be able to explain my way out of it. I would want to be honest but at the same time not paint myself as a crappy employee. OTR really had me screwed up towards the end so I think local or regional would be much more manageable.
PDQ30@reddit
U good homie as long as u don't have accidents, tickets or caught on your cell phone while driving being the reason u was fired then it's not gonna come up.
my_peen_is_clean@reddit
just say burnout and wanting more predictable schedule, most places get it, they mainly care about accidents not tardies, hiring is rough now
Gold-Preparation9997@reddit
man that terminal manager really hooked you up giving you those extra weeks 💀 most places would just boot you same day
regional with home time gonna be night and day difference from that reefer hell. sleep schedule actually matters when you're not constantly switching time zones lol. just stick with the burnout angle like the other guy said - everybody in trucking knows how brutal otr can be on your head 😂
sounds like you already got the right mindset about taking responsibility without throwing yourself under the bus completely
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
Yea he really did. Apparently before my performance started to slip I was one of his favorite drivers. He told me he really didn’t want to let me go but had to. Think he knew what was up.
timpa27@reddit
That relationship will help get you a better job; don't burn that bridge, driver.
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
I have a clean record so I guess that helps
Brilliant_Slide_1089@reddit
Get a real job
bentstrider83@reddit
I was fired from Swift back in 2007 after a rollover. And this was after a few prior smaller incidents.
Got back into it in 2010 with Western Express and been at it ever since. The accidents will do all the harm more than service failure related junk for most companies. I'm not driver of the year, but I at least do my part to not do the 2007 thing again.
You'll be fine.
Oversdub@reddit
Dude youre fine truckers hop jobs like its a free for all. Dont shoot yourself in the foot over thinking it
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
For sure. Guess anxiety is what’s getting to me the most.
SchityCityGangBang@reddit
Hey man rejection sucks no matter who you are. It’s just whether you decide to let it get you down or let it motivate you.
navlgazer9@reddit
Friend of mine switched from a regional , home on the weekends , to a local flatbed home every night
But he’s gotta leave his house at 4 am Place he works for has to roll out of their shop at 5:15 am
You will be fine
Fuel is good if you can handle working at night for a year or so
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
Yeah been heavily considering getting all my endorsements now that I have the time. I think what killed me the most with OTR was the f’d up schedule and literally having no life whatsoever. If I could even be home just weekend my mental health would be greatly improved.
COATHANGER_ABORTIONS@reddit
Years ago I was on a route that got me a day at home every other week (usually), and it made such a difference. Now, I'm still out for six weeks but don't see home much, so I'm feeling that same kind of burnout slowly building.
Just-a-COUNTRY-guy66@reddit
So reefer is no joke. Most food warehouses are middle of nights. Yes it’s easily to become burnout when you are constantly going. I don’t ever recall being terminated but I sure left a company in a hot minute. In the beginning I was flip flopper to find my nitch. It took about 10 years before I was at company 7 years. Then I left there and went local where I was there 6 years before something happened medically and pulled me away from the truck!
firemarshalbill316@reddit
This.
ZealousidealAngle151@reddit
I’m sure 2 years OTR can open up many doors
GordTransport1958@reddit
Company i work, I can go home every 34 if I want, or stay out as long I want.. No NE no West coast. So decent place to drive..
Bamfurlough@reddit
I seriously doubt getting fired for a few tardy appointments is going to affect your job search. Companies, and most importantly their insurance, care way more about whether or not you're a safe driver. The mega that fired you probably has that sort of turnover just baked into their system. I've been late dozens of times to my company's various shippers and customers, but they don't care that much about that, they are concerned with whether or not I am a safe and responsive driver.
machao92@reddit
Yeah i was gonna say safety is priority over everything else. Almost all trucking companies have a 100% or higher turnover rate. Thats due to firings and the door keeps revolving from new students or drivers got their experience/cdl and left for more money etc.
Bamfurlough@reddit
That's always my attitude. If I'm late and I get fired because of it I can find another trucking job if I have a clean driving record. But if I push myself and get in an accident because I'm trying to avoid being late then nobody will hire me. So I don't care about being late that much.
machao92@reddit
Exactly. Instead of job i replace it with “my life.”
Bamfurlough@reddit
That is also a concern. The biggest concern really. People die doing this job.
machao92@reddit
Thats why i just do what i do lol
OneMulatto@reddit
If you're late here and there, it's no biggy usual even if it's your own F up. It's the constant back to back late arrivals that matter.
machao92@reddit
Late loads can be rescheduled. Your life cant. When you rush after being late, you turn a bad situation into a worse one
Mytra180@reddit
If it’s an option for you, try to find line haul, food service, or local grocery delivery. They usually have predictable schedules. The downside is that they have their own quirks. Fuel is a good option too.
Line haul will have you bored out of your mind. Food service is usually a lot of work, physically. Grocery delivery is Groundhog Day, but mostly home daily. Fuel will have you working every second you have on your 70. It’s also a pain in the winter.
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
Company I have a pending interview with is food service. Specifically McDonald’s deliveries. Don’t know much about them. A lot of people complaining about the physical aspect of it but honestly I don’t mind. I’m still young (33) and feel like the day would go by much faster vs OTR.
Flaky_Elderberry_576@reddit
Just left mb pretty good pay just sucks how you’re schedule and hours swing being lowest in seniority but easiest as far as food service goes no hand trucks and ramps
THExPILLOx@reddit
I talk to a lot of mb drivers and they generally seem pretty happy and I've been seeing the same ones around for a few years now, so they stick around too.
If you can handle the physicality of food service, you'll probably like it.
Hambubger1k@reddit
Run with the Russians
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
If I was burned out before pretty sure running with them would be suicide lmao
RebelTvshka@reddit
Brother, they factor burnout into their hiring practice. 4 appointments? I've been late to multiple, never in a row, and honestly, burnout is a real mental illness. Sometimes you need to take breaks for yourself.
Waisted-Desert@reddit
The only thing your new employer gets is your safety file and whether or not the last employer would rehire you or not. Since it's not a safety issue, don't even mention the reason for termination. "Burned out living on the road" is reason enough for a local job.
MuphDiesel@reddit
Yay. Go be a barista
SchityCityGangBang@reddit
The stuff they expect from us out here is wild. You’ll be fine. Sounds like you’re in position to find something better. Sometimes the best things in life come wrapped in strange packaging.
BadnanaBurst@reddit
Doing a couple of years of OTR to get experience then switching to a local gig is as normal as it gets. Needing some work life balance, more home time, and/or a regular schedule are all perfectly legitimate reason to be switching jobs. The fact that you are willing to sling a few boxes or w/e as well should make it easy.
RollinHellfire@reddit
Dont allow your bad experience poison your future. I had made that mistake before... going on an interview with grief and regret about that past job might slip out at an unguarded moment. Or worse, if the interviewer notices you're holding back on something.
I'd suggest if you have the opportunity to take a break, go to your doctor and perhaps a medical leave for burnout. Once you have your mind and sleep schedule back on track it'll be a thousand times easier and more bearable to return to work.
In my case it took about 5-6 weeks to fix an all the way fucked sleep and mental health, but my case could be vastly different. I'm now stable and optimistic and actually want to get back to work.
Brilliant_Sound2596@reddit
That mega sounds terrible. It also sounds like your dispatcher was an asshole.
Never take a job with “Forced Dispatch.” You should have quit a year and a half ago.
Ghettoman1315@reddit
Only supply the info your prospective new carrier asks you for. Don't volunteer any negative info. And you will be ok.
AroundGoesThe18@reddit
Most local companies know how miserable the otr life is, just be honest with them.
Swim-Equivalent@reddit
One thing I'd say is I first started out doing dry van some 19 years ago. After about a year and a half I switched to a home weekly flatbed job. Flatbedding is hard work but you almost never work nights. I'm still flatbed but now I'm local.
nortyflatz@reddit
OTR isn't for everyone.
I wouldn't do it, either.
Keep an eye on your DAC report.
Maybe get a "P" endorsement and transport passengers? Local and home every day or night.
WolvTheHero@reddit
For what it’s worth when I went from OTR to regional I got burnt out pretty quick. Home Friday night and out Sunday afternoon isn’t much time off. At least OTR I could stay out and then be home for a week or more at a time. I’d say local would be the better gig to better avoid burnout…depending on the schedule of said job of course…
MajorHymen@reddit
Yeah I think I’ve been late maybe 2 or 3 times in the last 6 years when it was absolutely my fault. Been late maybe an additional 5-6 times on account of weather road closures and late again maybe 8-10 times when the load was given to me the day before it delivered and still having 1500 miles to go.
LyubviMashina93@reddit
I've probably been "terminated" from every job I've ever quit. Has no effect. All they want is clean piss, clean background and experience within the last 3 years.
nosjitbro@reddit
Youre gonna be fine. Any local gig worth their salt will totally get it and pay more attention to your safe record than late to appointment times. Good luck.
rig53official@reddit
Own it straight... burnout from 8-week reefer runs, you know what wasn't sustainable, and local or regional is the move so you can actually stay in the seat. Don't bash the mega. They're gonna see the dates anyway, getting ahead of it reads a lot better than hedging when they ask.