So you’ve found a great trucking company to work for. You impressed recruiters with your experience and they were happy to invite you to orientation. You had no problem meeting hiring requirements and you were certified at orientation.
Now it’s time to keep your job.
Truck drivers can be terminated for a number of reasons. It’s important to understand your trucking company’s policies so you can adhere to them and continue your tenure happily with your current company. Getting let go for something you didn’t know was a problem will not only come as a surprise — it can turn your world upside down.
While every trucking company has different hiring guidelines and policies, there are some general areas that every trucking company pays attention to when deciding to terminate a driver.
As an operations manager here at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), I have experience coaching drivers and executing disciplinary action.
While this is by no means a comprehensive list, the sections below will explain some of the reasons a driver may be let go from their trucking company. You’ll be left with a greater understanding of your position with your trucking company and what can result in your termination.
Violations That Can Lead to Termination
Conduct and Policies
Failing to conduct yourself professionally and follow company policies can result in termination.
When you’re in that truck and under a load, you’re representing your company. Whether you’re at a shipper, receiver, shop or a truck stop, you should conduct yourself professionally. If you break policies and have a bad attitude, you could face disciplinary action.
When behavioral incidents occur, your company will try to document both sides of the story to understand what happened and to have a record of the incident.
Depending on the situation, drivers can be let go for a pattern of poor behavior or for one major event.
Safety
Safe driving practices are crucial. If drivers aren’t maintaining safety standards in accordance with the company’s policies, they’ll face disciplinary action.
Hours of Service (HOS) compliance is a big issue. Drivers consistently going over on their hours and/or falsifying logs can not only get them in trouble with their carrier, but it can get them in trouble with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
If caught by the Department of Transportation (DOT), you’ll be given compliance, safety and accountability points (CSA) and placed out of service until you reset your clock back to legal HOS. Your trucking company is also at risk and carries those CSA points.
Some companies have dash cameras in every truck not only to protect you in case of an accident but also to encourage safe driving behaviors. Repeated dangerous behaviors — from following too closely, speeding, lane distraction and road rage — can result in disciplinary action.
You may be coached by your driver manager on safe driving behaviors and, as additional training, your company may have you go through simulator training to improve certain driving skills. Drivers who have behaviors that continue to be problematic may be terminated.
Similarly, if you have repeated moving violations or accidents, you may be terminated. Your termination may be dependent upon the severity of the violations and accidents or the cumulative number you have. For instance, one preventable DOT accident can result in immediate termination.
Moving violations are also associated with CSA points. Drivers who exceed their company’s threshold for unsafe driving points may be terminated.
Performance
Behaviors that impact your performance negatively can also affect your standing with a trucking company. You and your trucking company have a responsibility to the customer, so if you’re failing to perform your job duties, that can be problematic.
Performance issues can range from showing up late or taking more home time than is allotted to having recurring HOS violations. If you’re consistently running over your clock or you’re not running enough hours to service the load, it’s not just a safety issue, it’s also a performance issue.
Your driver manager is there to support you, but they shouldn’t have to babysit you. They shouldn’t have to be your alarm clock or to keep checking in to ensure you’re delivering loads on time. You shouldn’t be missing in action under a load; always communicate with your driver manager.
Anything that prevents you from servicing the load can negatively impact your future with your trucking company.
Criminal Record
All trucking companies will differ when it comes to how your criminal record affects your employment status. Drivers who happen to have a criminal event while working for a trucking company may be terminated.
For example, a criminal event that takes you out of hiring guidelines won’t allow the company to retain you as an employee either.
Drugs and Alcohol
If you fail a drug or alcohol screening — or you refuse a test — you can’t perform DOT safety-sensitive duties until you undergo a substance abuse professional program (SAP program).
You’ll be taken off the road immediately if you fail a test. It’s your responsibility to go through the SAP program. If you don’t decide to complete the program, you cannot work in the trucking industry; this is a DOT policy.
After you complete the program, your company may or may not hire you back.
Keep in mind that you will be terminated immediately if you’re caught with drugs or alcohol in your vehicle or you’re under the influence while driving.
Theft
It should go without saying that if you steal from your company, they’ll have cause for terminating you. Selling fuel or equipment is a surefire way to get yourself in trouble with your trucking company.
Health
To be certified by the DOT, commercial truck drivers need to have a physical examination. Once you pass the DOT physical exam, you receive a medical card (which is good for up to two years). The exam is designed to ensure you’re mentally and physically fit to handle the demands of truck driving.
You may not pass an exam if you have a disqualifying medical condition or if you take a disqualifying medication that may impair your ability to drive safely. If you don’t pass your physical exam while you’re driving with a company, you will no longer be able to drive with that company.
If drivers can resolve a disqualifying medical condition, they’re able to seek re-certification.
How Companies Decide To Terminate Drivers
Every company has its own policies and a set disciplinary structure. Some companies have zero tolerance for certain behaviors. Some companies may allow a specific number of warnings before they’ll terminate a driver.
A lot of factors go into deciding if a driver will be let go. This includes:
- Tenure with the company
- Issues in multiple categories
- Recurring issues
- The severity of the issue
Before a driver is terminated, the company will consider how the driver is performing in all categories.
For instance, maybe you’ve had issues with performance and safety. If you have issues in multiple categories, you may be affected differently than, say, a driver who only experienced a minor one-off incident and has been with the company for 10 years.
The severity of the issue and the number of occurrences also play a role. If you’ve only had one minor incident, you may only be talked to by your driver manager. However, if you have a long-standing pattern of minor incidents, you may face disciplinary action.
On the other hand, one severe incident — for instance, a major behavioral issue that leads to the loss of a major customer or a preventable accident — could result in termination.
Communicate and Succeed
If you’re worried about your standing with your trucking company, ask. Talk to your driver manager if you don’t understand the company’s policies and disciplinary actions. That way, if something does happen out on the road, you won’t be surprised when you face disciplinary action.
You can mitigate many of the issues I described above by effectively communicating with your carrier and customers.
Communicating with your driver manager can get problems resolved quickly before they become bigger issues. This article provides sound strategies to help you communicate more effectively with your driver manager.