Aussie Trucker In U.S.A

Hey guys and gals.. im a 33year old australian truck driver with experience in roadtrains.. heavy haulage and all sorets of trailers and combinations who would love to get to the states to drive. I have no criminal history and can pass any medical/drug/alcohol test.. any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Walmart. SAIA. Old Dominion.

Look there.

Ammunition and Military contracts.

US Mail.

Go OTR if you don't have a family.

Hey guys and gals.. im a 33year old australian truck driver with experience in roadtrains.. heavy haulage and all sorets of trailers and combinations who would love to get to the states to drive. I have no criminal history and can pass any medical/drug/alcohol test.. any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

And do the high road training program so you can pass the tests here.

Unfortunately I'm pretty sure that you need to have a regular US drivers license for at least a year before you qualify to apply for a Commercial Drivers License.

JJ

Unfortunately I'm pretty sure that you need to have a regular US drivers license for at least a year before you qualify to apply for a Commercial Drivers License.

JJ

^^^^^ This.

And actually - I'm having a difficult time finding a "length of previous licensure" regulation - all states simply say you must have a regular operators license to get a CLP , and you must hold a CLP for at least 14 days before testing for a CDL. I'm starting to thing the "1 year regular operators license" thing is a urban legend, and may be something the TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR as to previous driving experience - and not necessarily an FMCSA regulation type thing. A company is not going to want to take on a new student/applicant that has NO EXPERIENCE DRIVING ANYTHING.

But honestly - I'm not able to find ANYTHING in 49 CFR 3XX, that requires previous licensure for the issuance of a CLP/CDL.

And does the VISA you are coming in on, give you WORK AUTHORIZATION?

You cannot come in on a TOURIST VISA and WORK. And even though you won't have a wall to contend with (like our southern neighbors will) - you are going to find immigration getting much tighter on enforcement and removal of folks that overstay, are here working on visa's that don't give work authorization.

So you will need to have a US-Based Drivers License - establish a visa that gives you permanent residency with work authorization. Most state DMV's are starting to really enforce this (Florida always has - CA gives ILLEGALS drivers licenses, so who knows what goes on there).

Some of the states I looked at, seem to have varying document requirements.

While your driving experience in Oz will be helpful - and geeze, those road trains look like a blast to drive, you may have to spend awhile doing something else after you get here, before you can obtain your CDL.

Keep us posted. Best of luck to you...

Rick

Rick, my understanding of that one year requirement ia that it is a State by State rule which is requured in most States but not all. I believe Florida is one of the states that does not require it.

I think its more of an issue of the insurance companies are saying that drivers have at least 1 year Class D licence so that the driver would have some experience with the rules of the road and familiar with the laws. I could be wrong though.

Don't Aussies drive on the LEFT side of the road? That would take some getting used to!

I think its more of an issue of the insurance companies are saying that drivers have at least 1 year Class D licence so that the driver would have some experience with the rules of the road and familiar with the laws. I could be wrong though.

Bingo. That's the explanation, almost verbatim, that several companies (Wil-Trans/Jim Palmer, Prime) gave me after I'd contacted them about a job; while I've had a VA driver's license for 31 years, they couldn't consider me because I've been out of the country for over three years.

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

Thanks guys.. i have visited and driven in the usa a number of years ago.. so driving on the other side is no problem . From what i can find its quite a catch 22... i need a job offer before i can apply for the visa yet i cant get a CDL without the visa.. i thi k i juat need to keep emailing trucking companies until i find one willing to help me out! I want to share a pic of one of the trucks i drive but i cant figure out how to on my phone lol