How To Get CDL Experience If Nobody Will Hire Me Without Experience?

There are some companies that hire recent grads, depending on what school they attended. Many of these companies have an approved school list that meet their requirements. It would improve your chances to get your hazmat and tanker as well. Even if a company lists that one year of experience is required, send in an application anyway. You may not have the right bait on your line, but you never know what you'll catch unless you drop that line in!

Michael, I have been in the same boat (not cab) for 18 months. I wanted drive TT in my area, for a local company, ... then one I'd already talked with wouldn't hire me. I've been applying to Class A and B jobs for a year, but no one takes on the "no experience" driver. I even helped the first company with an insurance review in which he wrote, "no one with less than two years experience." Guess he forgot about hiring me!

So I finally bit the bullet, and applied to The Big Guys, and am facing the fact that I won't be home for a loooong time. But this is a step. Just another step. After a year or two out, I *do* expect to get some local work. My Want to drive is stronger than my history-to-date of odd fill-in jobs.

Ironically, I have been driving a garbage truck one day a week. Look around for the little haulers who might move up to compactors... the big players all require experience, but sometimes the smaller oufits are just looking for good workers.

Keep poking at the options. What I'm doing right now isn't what I'd planned on or hoped for, but it *will* get me closer. And in the meantime, I've learned about automatic compactors, 10 spd tri-axle dump trucks, crop & field trucks, 36' dump trailers, and flat-bedding granite. Take it where you find it!

Hang in there... Kate