Looking For CDL Training Companies, No Work History A Problem?

So I've got this unique situation. I've been living out of the US for the past 4 years of my life to be closer to my relatives, but now I am flying back to the US, in bout a week and I want to get into the trucking industry. I'm 28 years old, no family, no girlfriend, no DUI's, no felonies, want to see the country & don't care about being home. I figure I'm perfect for the right company that would train and hire me, because all I want to do is work. I honestly, don't even care about time off or getting days off back home.

I applied to a few companies for CDL training. One company I applied with, Prime Inc., I then called to speak to a recruiter and he said they couldn't hire me because I didn't have 3 years of prior work history. What a load of bs? I thought explaining I was in another country would would make him understand, but he pretty much rejected me and told me I need to get a job somewhere for about 8 months then I can apply?

I've never heard of having to have a job, before you can actually get a job being a thing. Isn't that a catch 22?

I don't want to work at a gas station for 8 months just so I can get this trucking thing going.

Does anyone have any recruiters I can call who can work with me? Or maybe there are some recruiters who would like to get in touch with me?

Wow. Your attitude is in serious need of adjusting. Prime wants work history as a prequalifucation for hire. All carriers want a work history before they invest thousands in training you and taking on 100% of the liability in the process.

Trucking companies are not like other employers, not like any other job you've ever had.

Take a look at these two links and learn something about what this is before you throw Prime, one of the premier TL carriers, under the bus.

Truck Driver's Career Guide

Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving

Wow. Your attitude is in serious need of adjusting. Prime wants work history as a prequalifucation for hire. All carriers want a work history before they invest thousands in training you and taking on 100% of the liability in the process.

Trucking companies are not like other employers, not like any other job you've ever had.

Take a look at these two links and learn something about what this is before you throw Prime, one of the premier TL carriers, under the bus.

Truck Driver's Career Guide

Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving

I have not thrown them under the bus. I know they are a decent company, but I'm upset because I actually have work history, it's just not in the past 3 years. I've worked as a contractor for a British company, but that is technically self employed. I'm mostly frustrated that a company would overlook an applicant that has zero DUI's, safe driving record, no felonies, just because he has zero work history that was due to not being in the country.

And you never even answered my question and instead mentioned my attitude. All I want to know is, are there any carriers/companies that wouldn't mind taking me on despite this?? That was my original question.

I did answer your question, just not what you wanted to hear:

All carriers want a work history before they invest thousands in training you and taking on 100% of the liability in the process.

You have been out of the country for three years. They want to know what you were doing, documented...etc., before they hand you the keys to 80,000lbs of rolling thunder.

Referring to Prime's policy of prequalfying drivers as BS; is definitely throwing them under the bus.

Please read the information I sent you...it will help you establish reasonable expectations.

Then take a look here and start applying, someone might take a chance on you...

Paid CDL Training Programs

Apply For Paid CDL Training

In addition,

...documented work history:

Dated letters from people you worked for while self-employed, customer invoices, income statements and tax returns. Anything that proves gainful employment.

I did answer your question, just not what you wanted to hear:

All carriers want a work history before they invest thousands in training you and taking on 100% of the liability in the process.

You have been out of the country for three years. They want to know what you were doing, documented...etc., before they hand you the keys to 80,000lbs of rolling thunder.

Referring to Prime's policy of prequalfying drivers as BS; is definitely throwing them under the bus.

Please read the information I sent you...it will help you establish reasonable expectations.

Then take a look here and start applying, someone might take a chance on you...

Paid CDL Training Programs

Apply For Paid CDL Training

I applied. Sorry if I came off as negative. I'm even ready to work at SWIFT or England CR just so I can pay my dues. I've read through most of the CDL manual already. I've been taking online practice tests and doing alright.

I just find this as needless red tape. My work history has nothing to do with how safely I can drive a truck.

Werner just lost a 90 million dollar lawsuit and their driver wasn't even at fault. Companies are not going to hand over the keys to a 80k pound rolling lawsuit with doing their due diligence.

You are still stepping in it...I have worked for Swift for over five years.

Your work history has plenty to do with it. If you job hop or cannot hold a job for more than a few months you are considered high risk.

Again, please read the links I sent you.

Arseniy, there's a critical component about work history that you are obviously unaware of. The FMCSA requires new drivers to provide a three year work history. This is not Prime specific, but industry wide. It is a federal requirement that a trucking company have verified work history documented before they can hire you.

This came about after the 9/11 terrorist attack. There is a concern with homeland security that terrorists were planning to put drivers into eighteen wheelers much like they did with airplanes and cause havoc with big trucks. So... when you say you've been overseas for four years and can't give any work history, nobody can verify what you've been doing. For all they know you could have been in a terrorist training camp. It's a big red flag for them. Work history will be required. Your going to need to come up with it some way or another.

So if I was diagnosed with cancer and spent two years in therapy how am I supposed to tell employers this without being rejected? I mean do people understand that sometimes you're unable to work? I have medical records to prove this. I just feel the guy at Prime completely blew me off without even working with me. Our conversation didn't even last 2 minutes.