Back Again And Looking For Some Answers...verifiable Work History

I thought about getting my CDL a few years back and decided to get a degree in Industrial Maintenance instead. Well I got the degree and now I can’t find a job in my area because I have no experience. So here I am again looking to get my CDL.

My problem is verifiable work history. I was a full time student and stay at home dad. How hard will it be for me to get a driving job out of school? I plan to attend a 160 hour course in my hometown. I’ve been at home since November of 2015. Worked at a manufacturer building electronics for 3 years before that. I started school in January 2016. On my summers off from school I mowed for cash around my city. I use to drive a flatbed back in 2005-2007 and lost my license because a dui in my personal vehicle. I have a couple speeding tickets from 2014-2015, both were for 10 over the speed limit.

Just being honest, and letting it all hang out. I want to drive again, because I enjoyed it! Most of my experience was local work, hauling a 53’ curtain side up and down the coast on hwy 101 filled with new motorcycles, going to and from dealerships. I’d love to do that job again.

I dont know how much I can help because like you I was in a bad place and still kind of am. Here is what I have been advised to do. Go get www.hireright.com to get you your background checks and DAC reports. You will have a better idea of what you will need to put on your application when you apply for a company once you get your CDL. When I started I still had like 4 tickets on my record. I had one accident, two speeding tickets and one following too closely. Swift took me and trained me even with that against me.

Now, I have no tickets except 1 January 2015 ticket. Now the bad part is I have a DAC that has 5 accidents in a 5 month period and hireright.com is helping me get things straightened out. I will be giving them a call to see how its going.

I didnt have a DUI. Some companies ask that you have no DUI within a 10 year period some say within 5. I know that many declined me the driving position because of my moving violations when I first started. Now I think it is hinged on the fact that I have been out for 2.5 years and I dont have a good DAC. God knows how much I regret and remorse over that.

Apply EVERYWHERE when you get your CDL. Trust me. Get on the application on trucking truth and use it to your advantage. There are 3000+ companies out there.

Do your utmost best to not get a single ticket when driving and for heavens sake dont get your license taken away, suspended, or revoked because you did not renew the license plates, registration, or tags or whatever. Thats even worse.

I wish you the best!

Thanks Victor C for reaching out and giving me some advice! I’ll look into the hire right website you shared with me. I Definitely want to be as honest and transparent about my past to companies considering me for employment. I’m not trying to hide nothing.

My biggest hurdle is verifiable work history. From what I’ve read, it’s a dot regulation to have at least 36 months verifiable work history. I don’t know if every company abides by these standards or not, or if it even is a standard? I CAN account though what I’ve been doing with my time these past few years through my college transcripts.

As far as driving jobs go I would either like to drive flatbed again or pull a reefer for a couple years to get my experience again. Everyone needs to eat, so reefer seams like a good stable gig. Flatbed was awesome because how much time I got to spend out side the truck securing loads, good exercise to make up for sitting on your but mostly.

I understand though since I have some dings in my MVR and I have been unemployed for a stretch I might not get to pick my first job and I am alright with that so long as I can get back in the game. Eventually I would like to relocate to a bigger city for more work opportunities and there’s nothing like having a CDL when it comes to job choices.

Absolutely true. So have you found anything as of right now? Have you tried applying for Pam Transportation? That is a good place to start, or Decker Transportation.

Thanks Victor C for reaching out and giving me some advice! I’ll look into the hire right website you shared with me. I Definitely want to be as honest and transparent about my past to companies considering me for employment. I’m not trying to hide nothing.

My biggest hurdle is verifiable work history. From what I’ve read, it’s a dot regulation to have at least 36 months verifiable work history. I don’t know if every company abides by these standards or not, or if it even is a standard? I CAN account though what I’ve been doing with my time these past few years through my college transcripts.

As far as driving jobs go I would either like to drive flatbed again or pull a reefer for a couple years to get my experience again. Everyone needs to eat, so reefer seams like a good stable gig. Flatbed was awesome because how much time I got to spend out side the truck securing loads, good exercise to make up for sitting on your but mostly.

I understand though since I have some dings in my MVR and I have been unemployed for a stretch I might not get to pick my first job and I am alright with that so long as I can get back in the game. Eventually I would like to relocate to a bigger city for more work opportunities and there’s nothing like having a CDL when it comes to job choices.

Hello. Yes I did find a place that is more than happy to bring me aboard. I have already started my training at C1 Truck Driving School in Stratford Mo. Swift Transportation is paying for my school, 3 weeks then I’ll be paired with a mentor for 200 hours of training OTR. I already have the first week completed and everything is working out great, passed my physical and permit test with all endorsements except Hazmat. We begin backing skills and shifting starting Monday. I’ve done a lot of research and feel a alSwift is a great place to start out. Really looking forward to new beginnings!

Josh

Absolutely true. So have you found anything as of right now? Have you tried applying for Pam Transportation? That is a good place to start, or Decker Transportation.

Thanks Victor C for reaching out and giving me some advice! I’ll look into the hire right website you shared with me. I Definitely want to be as honest and transparent about my past to companies considering me for employment. I’m not trying to hide nothing.

My biggest hurdle is verifiable work history. From what I’ve read, it’s a dot regulation to have at least 36 months verifiable work history. I don’t know if every company abides by these standards or not, or if it even is a standard? I CAN account though what I’ve been doing with my time these past few years through my college transcripts.

As far as driving jobs go I would either like to drive flatbed again or pull a reefer for a couple years to get my experience again. Everyone needs to eat, so reefer seams like a good stable gig. Flatbed was awesome because how much time I got to spend out side the truck securing loads, good exercise to make up for sitting on your but mostly.

I understand though since I have some dings in my MVR and I have been unemployed for a stretch I might not get to pick my first job and I am alright with that so long as I can get back in the game. Eventually I would like to relocate to a bigger city for more work opportunities and there’s nothing like having a CDL when it comes to job choices.

Josh I started at Swift too! Im so proud of you and excited! Now please please please start a training diary. Would be amazing. At C1 in Indiana, Indianapolis and we just got done with our first week too. I started on the 21st of October.

Hello. Yes I did find a place that is more than happy to bring me aboard. I have already started my training at C1 Truck Driving School in Stratford Mo. Swift Transportation is paying for my school, 3 weeks then I’ll be paired with a mentor for 200 hours of training OTR. I already have the first week completed and everything is working out great, passed my physical and permit test with all endorsements except Hazmat. We begin backing skills and shifting starting Monday. I’ve done a lot of research and feel a alSwift is a great place to start out. Really looking forward to new beginnings!

Josh

Absolutely true. So have you found anything as of right now? Have you tried applying for Pam Transportation? That is a good place to start, or Decker Transportation.

Thanks Victor C for reaching out and giving me some advice! I’ll look into the hire right website you shared with me. I Definitely want to be as honest and transparent about my past to companies considering me for employment. I’m not trying to hide nothing.

My biggest hurdle is verifiable work history. From what I’ve read, it’s a dot regulation to have at least 36 months verifiable work history. I don’t know if every company abides by these standards or not, or if it even is a standard? I CAN account though what I’ve been doing with my time these past few years through my college transcripts.

As far as driving jobs go I would either like to drive flatbed again or pull a reefer for a couple years to get my experience again. Everyone needs to eat, so reefer seams like a good stable gig. Flatbed was awesome because how much time I got to spend out side the truck securing loads, good exercise to make up for sitting on your but mostly.

I understand though since I have some dings in my MVR and I have been unemployed for a stretch I might not get to pick my first job and I am alright with that so long as I can get back in the game. Eventually I would like to relocate to a bigger city for more work opportunities and there’s nothing like having a CDL when it comes to job choices.

How funny is that. We both are on here looking for some info and end up going with the same company. I also started on the 21st. This is more of a refresher for me but still exciting none the less since I haven’t driven a big truck in what seems like a very long time.

Today we started performing in line backing exercises and practicing pre trip inspections. Mostly everyone is doing good so hopefully we move in to some more challenging exercises soon. To be honest my mind is already out with my mentor and driving, that’s all I can think about.

I might make some sort of training diary depending on how busy I am.

Im sorry Josh I meant that I did work with Swift for 5 months thats my fault and I ask your forgiveness for messing up on my typing.

I am so proud of you though for getting back on the horse and riding at full speed ahead. Im right with you I am WAY to excited to go with a mentor.

So how are you doing with the pretrip

How funny is that. We both are on here looking for some info and end up going with the same company. I also started on the 21st. This is more of a refresher for me but still exciting none the less since I haven’t driven a big truck in what seems like a very long time.

Today we started performing in line backing exercises and practicing pre trip inspections. Mostly everyone is doing good so hopefully we move in to some more challenging exercises soon. To be honest my mind is already out with my mentor and driving, that’s all I can think about.

I might make some sort of training diary depending on how busy I am.