PAST WORK EXPERIENCE

Hi. I haven't worked since June of 2015. So, I am wondering what that means for my chances of getting into a company-sponsored CDL training school. I have been studying and know that I need to get my CDL permit. You can also email me at norristina242@yahoo.com.

Hi, Tina. We can help figure this out. But how about some more information.

How did you pass the time in the last four years? Companies basically want to know they are not hiring a slacker. "Family care" is a reasonable explanation.

It sounded like you're starting in square one, getting a permit. Not a problem, we have tons of things to help you out. This, and more:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Hello. First, I want to thank you for responding to my post. Your reply is greatly appreciated. In June of 2015, I lost my last job which was working in a prison in Colorado. I was fired because I let a certain prisoner hug me. Anyway, I can no longer work in a prison - that was my first and last job in a correctional facility. So I returned to North Carolina, began a MS in Human Resources Management online, and chauffeured my son to and from the bus stop in town. He is in the early college program that is closest to us in the county in which we live, but the high school where the program is is too far away from where we live for the school bus to pick him up and drop him off here at home. He has his driver's license now, so he drives himself to the community college that is near the high school and where he has his classes, except for House at the high school. He finishes school in May but will need my car until his Dad helps him get one in September. I have to drive my parent's car when I need to go somewhere, but he has never driven it so I let him drive mine. So Thomas started high school and early college in August of 2015. I began online school in October of 2015, and I completed that degree in September of 2018. Also, with all the driving for Thomas, I couldn't even get a part-time job - a recruiter told me that no employer could work with that schedule. Then, in December of 2018, I was diagnosed with Stage 3A breast cancer on my right. I had a complete mastectomy and 23 lymph nodes were removed from under my right arm. I did well with chemotherapy and radiation, and escaped with only a few side effects. I finished my last treatment in August of 2019. So I will be able to start working by October of 2020. I am learning the manual and taking the tests on the High Road CDL Training. I had lessons many years ago to learn how to drive stick shift, but I did not have the time to finish learning that. I have heard that many companies have automatics. But, is it possible to learn to drive a manual during the CDL training? I know that you spend a lot of time driving with C.R. England's training program. If I left out anything, please let me know and ask whatever you want to ask. Tina

You have explained your lack of work for me, but I don't hire. However, you had Family Care and Medical Treatment for much of the time, as well as some School Studies for your MS in HR work. It's not up to me or that recruiter to tell you it's not worth the effort. The worst that any company can do to you with your application is to say "No."

Congratulations on beating cancer. I am a co-cancer survivor, as my wife succumbed to cancer in 2000. She was "tough as nails", but was afraid to do the chemo. (She lost out before that actually came up, though.)

If you are planning for getting into school in 9 months, you can take your time in studying the High Road. Do not go in for the Permit test till closer to your start date.

As for Manual shifting, that is going the way of the cassette player - last century's technology. I learned and drove stick for a while, but when I got into an auto-shift, I was spoiled. Learn the systems and you will do fine. The big companies are switching because of the fuel savings of the auto-shift. Unless you buy your own rig (Don't go there!) you will be in a clutchless truck.

Hi. I'm so sorry about your wife but it is nice to know how tough she was. Thank you so much for the information. I do however have a question about getting the CDL permit. Is there a road test, does that depend on the state you are in. And 1 question about the application. How do I explain why I have been out of work in the employment section? Thanks again for replying to me. Tina

The first test - for your permit - is strictly a written test. And now that it's run on a computer, you get a "skip the question" button! So, skip any question you are not sure of the answer and do the "easy" ones first. You will get the harder questions if you need to, but you also get more of the ones you know into the system. The tests, your state manuals and the questions are very consistent across any state. Proof: Download the CDL manuals from any two or more states, and look a the chapter headings. Even the same numbering system!

For the periods you did "non-work" things, enter what you did. Anything that might support your entries will help greatly. If you went to school, you can get transcripts. If you cared for a family member, you could get a letter from someone who knew your work - medical person, clergy, even that patient/family member. You do need to support the things you say you did. Like I said, prove you didn't spend four years in Margaritaville and you should be OK.

For the most part, Human Beings look at the applications, and so that ol' gut feeling and intuition come into play. You still have several months to get these ducks in a row. But don't slack on it!

Alright; sounds good. Thanks so much for the help. Tina :-)