Too Old To Get Hired?
Topic 31365 | Page 1
Unfortunately after not driving a CMV for a decade, you are going to be treated as an un-tested driver with no experience, as you have discovered. Your commercial license is considered "stale" from not being utilized. If you wish to return to this industry, you will need to begin all over again from the bottom: truck driving school and/or going onto the road again with a trainer.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
I got into driving with Schneider at the age of 65 plus. All I had was a valid CDL and a fed med card. I went through their training program. Two weeks with a trainer and then out on the road as a solo driver. Schneider never batted an eye about my age.
But as previously said, you have to start with company sponsored training. There is no reason for companies to reject you because of your age. Keep trying.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
I am aware of that. Gordon and Roehl offer training, Dot has an extensive 10 week program and Knight has their own driving school if you only have a permit. As I said I sent in an application to Swift who also has their own school for permit holders and will see what happens
Unfortunately after not driving a CMV for a decade, you are going to be treated as an un-tested driver with no experience, as you have discovered. Your commercial license is considered "stale" from not being utilized. If you wish to return to this industry, you will need to begin all over again from the bottom: truck driving school and/or going onto the road again with a trainer.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
Thanks....will see what happens with Swift. If no luck there I will try Schneider.
I got into driving with Schneider at the age of 65 plus. All I had was a valid CDL and a fed med card. I went through their training program. Two weeks with a trainer and then out on the road as a solo driver. Schneider never batted an eye about my age.
But as previously said, you have to start with company sponsored training. There is no reason for companies to reject you because of your age. Keep trying.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
I am aware of that. Gordon and Roehl offer training, Dot has an extensive 10 week program and Knight has their own driving school if you only have a permit. As I said I sent in an application to Swift who also has their own school for permit holders and will see what happens
Unfortunately after not driving a CMV for a decade, you are going to be treated as an un-tested driver with no experience, as you have discovered. Your commercial license is considered "stale" from not being utilized. If you wish to return to this industry, you will need to begin all over again from the bottom: truck driving school and/or going onto the road again with a trainer.
I thought there was a question of your being hired.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
Pack Rat gave you a spot-on, correct reply...
Just a thought...if you were applying during the Christmas-New Years holiday season...lots of administrative employees take vacation the last two weeks of the year.
So if “not getting back to you in a timely fashion” is the issue; redouble your efforts in early 2022. Even if you were turned down; try again for the exact same reason, many potential employers chill on new hires until start of the new year.
Just a thought...good luck.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
I don’t know if they fit your desired parameters for an employer, but have you looked at Prime? I’m 59, have had my CDL-A and all endorsements for 25 years but never drive professionally, have a current medical card, and recently started looking into the field again, much like you. Prime was very interested in hiring me for flatbed, even with my medical history (typical for an old guy), and my recruiter told me they hire lots of guys like me and have a program to help get us on the road quickly. Basically they run you through their normal training but skip the DOT testing, and if you re-acclimate quickly they move you along quickly. I applied to Prime through this website, but if you like I can give you the contact information for the recruiter I spoke to.
Gregg
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Thanks....that gives me hope
Pack Rat gave you a spot-on, correct reply...
Just a thought...if you were applying during the Christmas-New Years holiday season...lots of administrative employees take vacation the last two weeks of the year.
So if “not getting back to you in a timely fashion” is the issue; redouble your efforts in early 2022. Even if you were turned down; try again for the exact same reason, many potential employers chill on new hires until start of the new year.
Just a thought...good luck.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
I will look into Prime......Thanks for the reply
I don’t know if they fit your desired parameters for an employer, but have you looked at Prime? I’m 59, have had my CDL-A and all endorsements for 25 years but never drive professionally, have a current medical card, and recently started looking into the field again, much like you. Prime was very interested in hiring me for flatbed, even with my medical history (typical for an old guy), and my recruiter told me they hire lots of guys like me and have a program to help get us on the road quickly. Basically they run you through their normal training but skip the DOT testing, and if you re-acclimate quickly they move you along quickly. I applied to Prime through this website, but if you like I can give you the contact information for the recruiter I spoke to.
Gregg
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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I am 60yrs old and have driven in the past, but not in the last 10 or so years. Was hoping to get back on the road. However, no companies seem to want to give me chance. I am well educated, customer service oriented, have excellent verbal and written communication skills, possess a class A CDL (but limited experience) with doubles , triples, tanker and Hazmat endorsements. I am accident and violation free with a flawless criminal background record and a stable employment history. I do not smoke, drink and have never touched a drug. I am registered with the Drug and Alcohol Clearing House. I also possess a valid Medical Examiners Certificate with 11 months remaining. I prioritize safety, adept at navigation, map reading, route planning and time management. Have been turned down by Marten, Dot , Gordon Foods, Hogan, Roehl, US Express and Knight. In fact, Knight would not even get back to me after 4 emails and 5 phone calls to two different recruiters and one terminal Manager after sending in my application. Finally, I just sent an application to Swift and will see what happens.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.