Non-CDL Driver To CDL Driver Career Pathways (And Update)

In my last thread I was frantically asking how I could present my shoddy work history to companies with CDL training programs in such a way that I appear hireable. As a quick refresher I have been working an under the table job since February and I no-call no-showed at two of my last three jobs. One of which was at UPS after my supervisor hit me in the face with a package but I imagine that will still count against me lol.

After some reflection I think I need to set my sights a little lower for now and put in some legwork to become a better candidate in order to have a shot at a trucking job in this market. Probably should not have taken that much reflection but all the bad news about the lack of jobs has been pretty depressing so I was nearly about to throw in the towel before even getting started.

One thing that I omitted is that I was a chronic marijuana user for the past 3-4 years but as of today I am 147 days clean. Considering 99% of the users here suggest waiting one year after stopping to apply for jobs I think I have some time to figure out how I can become a stronger candidate instead of torpedoing my career before I ever get in a truck. Right now I am just trying to figure out how to position myself to make an entrance into the industry.

I thought I could swing working full time at my current job and driving for Uber to get some "experience" but that is not really working out. I live in a sketchy area and my fiancee is always worried that I am going to get carjacked driving at night so I have barely been doing any rides lest I give her a heart attack.

Now I'm looking into local driving jobs and find that I'm kind of at a loss for what kind to pursue. Some examples of listings I have found include...

- FedEx - Beer/Liquor Distributor - Building Supply Deliveries - Electrical Supply Deliveries - Furniture Deliveries - Moving Company

Most of these jobs require me to take a pay cut and the job market in my area is pretty dismal so I'm just trying to make sure a local Non-CDL job will make me look better than a candidate with no driving experience when I go to apply to carriers with company-sponsored training. I would assume that working for FedEx for six months to a year would look good but who knows if I will get in.

I remember reading that a few companies have either dockworker to CDL driver programs or other pathways to get a CDL by working a Non-Driving/Non-CDL position but I was struggling to find them again and was wondering if anyone here was familiar with what companies did such a thing.

Basically the plan is to try and get driving experience and patch up my work history somewhere that will only urine test me so I can take as much time as I need to get more comfortable driving bigger vehicles and wait out until I can pass a hair test confidently.

If anyone has experience trying to get into the industry going the long route like this I would very much appreciate some guidance... they say slow and steady wins the race and this seems a lot more sane than trying to throw myself at the walls of the trucking industry kicking and screaming while not doing anything to make myself a better candidate.

God bless and thanks for reading. 🙏

The dock to driver method sounds like it would be good for you, so keep looking and researching.

Also, you might find a CDL-B opportunity with a sanitation company or a construction company. That would get you some valuable experience and maybe some contacts to get you into class A driving.