Have CDL But Recent No Recent Experience.

Ok, I'm going to rant a little so here we go! After I retired from 25 years as a LEO, I obtained my CDL through Veriha Driving Academy in 2021. Had to leave before my contract ended due to family health issues, paid the contract off and kept my CDL current. Overall I have about 6 months experience. Now 58 years old, in good health, no tickets or other issues. I haven't driven a truck since late 2021 and want to get back into driving again but most companies want recent experience. Understandable. Several companies take recent grads with no experience. Some companies have refresher courses but not looking to do refer (KLLM). I applied to TMC and, apparently, was almost immediately denied. Not sure why. Too old? My frustration is that I have a valid CDL and, although I don't have recent experience, it would take less time to get me back up to speed that somebody with no experience. Why don't companies hire guys (or ladies) like me?

It has nothing to do with your age but everything to do with the slowdown in the economy. When large companies are letting drivers go for minor infractions, and not running schools as often for new drivers, that is the reason.

What you need to do is apply everywhere, even with the mega companies and see who will bite. Someone will take you on but you have to be very proactive when they talk with you.

Laura

Randy, have you kept up your DOT physical card? That would be important to do. Assuming you have, don’t give up. There is a job out there for you, it just might take some time to find.

Why don’t you want to do reefer? You are eliminating a big area of opportunity for yourself. I drove for 4 months, had to leave driving for a year, went back and drove another 4 months and had to leave driving again for almost another year. When I was finally ready to get back, I found my best opportunities were in reefer but it scared me. However, I ended up doing it and now have over 18 months pulling reefer. My fears were totally unfounded and I love the reefer side of the industry. The big companies don’t usually deliver to individual grocery stores where access might be tight. My company delivers/picks up at large distribution centers. There is a bit of a learning curve to operating the reefer unit itself, but it can be learned very quickly.

Don’t limit yourself unnecessarily. As had been mentioned, in this trucking economy right now, the more versatile you can be the better your chances.

Prime would give you a quick refresher course and evaluation.they have tanker and flatbed if interested.

Did you try going back to Veriha?

Well, it looks like the trucking gods heard me *****ing and moaning because I received a call today from Maverick Transportation with a tentative offer! I’ll start sometime in January and I’m really looking forward to it. I preferred flatbed to keep me in shape and get home on weekends. We have two grandkids. Refer just didn’t appeal to me from the research I have done. I won’t rule it out in the future.

I did keep my medical card up to date because somehow I knew I would get back in a truck.

I looked into Prime but their website didn’t mention refresher courses, unless I missed something. As far as going back to Veriha, they were good to me but it really would be my last option.

Thank you all for the replies/advice. I really appreciate it. I’ll keep you updated as the new job progresses.

Randy

Well, it looks like the trucking gods heard me *****ing and moaning because I received a call today from Maverick Transportation with a tentative offer! I’ll start sometime in January and I’m really looking forward to it. I preferred flatbed to keep me in shape and get home on weekends. We have two grandkids. Refer just didn’t appeal to me from the research I have done. I won’t rule it out in the future.

I did keep my medical card up to date because somehow I knew I would get back in a truck.

I looked into Prime but their website didn’t mention refresher courses, unless I missed something. As far as going back to Veriha, they were good to me but it really would be my last option.

Thank you all for the replies/advice. I really appreciate it. I’ll keep you updated as the new job progresses.

Randy

Onward and upward!