Need Advice
Topic 34091 | Page 1
Get 2 or 3 letters from friends or people you know to write letters stating reasons why you were out of work so long. Can be notarized if it helps,I just had 2 letters when I started. 1 from an old boss, on his company letterhead, and 1 from my best bud of 55+ years(non notarized) they worked.
Of course, in 2019 the trucking job climate & economy was a lot better than it is today ! They wanna see w.t.h you been doing, while out of work, and weren't over in Iran learning their "terror trade" lol...
Family medical could be a very good reason, probably with some form of documented proof of what you were doing. Plenty of people had the same type of reasons, caring for the sick Good luck going forward....Others will chime in later, with other options perhaps.....
The letters of recommendation are a good idea. Also, you need to apply to as many companies as possible to find one that will take you. There are links here on this site that can help you. Check them all out.
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- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
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.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
What did you do for 10 years to keep body and soul together?
Generally, if you were volunteering to minister overseas, or full time caring for a relative, you have a reason. The letters Steve & BK are taking about are written by people who knew you and can vouch for your good character.
You don't describe your 10 year gap at all, so I'm just putting this out there: if you were in the slammer for most of the time, be open about it and there are some companies that do give you a chance.
What did you do for 10 years to keep body and soul together?
Generally, if you were volunteering to minister overseas, or full time caring for a relative, you have a reason. The letters Steve & BK are taking about are written by people who knew you and can vouch for your good character.
You don't describe your 10 year gap at all, so I'm just putting this out there: if you were in the slammer for most of the time, be open about it and there are some companies that do give you a chance.
Cared for a relative for a few years... but the problem compounded the longer it went. I have no criminal record whatsoever. Never had any run ins with the law. Never even LOOKED AT drugs. I don't even drink. I'm literally one of those people that if you tell me to get a drug test for anything I wouldn't even care to ask what for. Just do it.
No tickets for nearly 20 years.
Criminal records... go ahead and run a full FBI check... nothing. Really squeaky clean.
From a financial standpoint I didn't have to work in the early days after leaving my previous employment... so I postponed it a bit. This was the start of this mistake that now haunts me. After that is when a relative got sick. And then COVID hit. And by the time the country opened up again... I've been out of work for so long the problem just sort of started eating its own tail.
Military record... spotless. No blemishes. Honorable discharge.
Work in the private sector... no disciplinary actions. Never been fired. Good relationship with every single job I've ever had. Every single boss I've had loved working with me. My previous manager is now a lifelong friend.
I'm by the book perhaps to a fault. If you tell me "I think it's gonna' be ok." I'll say, "No...that's not what the rules say."
I'm sure you have all heard this story before... but I really am one of those guys that if you hire me you won't have buyer's remorse.
I've never seen the inside of a jail cell.
Just can't get in the door.
Looking at other options... like TransForce (the staffing agency). They say they have a "Drive for 500"... but why haven't they filled this 500 quota yet? Seems to me it would have been "sold out" almost immediately. Sounds shady. I hope not.
Keeping my chin up... looking at all possibilities. Wanna' get my life back on track.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Your life is squeaky clean as you say except for that one 10 year gap. You have been told what to do, so do it!
You only have to go back 3 years. If you can get letters stating what you have been doing the past 10 years, then go for that. I took care of my Traumatic Brain Injured husband for 18 years. The company I hired onto wanted only 3 yrs but they got 10. My letters included the Domiciliary Care letter from Montana State Fund Workers Comp, one was from a friend that relieved me as a caregiver when I had other family emergencies and one letter was from his daughter attesting to the caregiving I did for her Dad.
What the main problem currently is that the economy has tanked, people are not buying things unless it's a necessity, there are too many drivers at this time and you are going up against drivers whose companies have closed their doors (over a thousand of them, including mine)....and we have experience and good driving records.
Get those letters done ASAP and apply everywhere!
Laura
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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Hello, new member here... trying to get some advice/perspective.
I'm trying to get into trucking, got my permit, DOT card... just need the actual CDL-A. So I targeted Schneider and Swift due to their paid training programs. Schneider got back to me and didn't have any openings, while Swift flat out declined my application due to a LONG employment gap... nearly 10 years to be exact. Swift stated they need 3 years of recent employment.
Long and short of the employment gap... had to stay home due to family medical reasons.
That said... I haven't had any tickets in the last 15 years, no drugs, no alcohol... 2 minor fender benders neither of which I was at fault (rear ended both times). Clean record. Past employment history is spotless, never been terminated, no disciplinary actions of ANY KIND. Veteran with honorable discharge.
The only blemish is that employment history gap.
Trying to see if anybody knows of any trucking companies that do not have strict policies on employment history. And what is the likelihood that I can even get into any company at this point?
Thanks in advance.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.