New CDL Driver Cannot Find A Job After Quitting

New CDL A driver trying to find a company that will take me with limited experience history. No touch freight or light touch. I need some help any recommendations. I have learned a lot already, easy to learn a lot more and a safe driver, any O/O looking for worker?

I start out with swift and then something happened with trainer and I ask for another trainer, I was told they do not have another I have to go with same one( this is like 2 days past the month that training was supposed to end) Also they require 40 backs and it seems my trainer was not writing down everything, at end of month I was told I still had 14 remaining.

I was frustrated with how they treating me probably because am female because there was a guy who did not finish his backing amounts that was graduated. The same trainer who told me this was the same one holding me back. I sometimes feel like I am trying hard for nothing, however, I told them via email that am leaving because it is not fair what the trainer did and that they refuse to give me another.

Who told me to do that? My record is ruin and I did not know, still not sure exactly what they write but I was turned down for a regional job from Schneider few months later because of what swift wrote.

Months later I find western express and I somewhat messed this one up because I was struggling mentally with some things my son keep doing while am away so I keep going home sudden and I did it 3 times and now they not taking me back and I still do not have not even a month solo. I have taken care of my family issue but no one want to hire me, everywhere I turn they asking for 3 or 6 months and I really want to get started.

I really want to get some experience and get my career started. Everyone I check is either an experienced issue or background report issue from what the employer write. I have no accident, no driving issue at all, license clean and no arrest. I just don’t know what more to try. I have called and browse so many even finding some that I did not know about. I feel like am having a double hard time being a female in trucking

I was frustrated with how they treating me probably because am female

DON"T tell this to any future recruiters you call and talk to....Accept the facts and own it, you, and you alone, got to this point in time, and ONLY You can move ahead

As far as "what they wrote" you can get a free DAC report, and see exactly what they put on it...

When you are in trucking, especially starting out, you have to leave all the family drama, and issues behind. Learning the craft, takes ALL of your concentration, without mental distractions from home.

Sounds to me, like what ever made you go home 3 times @ Western Express, made them think you were not fully invested in driving. So they cut you loose, saving themselves drama or whatever. You don't say how old this son is, but if he is an adult, cut the apron strings, and let him learn from his mistakes. I know it's a hard thing for any parent to do, but how else do they, learn, and hopefully mature.

Wishing you future better luck in trucking, IF you can/do continue with it. There's plenty of posts here telling newbies what mindset they need to succeed in truck driving...

"Whaaaa. I'm a woman! They are being mean to me and I'm a girl" i call Bull crap.

You didn't measure up. You needed more backing. So what? You need the practice anyway.

"It's not fair!" ... yeah it is called life. I am a published novelist and think my books should be on a NY Times Best seller list. It must be because I am a woman that they are not.

From an award winning female driver & trainer in this industry, I can say whole heartedly that it is YOU. It is self defeating and stereotypical for women to blame their situation on sexism. Go look through my profile. I just hit a million safe miles and most of the guys on this site praised my efforts. Some thanked me for my support over the years. Some helped me early in my career. Sexism in trucking is in your mind. Neither the drivers nor the companies are sexist.

Trucker NaeNae will be along shortly and I know she will agree with me.

So what if they wanted additional backs? U need the practice anyway. If Swift & Western Express do not want you, most companies will turn you down. Owner ops cannot hire you because their insurance company will not allow it. Western express gave you a second chance and you blew it.

And you went home 3 times and do not even have a month solo? You have no idea how hard it can be for dispatchers to get people home. It takes time behind the scenes that could be spent elsewhere.

Apply everywhere and see who will take you. Contact Swift and see if they will allow you to come back and finish training.

But you created a mess for yourself. Good luck.

Kelly, this problem you're experiencing has nothing to do with gender. To be a trucker takes a tremendous amount of resolve and commitment. It also requires a great deal of personal responsibility. It's real easy to blame our failures on the company, or their lack of understanding of our situation.

We cannot come into trucking as newbies and expect them to bow to our conceptions of our needs. That never works. Trucking is tough. It's really tough on newbies who have other priorities going on.

When we start this career we give up everything else for a time. That's how it works. You need to commit to one year of doing things the way they want you to. After you've proven yourself, you get a little more respect in this business, but it's always a performance based endeavor.

I still have to be at the top of my game daily. There's no place for excuses, and no one to blame if I'm not doing well in my career. I'm in charge.

You are in charge of your trucking career. That's where you messed up. You can't blame it on the two companies you worked for. You made some mistakes that are becoming clear through hindsight. That's a hard pill to swallow, but the sooner you get it down, the sooner it will help you.

Let's put this sexism in trucking to bed for anyone reading this. I dare say that I have advantages over men in trucking. And that bothers me, because despite my accomplishments, has my visibility been augmented due to DEI? I do not know. But I do know that trucking companies and truck drivers are not sexist. And i was fat. No one cared.

If a woman (or man) cannot make it in trucking, it is almost always their terrible attitude or lack of time investment. One needs to fully immerse themselves to refine the skills to keep the public safe while providing a service to America. Distractions can easily become fatal accidents. We need concentrated drivers who take this seriously and want to excel. They need to take responsibility for their actions and be a team player. Hopefully they will share their knowledge along rhe way to make trucking a better place.

2024: i received the "Radiant Award" for being an outstanding role model and inspiration to women. Only 3 awards are given out of 1600 female drivers. At a sit down gala, with dancing, open bar and prime rib & lobster.

2020 -2022 I was on the Prime Inc Driver Advsiory Board, meeting with the owner and upper management to improve conditions for drivers and benefit Prime Inc. 25 drivers are selected out of 10,000.I was seated next to the Head of the Safety Dept who took a lot of my feedback and truly cared.

2021: NBC Today show spotlighted me and two other women for being essential workers during covid.

2021: I was on NPR's Marketplace discussing trucking and covid to an audience of 15 million people.

2025 I received an award for my one million safe miles pictured with the President & Vice President of Prime.

Between 2019 & 2024 I was nominated as best CDL Instructor or Team Trainer of the year six different times. Although I did not win, I did not cry discrimination nor sexism. I applauded the winners and tried to up my game. My award came when one of my former students (one of 78) saw the Prime Inc President at a banquet and nearly ripped his arm off yanking at him. She jumped up and down with excitement telling him how I changed her life and was there for her 24/7.

Some of us excel, some of us fail and blame others. Which do you want to be?

This post makes me so angry. We, as women, have an equal opportunity to be a success in this industry. It takes intestinal fortitude, a confidence in yourself, the ability to set aside the bull 💩, and a desire to get it done. Some even say a hunger to be the best. Put aside any idea that "it's because I'm a woman!" This industry is open to every race, every gender, and every US citizen that has a clean driving record. Get out of your own way.

When I read your post, what stands out, is that not once did you take accountability for your part in this. I wonder HOW your trainer was counting successful backing maneuvers. Did it mean successfully set up, move the trailer, and get it in the hole without someone guiding you? Because if that is the case, I would have had exactly two "successful backs" during my training. At a guess, you may have actually done that many backs, but required assistance. It matters. Also an educated guess, is that you were not allowed a new trainer, likely because you were getting it and on track to meet the metric in an appropriate time. This is not a reason to start a new training relationship. You didn't ask the right questions, probably because you were "they" focused over "me" focused.

It is continually pointed out online, that "me, I, mine" people are selfish. This industry, it starts and ends with you. You are out here alone, and wholly responsible for equipment that most of us couldn't have paid for in a lifetime of our previous careers. You are responsible for it.

I am dang good at what I do, but I am NOWHERE near the same class of driver that Kearsey is. When I question myself, I stop, and ask "how would Kearsey tell me I'm being dumb?" My gender has caused a few kerfuffles with some men out here (Get your a$$ back in the kitchen!) but it has never STOPPED me from doing my job. To claim that it's a hindrance is an insult to women like Laura, Kearsey, and me, who prove on the daily that some of us can do it just as well, if not better, than the guys.

Kearsey, I remember when you first came to T.T. so many years ago. I applaud you're success and all trucking has brought you!! You've earned EVERY bit of what you gained, thru all your trials and tribulations. You were like a sponge on the forums asking questions and wanting to learn as much as you could. NOW, look at you "WOW" like they say "You've come a LONNNG way Baby!!"

And I can't remember anytime you were like, "whoa is me, poor me, blah blah"

I'd like to commend you on just how much you have grown, even dealing with your past personal things, that you never let get you down! You are 1 tough cookie, among other, female drivers. Surely you will reach many more Million Mile years !!

You go girl!!

I am dang good at what I do, but I am NOWHERE near the same class of driver that Kearsey is. When I question myself, I stop, and ask "how would Kearsey tell me I'm being dumb?"

Hahhahaha. I have never called someone dumb to their face.... and especially not you. But my former students do say they still hear me in their heads "put it in neutral, pull the brakes and get out and look".

I never had anyone tell me to get back in the kitchen or other remarks out here either. Have they come on to me? Sure. But guys do that anywhere, not specific to trucking. If he told me to get in the kitchen, i would respond.. "sure and i will make you a great meal with a lethal does of pottassium chloride that will not only kill you, but be untraceable."

Stevo... thanks i appreciate that. It ticks me off soooo much when I hear things like this woman. First a woman enters a male dominated industry with the "i won't be accepted" mind set. Then she fails due to her own lack of skills and/or effort. Then she comes to a mostly male dominate forum to blame trucking and men for her failures. Essentially she is calling all of you men here sexist too. And with all the help and encouragement you all gave me over the years (especially the beginning), I take those accusations very personally.

I asked one of these type of women who they held as a female role model.when they were young.. she said she never say any.

Uh..wow. mine: Margaret Thatcher the Iron Lady was holding her own with Reagan, Gorbechev, Gaddafi. Princess Diana was digging up landmines and hugging AIDS patients when Fauci said you could AIDS by being in the same room... Geraldine Ferraro was a Congresswoman, UN Ambassador for Human Rights, and VP candidate. Sandra Day O'Connor was on Supreme Court...Mother Theresa was feeding thousands.

WTF are these victim minded women today talking about?

I truly believe activist groups want "marginalized demographics" to stay victims in order for the organizations to be needed and make money.

Rant over.

The original poster probably won't come.back.. but her best bet is probably to beg one of these companies to take her back.