I Dont Know If I Can Be Hired

I've gotten a driving without a license a few months ago and I don't know if this disqualify me from driving a big rig. Have anyone experienced this.

I've gotten a driving without a license a few months ago and I don't know if this disqualify me from driving a big rig. Have anyone experienced this.

I personally have never had this issue (thank goodness I have never been stopped when I did leave home without my license in my pocket). I am fairly sure that you will have to wait, just not sure how long.

I, years ago was driving on a suspended license for a few months not realizing this until I went to the DMV office to renew my plates on one of my vehicles. The reason for the suspension was because I had not turned in a set of license plates when I changed them. Once I found out, I was able to correct the issue and get my suspension lifted. I disclosed this on my application, but because of how it happened and the fact it had been several years since it had happened it did not affect my ability to get a driving job.

As always you need to disclose all issues of this type when applying for driving jobs. If it was a simple thing like I had, or you truly was outside the law on this, that will have a big impact on when or if you will be able to get a driving job.

So the bigger issue here is did you just leave home and leave it a home or were you driving without a license? If you were driving without a license then that will make matters worse for how long (if ever) you will have to wait before you are able to drive big rigs.

I am sure others will chime in on this later today.

Ernie

I agree with Ernie on this. The reason behind that conviction may be more important than the conviction itself. I have seen this happen to some folks and it didn't seem to matter. I overheard a conversation at an orientation where an applicant had their license suspended for driving without insurance, and the trucking company representative simply stated that it was no big deal, they see that all the time. You will need to be upfront on any applications and make sure that you explain the details of the whole situation. Here's what is important to the trucking companies: They want to see that you are serious about taking care of your license. A person who is lackadaisical about keeping their license clean is usually not a good candidate for this career because that license is your ticket to being employed, and therefore for them it is an indicator that you really are serious about your career.

You can get the answer to your question by going ahead and trying to get some pre-hires before you even get the ball rolling. A pre-hire letter is a common method that trucking companies use to let you know if you are eligible to go to work for them. You can apply for pre-hires even if you don't have a CDL yet. Take a look at our section on Understanding Pre-Hires and go ahead and fill out some applications for trucking jobs. Speak with a few recruiters and see what you come up with. I think you'll be able to find an open door somewhere.

Really depends on what the charge actually WAS.

Not Carried or Exhibited - meaning, you had a valid license, but just didn't have it in your possession. No big deal, everyone forgets their wallet occasionally.

Driving Without A (Valid) License - this can mean you did not have a current/valid license at the time you were stopped. This could be: License expired (no big deal usually). Or driving a class a vehicle you weren't licensed for - example: driving a motorcycle without a valid motorcycle endorsement is write as Driving Without a License. Similarly - driving a CMV , without the proper license classification for that type of vehicle, is also written as Driving Without A License (though this would be a SERIOUS OFFICE - versus the motorcycle would be less so).

Lastly would be DWLS - Driving While License Suspended. Probably the worst of all. The license could be suspended for POINTS, or failure to comply with some requirement (like Ernie failing to turn in a tag), or failing to show up for a court date on a citation (which usually gets you suspended AND a bench warrant), or failing to pay a ticket that you already plead to in the allotted time period.

All of this seems somewhat minor when your license ISN'T YOUR LIVING. People with CDL's tend to PROTECT THEM WITH THIER LIVES - for those of us who drive for a living - IT IS OUR LIVES. I don't drive CMV's (currently), but my 6 year old CDL changed my non-CMV driving habits COMPLETELY. As Old School illuminated, companies are looking for people that CARE about their licenses.

All company applications have a section to describe recent traffic citations - they typically look for CONVICTIONS. But it's best to disclose EVERYTHING, so as not to give the appearance that you're CONCEALING SOMETHING.

A little MORE DETAIL about the nature of the ticket (why you were "driving without a license"), might enable the site members to offer better suggestions as to how to proceed.

Rick

I've gotten a driving without a license a few months ago and I don't know if this disqualify me from driving a big rig. Have anyone experienced this.

I had to drive myself to the hospital because my wife called me from work and said she was rushed to the hospital. I ran home and because the hospital was more than 15 miles away I decided that I could make it. Long story short the tags were expired and I knew that I didn't have a license but decided to drive anyway. I did have insurance.

I've gotten a driving without a license a few months ago and I don't know if this disqualify me from driving a big rig. Have anyone experienced this.

I had to drive myself to the hospital because my wife called me from work and said she was rushed to the hospital. I ran home and because the hospital was more than 15 miles away I decided that I could make it. Long story short the tags were expired and I knew that I didn't have a license but decided to drive anyway. I did have insurance.

Can't tell if you're being intentionally vague here or not.

You KNEW you didn't have a license - because it was SUSPENDED? EXPIRED? NEVER HAD ONE?

You're asking for suggestions here - but not giving enough info for anyone to make an INFORMED SUGGESTION.

Legally - if you didn't have a license - then you wouldn't have been covered by insurance (had you had an accident while driving).

For example: driving on an EXPIRED LICENSE, can be "explained away" better than driving on a SUSPENDED ONE - because then, you would have to explain WHY IT WAS SUSPENDED - AS WELL AS why you CHOSE TO DRIVE ON IT.

I'm not trying to JUDGE YOU here or anything. But, going by the VAGUENESS of your posts - there seems to be more going on here than you are disclosing.

Rick

I didn't have one because I hadn't taking the driving test yet.

You're going to have a couple of issues. First of all you haven't had a regular driver's license for at least a year and that could prevent you from getting a CDL in the first place right now or it might prevent you from being hired by major carriers based upon their company policies.

Also, a recent ticket like that which happens to be rather serious isn't good. A minor ticket or even two is no big deal. But driving without a license is extremely serious so that's going to hurt.

First check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles to see if you can even get a CDL without having had a license for a full year. If you can and you'd like to get into trucking, make sure you get pre-hire letters before attending a private CDL school so you know you'll be able to land a job afterward.

We have an excellent article on Understanding Pre-Hires if you're not familiar with the process.

Because of your situation with your license I don't know that you'd get accepted into any of the Company-Sponsored Training Programs but of course it's always worth taking a shot.

As Brett elaborated - driving without a license - because you didn't have one (as you indicated) is pretty serious - as far as trucking goes.

Have you EVER HAD A LICENSE? A lot of people that grew up in, say, New York City - never had one - because they didn't need it (never had a car, mass transit, etc.).

Since you didn't take the ROAD TEST, I'm assuming you either never had one - or were "walking off" a suspension whose length required re-testing. If a lengthy suspension is the case - then it is probably fairly recent - recent enough, that you probably had enough points (or a serious offense that required a lengthy suspension) recently, that would likely preclude a hire from a trucking company. Or you might have been recently released from a long prison stretch and your license expired while you were "down", requiring a re-test.

If you've never had one - then most jurisdictions require a regular operators license for a period of time. This might preclude you from getting a CDL right away. You also have to be 21 & over to get an interstate CDL (and hire from a trucking company). You mentioned a wife - and some people get married you - but I'm assuming you're over 21.

At any rate - with the details you've provided - that's about the best suggestions we can make at this point.

With the minimal amount of details you're providing - we're just playing a "guessing game" here. Not that we want to dig out your "deepest, darkest secrets" - but you haven't given us a lot to go on.

Rick