Hello,i am new to this site but have been lurking for a while now.I have learned alot reading daily on these boards but have one question.I am very interested in obtaining a cdl from a local training school that i would pay for myself,but my job history isnt very good.I have been in plumbing for about 9 total years since 1997.Problem is i have many plumbing jobs and some other jobs in there also and the longest held was from 97-00.With plumbing there are always layoffs or slow periods which force me to leave the company to continue to support my family.This has happened enough and want to go for the cdl and do either some local or get my 1-2 years OTR then go for tanker work-gas is what i would like.Now with a family i like roehl and the 7-7 etc program but with my history would they even consider me or would i have to go local out of school(if possible) or go with a less desirable company?Thank you for any replies,troy.

Most companies don't want to see more than three jobs in one year, and five jobs in three years.

Absolutely.....any Company Loves Someone With Stability. A Job Hoppper Is Certainly Frowned Appon In Most Industries.

i am in the same position with HVAC except they wouldn't lay me off. they would just keep you as busy as they could without them loosing money.
which was most of the time not enough to pay the bills. so i would be forced to move to another company with a big condo/ sub-division contract to make ends meet
if you could be able to explain why on the jobs to someone other than a recruiter you could have better luck.
if your Apps to people show "laid off" rather than quit i'm sure that makes EVEN MORE of a difference.

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
"i've been working all week, and i'm tired and i dont wanna sleep and i wanna have fun... it's time for a good time!!!!" alan jackson

Thanks for the replies everyone! Yeah i seen your sort of in the same boat as me pat but yet alot further along.My biggest problem will be just getting the dates for everything correct.

OMG you don't wanna know the crap i went through to get that down on paper
sorting through W-2's calling employers ETC.

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
"i've been working all week, and i'm tired and i dont wanna sleep and i wanna have fun... it's time for a good time!!!!" alan jackson

i seriously wouldn't worry about it. They actually pay recruiters to drive out to the schools', that's how bad they need drivers. And since each company is going to be what You make of it, I would just jump in and take the best of whoever wants you. As far as paying for it- I would definitely go down the local tech school and see if maybe someone else can pick up the tab first. Good Luck!!
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well, to tell you the truth, i have been saying for quite some time now that i have started my 19th year of driving this month (february), and i job hop so many times, i make the Energizer bunny dizzy................

but, i DO HAVE 19 years experience too.................that's the difference.

in your situation, you at least stayed in the same "industry/trade" so i wouldn't be too concerned right now. go to school and get your education. let the school do its job in finding you employment. as long as you weren't FIRED from any job due to (say) laziness, or stealing, or embezzelment, or sexual harassment, i think you should be able to secure a trucking job after completion, and have that CDL in your hands.

then, when you get as much experience as i have, you too can tell your boss, any boss to go #### themselves, you're outta there..........

you'll get trucking jobs as easily as i do..............its selecting the right one to stay put at for a while................

I wonder if it would make a difference if you wrote down on the application as to why you had to job hop. They shouldn't hold it against you when your laid off or working seasonal work. Also most companies only want 10 years of work info, and luckily for you thats when you held your longest job...so just start with that one...the one in 1997 and work your way up. when I got my first trucking job....I just went ahead and said I had one job for 3 years when in fact it was for 3 summers of commericial fishing; I never did get any flak for it. good luck

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There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

I have been in this industry for 5 years and would just like to add that altough they "discourage" job hopping we are truck drivers and we move.period. if your job history shows that you are with a particular co. for 1 or more years before you have to move it's no big deal.Also, anything you do outside the industry is not as important as what you do once you get in.