Returning driver

Greetings all:

Not exactly a newbie here. I drove OTR between '89 and '00, then left the industry to live and work overseas. Now I'm back in the U.S. and looking to get back in the biz. From reading this and other trucking forums I see that trucking isn't anything like I remember it being.

I find myself in an unusual situation: Although I've been out of it all this time I have kept my license up. The good news is I have a perfect driving record. The bad news is I haven't set foot in a truck in 12 years. Since I've been gone so long I am doing everything I can to make myself as employable as possible. This means ALL the endorsements. At the moment I'm waiting on a decision from TSA on a HazMat waiver, already had double/triple and tanker. Been about 8 weeks now, any idea how much longer it's going to be? Also I will be going for the TWIC even though I probably will never need it.

Owing to my extended time away from trucking I am expecting some resistance from hiring managers which is why I am upgrading my license as much as possible. For whatever OTHER reason an HM might have for not hiring me, it is NOT going to be because I lack the proper credentials.

In the meantime I've been studying up on all the new regs - there seem to be about 3 X as many as when I was last subject to them-. Since I've been out of a truck for so long I am considering taking a refresher course at the local community college.

Is there anything else that I should be doing to increase my chances of gaining employment? Will my age be a factor? Being 52 I'm not exactly a spring chicken. How best to explain my extended time away from the workforce? While out of the country I owned and operated a very small tourist-service business and also worked as an English teacher. All I have to document this claim is a teaching certificate, a list of satisfied customers and a passport full of expired visas.

Appreciate any and all advice.

Thanks,

Bashnya (means 'tower' in Russian)

 

Thanks Skip. I have considered Swift and other training companies. After being out of it all this time I would be considered just another newb. Truth be told I really don't want to go OTR again if I can help it but everyone has to pay their dues right?

What's the deal on what we used to call the DAC? Is it like a credit report where information drops off after a period of time? Back in the day I drove for Navajo, Landstar, PAM and few small fleet owners. Would any information placed on my report at that time still be there?

 

Thanks again Skip. I have requested my report. Should be interesting to see what comes up.

Living in Kingman there are a number of companies that have terminals very close to my house. I suppose that's a good a place as any to start. What's the worst they can say besides no?

Regarding going out with a trainer: I expect this to be necessary and have no issue with it but I am concerned about how the sleeping arrangements will be. I cannot sleep in anything that moves. I don't know why, I just don't. Truck, train, aircraft, bus or car if it's moving I don't sleep. Going out with a trainer would this be expected? If so I'm in a bit of trouble before I start...

 

Agree that there is a lot to cover. I tried running team once and it was a complete disaster. The company (a well known outfit out of Cedar Rapids) made no effort to match new hires with compatible and complementary co-drivers. I lasted a month.

I'm still in the exploratory stage of getting back in the business. As stated earlier I'm waiting on a HazMat waiver and now waiting to see what HireRight comes up with. The more information I have going in the better off I will be. In the meantime there is enough info on this website to keep me busy for some time!

 

Got my report from HireRight today. Eight pages of nothing. No work history, no criminal history, no drug or alcohol violations, nothing. It wasn't totally unexpected as I have been off the grid for some time.

It's also not entirely accurate. As mentioned in earlier posts I am waiting on a waiver from TSA so I can get a HazMat endorsement. The waiver is needed because of a misdemeanor conviction.

Question: When asked on an application about any convictions do I put what I know to be true down or do I roll the dice and bet on a hiring manager being lazy and just going by what's on the HireRight report?