Overthinking

Just do what you have to do to get on the road and making money and seeing the country.

 

For rookie drivers, it can be a bit of a challenge getting a job without any experience, but there are a few things that can help. First, it's helpful to remember that some companies don't mind inexperience because that means they can teach you the way they want you to drive rather than trying to re-teach an old dog some new tricks. Experienced drivers often have bad habits that they've been practicing over and over for years, and trying to correct those bad habits can be next to impossible, so employers sometimes see new drivers as blank slates they can mold to their liking. Second, as has already been mentioned, make yourself as marketable and attractive as possible by getting all your endorsements, especially hazmat if you can, as well as getting a passport and TWIC card. That not only demonstrates seriousness and commitment, but also shows a professional mindset and in the case of hazmat and TWIC, shows that you can pass a background check. Third, even when trucking companies say they require a certain level of experience, what they don't tell you is that they often can and do waive those requirements when they see an applicant they like. Truck drivers are a dime a dozen, and most are average at best, but GOOD truck drivers are hard to find and all employers know this.

Third, the one thing that can make the most difference in getting hired in trucking is to show up in person and make a good impression on the terminal manager, because that's usually the person who makes the hiring decisions. When you find a company you like, put in an application online the day before and then dress in some clean, nice clothes and go to the terminal you'd be working out of and ask to talk to the terminal manager. They can pull up your application right there and you'll basically get an interview without all the formality. If they like what they see and hear from you, you just might get the job even if you don't officially meet all the requirements on their website. It happens all the time, and I've seen it go down in person more than once. One driver even showed up in a suit and tie, and ten minutes after walking in the door the terminal manager was taking him out for a test drive. Half an hour later he was filling out paperwork for HR. That's how experience requirements get waived.