Returning to Over-the-Road after extended sabbatical

I didnt think employers consider 6 months as a long gap. I know prime is particular about recent employment more so than most companies.

 

wiseBear --

If all the other leads posted here should later prove to be too "frosty" -- you might try this one next:

Schneider -- OTR dry van -- no exp req'd

-- L

 

And use “Retired” not “unemployed” or decided to take time off for yada yada.

 

@wiseBear --

It's tough to really make more specific suggestions about lanes/routes, etc, without knowing more about where you wlll later be, back stateside.

One could assume that would be somewhere in the "Pacific northwest".....but that's still a pretty darn big area. For suggestions in an area that large -- you may or may not be close enough to a given specific opportunity.

If you come back to the states this year -- you will come back into what has become a sucky freight environment/market. Many carriers have thus tightened up their hiring requirements, over and beyond the norm. With 6 months experience under your belt -- some of these carriers mentioned previously may (or may not) give you the cold shoulder -- it really depends on their need for drivers at that point in time and/or in your area (where ever that may be).

With all that said -- here are some general suggestions:

• Earlier -- you don't say what CDL endorsements you have (if any). Thus -- go back and get ALL THE RELEVANT ONES: tanker, hazmat, and also....doubles/triples. This move will help you stand out later from the other applicants with less than a year of driving experience -- and it will also show prospective carriers that you mean business. Those endorsements are future door-openers -- and money-makers!
• For any carrier that you might be sincerely interested in -- I would go ahead and fill out a complete application on-line, and submit it. Wait about a week -- and follow-up with a phone call.....then ask about the status of your application. A full & complete application already submitted up-front shows prospective carriers that you mean business, and (I think) makes a more professional initial impression (as opposed to just calling first -- that looks more like you're just "window shopping" for work ).
• Because the freight market has tightened up to the extent that it has -- be mentally prepared for one or more "no" answers -- before you get that first "yes". It's not necessarily you that's the problem -- it's just a tougher hunt right now for unemployed drivers with less than say, 12 -15 months experience (and especially those without any CDL endorsements). I got 3 or 4 "no" answers back when I was first looking -- before I was accepted (by Schneider) -- and this was back when freight volumes were pretty reasonable.
• If you do encounter some early rejections -- DON'T GET DISCOURAGED! Don't give up! The road to success is littered with speed bumps -- especially in the current freight market.

"The race goes not to the swift, or to the strong....but to those who keep running"

Good luck, Driver.

-- L

 

I want to challenge this assumption.

It is very possible to enjoy a nice retirement unless you have a serious chronic health condition that will require a lot of money to pay for over the duration of your lifetime. But the fact that you are able to take extended sabbaticals in the back country proves that this is obviously not the case in your life.

So ask yourself this: do you want to work for the rest of your life, or do you want to own your time and live life completely on your own terms when you are in your golden years?

 

Part of the appeal of working in the transportation industry is the incredible vastness of it.

The amount of freight in the continental US that has to be moved -- daily -- is simply pretty much beyond comprehension.

Just because there is indeed a freight slump underway -- doesn't mean that all opportunities have dried up.

Let's face it -- even in a freight recession -- a lot of stuff still has to be moved from point A to point B.

There is still worthwhile opportunity out there. You just need to know where to look. You also need to be (in part) willing to "think outside the box" (literally ).

That mindset can actually be a very good thing; it can introduce you to opportunities that you later will look back on and be glad you gave a fair chance.

You still don't say where in the US you will be when you come back stateside -- so the suggestions made henceforth are made pretty much "flying blind."

With 6 months experience already to your credit -- you could (re)enter the CDL job market in at least 3 ways:

• Consider the option of starting out/coming back in the food-grade tanker sector. For example, in good times, or in bad....the world still wants to be able to drink milk, and buy ice cream (it's that "comfort food" thing). Thus, a couple of tanker carriers come to mind:

Midwest Dairy Transport -- tanker endorsement req'd -- will take you with 6 months exp

or

Western Dairy Transport -- takes even brand new drivers -- tanker endorsement req'd

Depending on where you relocate -- you may (or may not) be in the hiring area for either (or both) of the above.​

• You can shoot for food service/delivery work. Many of those take drivers right out of CDL school, or not -- it just depends on their hiring requirements at any given point in time/location:

Syco -- takes even brand new drivers -- nice opportunity: 4-day work week option -- Post Falls, ID

or

US Foods -- Spokane, WA -- one of the better jobs of its kind -- good sign-on bonus
​

• You can look for opportunities for new(er) drivers within the LTL sector. The LTL sector generally pays better, as well (because they can afford to). This sector will be more "hit-or-miss"....it just depends on where you later land, and the opportunities that are nearby:

Central Transport -- Post Falls, ID -- takes almost brand new drivers -- tanker & hazmat req'd

or

XPO Logistics -- Spokane, WA -- all relevant CDL endorsements req'd

Note: both of the LTL examples just above would be home-daily positions (ditto for the food service jobs, as well). ​

Sooooo....as you can see....you still have worthwhile options. A flabby general freight market isn't necessarily a good reason to be totally "put off" by all the negative brouhaha that you hear in the news. Again -- freight still has to be moved, and somebody out there somewhere has to do it.

Also -- the above illustrates how all those endorsements (including hazmat) can indeed come in really handy.

Still other suggestions, to make you transition smoother:

• Avoid any job or account that delivers to any of the so-called "dollar" stores: Dollar General, Family, Dollar, & Dollar Tree. Those jobs will chew you up and spit you back out . Leave those for drivers with 3+ years of experience.
• Avoid any/all hazmat tanker jobs until you have AT LEAST 2 years of experience. Mistakes/accidents with those jobs are just too expensive and/or dangerous. Get more experience, first.
• My own personal recommendation: stay out of the OTR "reefer" sector, until you get more experience. Life there is just too "rough and tumble" for those with less than 12-15 months experience elsewhere.

-- L