New to industry, lack of previous employment problem

Schneider veteran here....

I was with them for almost 2 years...before I left them for other CDL opportunities.

When I first started my CDL journey -- I had just before that been a caregiver....but for several years.

After receiving a CDL...plus all the relevant endorsements (tanker, hazmat...& doubles/triples)...plus a TWIC card...plus a new US passport...NOBODY would hire me.

Except Schneider.

But -- this was several years ago -- & before covid....when the CDL job market for drivers was actually much better than now.

Today -- the job market has tightened up considerably -- & it's now mostly a carrier's world.

To save you potentially A LOT of wasted time & effort -- given the current CDL job market for rookies -- I recommend you talk with the following carriers, BEFORE you even pursue a CDL -- & see if they will hire you later...once you have a CDL in hand:

• May Trucking -- has a terminal in Pensacola...& normally hires/trains new CDL holders. You will need a CDL from elsewhere, before applying with them. LOTS of west coast runs there.

• Wiley Sanders Truck Lines -- in Troy, AL. Again -- you will need a CDL before you apply there. No CDL school there, either. Normally hires & trains new CDL holders.

• Benny Whitehead, Inc -- in Eufaula, AL. NEW CDL HOLDERS THERE RUN AS TEAMS -- FOR A WHOLE YEAR. Again -- you will need a CDL from elsewhere, before applying. I actually met one of their recruiters while doing lunch several weeks ago. He was out looking for potential drivers....so they are at least looking for more help. This will be COAST-TO-COAST REEFER RUNS -- AGAIN, AS TEAMS.

• Swift Transportation has a terminal over in Irvington, AL...& they are currently hiring rookies. But they would not hire me...back in the day. Would they hire you, now? I doubt it. With all that said -- nothing ventured, nothing gained:

Swift Transportation -- OTR truck driver -- Mobile, AL​

• Schneider is the only one of these I can suggest in your case, that will actually help you get a CDL. Once you get a CDL there -- I think they expect at least a 9-month commitment from you, to drive for them. I got my CDL on my own, via a nearby tech school. I recommend that way of getting a CDL, if at all possible. Your problem with Schneider will (also) be -- their nearest terminal to you...is in Atlanta. But they may have parking locations for your rig nearer you in western FL (like a dropyard for trailers).

Note that all of the above carriers offer CDL tuition reimbursement programs -- if you later decide to pursue a CDL on your own...so your out-of-pocket school expenses are not all long-term.

I do know that...as I write this...both Schneider & May are hiring rookie drivers in your area (on paper, at least). Whether either would hire you....with no recent work history...well, you would just need to inquire within.

Check out this below current job link for Schneider...which also mentions/discusses getting a CDL thru them:

OTR truck driver -- Schneider -- Pensacola, FL

One more thing: since you've been recently unemployed -- look for government grants & scholarships that will help with....or even eliminate....the cost of going to a local CDL school.

If you later decide a nearby CDL school is right for you -- choose wisely: make sure the school credits you AT LEAST 160 hours of training. More than that is of course...even better.

Also: try to find a nearby school that will coach/test you out on manual transmissions -- THEN YOU WON'T HAVE AN "AUTOMATIC ONLY" RESTRICTION ON YOUR CDL.

Others here on the Forum will likely be along later....with still other carrier recommendations that may (or may not) later even give you the time of day -- but those listed above are the closest ones to you that normally otherwise hire rookies in western FL.

BEST OF LUCK (& you will need it)!

-- L

 

Do you have a good work history before becoming a caregiver?

 

Bradenton, FL
You said "jetset" and that's a Schneider term in a recruiting ad. Not the best choice of a job, but may be your only hope.
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Florida also has free cdl school through the Florida WIOA Program.
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Also, this one:
Get Your Commercial Driver's License (CDL) - C.R. England
Learn how to become a professional truck driver with C.R. England, a premier truck driving school with locations in Indiana, Texas, Utah and California. Train on top-of-the-line equipment, get real …

 

Not true.

You all overthink this, it is simple --->>> you make a legal statement of fact about your employment, including the dates and work done, then notarize it.

IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

ANYONE who says it is wrong, ignore it.

What is needed is documenting the employment or the time you were not employed, not proof of you working, if you understand what I mean.

The FMCSA doesn't give a crap what you did, other than you worked for a company under FMCSA rules, so you just have to explain what you did.

From my end of the hiring process, I have to document an applicant's employment, including gaps. I can and have accepted a notarized statement with the dates and the work done to satisfy the FMCSA requirements.

 

She can do that with a caregiver statement also can't she? I remember a few others that were caregivers and got notarized statements attesting to that.

 

Depending on your exact location in FL (gee, that kinda, sorta would help out....A LOT; that's what zip codes are for)...you might also check out TDI, or Truck Driving Institute.....located on the very east side of Milton, FL:

CDL Training in Milton, FL | Affordable Truck Driving School Near Pensacola

That area of west Florida is actually a great place to learn how to drive a big rig -- it's a good mix of both urban & rural driving....but nothing truly overwhelming.

Don't know if they teach/test on manual transmission trucks, or not.

Don't know how many hours their program(s) give you for credit.

So....inquire within.

Caveat emptor.

-- L

 

34210 zip code?

Holy Toledo, Batman!

If I had known that, earlier....my initial reply would have been considerably different.

I used to live in Florida.

To me...."western Florida"....means the western "panhandle" area.

You live on the western side of the peninsula area....

-- L