What now?

I guess it depends on what sort of "bad work history" we're talking about, and if it's combined with a criminal history. Are you saying more than a few have rejected your application based on prior non-driving work history?

If you walked into an office today to ask about a driving job, what sort of first impression vibe are they going to get? If you consider yourself employable in the trucking industry, then expand your search to smaller local and regional outfits that may need drivers so, bad, they'll give you a shot or at least let you do a road test after you do an application.

 

The work history is a problem, but you're hirable. Take what you can get for a few months to prove yourself, then other opportunities will become available.
Try these and do the online apps before calling:
Nick Strimbu Inc. in Brookfield,OH. They're Teamsters Union and run regional runs. You're just within the hiring area.
PI&I Motor Express - another Teamsters Union outfit that hires new grads.
FFE (Frozen Food Express) - has a terminal in Chicago and hires new cdl grads.
Southern Refrigerated Transport - refrigerated outfit.
Navajo Express
Abilene Motor Express
Vynera Transportation - Woodridge,IL
Sygma Network - hauls for Sysco. Apply for "driver helper" or "driver associate" so you can start as a trainee.

 

It's an insurance issue more often than not. Most Insurance companies will not cover inexperienced drivers so the companies can't hire an inexperienced truck driver for that reason. You might have to team with a driver trainer for a while to get some time and a good sign off to be able to get hired on as a solo driver.

 

Carriers are always concerned about a truck driver having serious issues at a small carrier somewhere else, and getting fired, then the driver tries to act like that job never existed and apply elsewhere and not listing their prior driving job [so they don't get called for work reference]. But most will go out of their way to give you a chance to find ways to prove you were woking and not trying to hide something. They will often let you gather signed affidavits from prior work contacts or places where you performed work, or even non-family related personal references.

Sometimes they'll look at any prior tax returns (if there are any)

 

What is matta with your work history.

Without telling us what is the matta with it... we cannot tell you what's what.

What did you do? Rob the Bank of England and serve prision time or something? ///TEASING... smile...

If all you did was flip burgers 2 months at a time before being fired for this or that or something else really good like caregiving for a sick old relative etc. that's fine. The main thing is accounting for all time going back 7 to 10 years. It's necessary to be sure you didnt run off to ISIS or something silly.

 

You could try showing your tax returns.

Also... Employers are having problems with people who don’t want to work. You need to overcome this fear.

 

STOP the worry. There is nothing in the rules that say having a bad work history prohibits you. Just fill out your application honestly. If you was working under the table so what? Just account for the time.