Starting all over again...

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by LarryTX, Jun 18, 2018.

  1. LarryTX

    LarryTX Bobtail Member

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    Jun 17, 2018
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    Hey guys and gals...

    After almost 8 years away from trucking, I've decided to get back on the road. I was previously a million-mile safe driver (with several awards) and retired abroad, but have since had a change of heart and recently returned to the US. And now I need to get back to work, because it sure isn't cheap to live here!

    It's going to be a challenge to find a driving job because I haven't worked at all in that time, although I do have some character references that can vouch for my whereabouts. And my TX CDL has been expired for 4 years, so that's the first thing I have to get done. I plan to do it on my own and rent a truck for the test.

    But after that, would anybody hire me?

    Strike 1...no recent trucking exp.
    Strike 2...no job history in 8 years.
    Strike 3...no valid DL in past 4 years.

    Any ideas of companies in Texas (I'm 80 miles north of Houston) who might be interested? Would prefer dry van, but I've reefer experience also and will take what I can get, at least for the first year. Any advice is appreciated!
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2018
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Welcome back to the US of A.
    Plenty of companies on Craigslist will hire you after you get the cdl-A again.
     
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  4. jodyj54

    jodyj54 Light Load Member

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    Mar 15, 2018
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    aaa
     
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  5. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
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    When you present a complete accounting for your time (Especially if you have been overseas...) you are presenting your accounting of that last 7 to 10 years of what you have done in life working OR NOT or something else like caregiving for a relative etc to Homeland Security indirectly.

    As long you can account for each and every month going back 7 to 10 years from today and what you have done, where and with whom (Working or not) with all of your previous addresses going back that far, everything will be examined.

    If you have gaps meaning dead time where you cannot tell anyone what you did for a period of time while for example trying to hide 3 months of terrorist training camp time in Syria... it's a example. That dead time not accounted for will be used against you and you will likely not be hired. If it is found that you did in fact travel into certain parts of the world currently engaged in conflict with the USA, then your life has gotten pretty interesting. You follow me so far?

    Even decades ago my employers asked what I did last 7 years. If all I had was three jobs and one was during high school then it's pretty simple. But when you accumulate a lifetime of employers like I did with half no longer in the existence at all.. there is nothing to call, verify or check.

    In fact. Ive been medically retired long enough away from trucking (Coming up on 16 years more or less. I will have to simply say I have spent all that time caring for a spouse through cancer 7 years at home and the last 9 literally working with doctors for everything. Doctor this doctor that doctor something else. (That would lead to a mother of all DOT medical exams for sure...) but I would have accounted for my time exactly and be treated as someone who does not have any experience at all.

    The idea that I have no experience will be disposed of rather quickly during a road test and so forth. That's not what I am worried about. I have other challenges. But with the things I have wrong with me.. it will take a virtual 6 million dollars worth of parts to get me qualified to touch a semi again on public roads in Tier One. The problems I have are permanent, degenerative and ultimately something will develop to kill me from that. So that's out for me.

    However.

    I spend my time sharing what little I know and find that half of that is obsolete, need updating, correcting and learning all over again. And part of that is simply water under the bridge. But they will never take the knowledge gained.

    Society has changes and I have some choices I will need to make. But for you. If you are able to get back into this industry, you have to account for all of your time, addresses and so forth going back a minimum of 10 years.

    Employers love people who have it together as you seem to do. I happen for example be number one in my graduating class. But I do not bother putting that on education in application, they will find out soon enough when they pull the transcript. (Not to mention in a small graduating class with that overall brain pool it's not too difficult ugh...) So I don't bother bringing up that sort of stuff.

    You might want to do a evaluation of your own background checks as a employer will pull on you. Anything that comes up, you will know what did and how to fix it if it smells badly for you.

    Good luck.
     
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  6. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    It won't be anything but your license that will hold you back.
     
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  7. LarryTX

    LarryTX Bobtail Member

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    Jun 17, 2018
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    Do you mean the fact that I currently don't have one....or that I was without any form of DL for a long period? I'm headed down in the next few days to get my Class C first, and from what I've read it will be a NEW license, and not a renewal.

    Anyways, thanks for the feedback guys.
     
  8. Catman131

    Catman131 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 23, 2010
    quadcitys usa
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    I have kept my CDL but didn't driver for 8 yrs, Had a job not driving, applied for part time driving at a smaller trucking co (20 trucks) and they put me to work right away. They did ask that I went with another driver for one day and show him I could drive which I did and now I drive for them part time. Most trucking co will give you a shot at driving for them after you get the CDL back.
     
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  9. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I mean if you surrendered your license, not your cdl but license, they may consider that a little problem, not a show stopper.
     
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