Overcoming work history gaps / getting foot in the door in 2018

This might come as a shock to some of you, but there is NOT ONE FMCSA rule that says you must have a Job history. Only one that says IF you have one you are to list it. I am going through this crap right now with a guy that has a CDL and spent the last 38 months taking care of his now dead wife and going through all his savings. He understands about the refresher and is willing to go out with a trainer if needed. Some of these idiots in these carrier HR dept's don't have the good sense god gave a donkey. They totally fail to understand there is an exception in 391.23 that CLEARLY states if no DOT regulated jobs had been preformed in the preceding 3 years to note this in the drivers DQF and MOVE ON, and NOTHING is said about general employment in that section. Some HR critters go by 391.23 as bible and stop reading way too early. Then there is 383.35, NO WHERE in that code section does it say an applicant MUST have a history. Then the dunderheads at the FMCSA won't clearfy this issue with regulatory guidance. I'm almost sure I have found him a job, but to be honest there has been several times I have simply wanted to beat my head into a wall over the rank stupid I have seen with these dang HR critters!

 

I wouldn't spend money on a CDL until I could find an employer to work for.

 

Some companies are more strict about gaps in employment. My last company, where I worked for almost 2 decades just had me type out an brief explanation for the previous 6 months between my last job. I explained I was attempting to create an internet business related to online audio.

Maybe you can search your memory and remember if you spent time volunteering for various community projects, and then produce or collect letters from people who where aware of your efforts. The main thing they are worried about is you were in jail or using drugs etc. If you say you were working they will want W-2s to document that. If you can document helping your grandmother and other things that will be god enough for many employers.

Also, check with your state's unemployment office. The states operate federally-funded grant programs variously called WOIA or WIA which give unemployed/underemployed tuition to pay for various vocational training programs. Your goal should NOT be to get ANY trucking job. There are MANY trucking jobs where you would be better off unemployed. Your goal is to find a good trucking job where you learn the job, have good equipment, and good support from the rest of the company. This job is very hard if your company doesn't care if you deliver or get put out of service by the cops for things they screwed up. Picking a good company FOR YOU is easily the most important decision you will make in trucking that determines if you can stay in it or not. Many of the bad companies couldn't keep an experienced driver employed even though he knows all there might be to know about overcoming company obstacles.

DO NOT LEASE A TRUCK NO MATTER WHAT. Please, for your own good. It's a good way to go bankrupt within a year if you don't know how to run a business. There are drivers here that can help you, just give them a little time to see your message and reply.

 

Try Swift. I had a large employment gap and they accepted me. You still have to pass their course and play by their rules, but they might give you a chance to prove yourself. It's up to you after that.

 

Ever work for a company that went out of business?

 

Carolina Logistics - click here for more info > www.carolinalogistics.net will probably hire you and put you through their cdl school.
For those gaps, put "family farm during heavy season" or something similar.
We help our future drivers to obtain their CDL!
Carolina CDL Training Center is offering CDL class A training to residents of Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia.

 

I worked for 2 companies that got bought out and 2 companies that went out of business.

 

• Here's a list of Carolina Logistics terminals. You'll get lots of miles with that outfit.
• Candler, NC
• Sunburst, MT
• Kent, WA
• Vancouver, WA
• Sacramento, CA
• Fontana, CA

 

Here's another good outfit you can try:
CFI - www.cfidrive.com
Company-paid Tuition
With a 12-month commitment to drive for CFI, qualified students can now receive fully paid tuition to attend driving school in Missouri. We’ll even cover your room and board for the duration of the four-week course.