where to start?

First let me say thank you for serving in our military!!!!!!

There are some companies that hire military, I just forget which ones. I applied to over 200 before I finally got hired on.

Go to one of the truck stops and get some of the books in there and look through them, I think that is where I saw the military thing.

Keep trying and good luck!

Take care, Larz

 

On one side of the coin,most companies just plain flat out wont consider your military driving experience and you will be considered a new guy no matter what....on the other side there are a few companies out there that have programs set up just for hiring military guys/gals just like yourself thought they will likely still make you go through training and all of that garbage. I dont blame you for thinking that your real world experience all around the world should count for something as i think it should count for something as well but in the eyes of an insurance company you are just going to be another new guy in most cases. that sucks but there are some companies that will work with you just because you were in the military,not because of your military driving but because you were in the military, Rhoel and Werner are 2 companies off the top of my head that have Patriot programs or whatever they call them. I would say TMC would likely be interested in talking to you as well. If you do hold a civilian CDL I would say with your military experience you would also probably have pretty good luck with smaller mom and pop type companies. There are guys that have been out here that have been OTR for all of their adult life that would have a hard time getting on with a large carrier just because they dont have verified CDL school experience. Big trucking companies can be fickle beasts on what they consider qualified drivers.

 

I dont think he is wanting to go OTR, the demo job you applied for probably has an insurance company that doesnt take into consideration your military Exp. All they are looking at is the OK CDL that is a little over a year old and saying you dont have enough exp.
I would keep trying at different demo/dirt hauling outfits. Should find one to take you. I've been haulin' dirt, part time for 2 years, and my record is bad.....

 

I dont think it is "Lack of Experience" that those coming from the military have rather than the lack of a DAC file. Most companies look there and nowhere else bcause that is what the insurance companies look at. I could be wrong but it is my guess as to why they would say not enough experience. It's the same for those of us who take a hiatus from trucking, any more than 2 years (and you could have 20 years prior experience) and it doesn't mean squat if it is not recent primarily due to DAC. It is a tough break and a pisspoor way of honoring those who serve in my books. Thank you for serving and good luck to you. Hope this helps.

 

Englewoods Explenation is correct with the larger OTR companies, but a small dirt hauling outfit doesnt use DAC, they go primarily off insurance guidelines.

 

Last year I tried to get my hunting license in Wa state. I had hunted for years in my home state of Oregon, but did not have one the year I moved to Wa. I was told that I was born about 4 months too late to be exempt from needing hunters education card.

I thought that was a little silly since I spent 4 years in the USMC with 2 combat tours. Sometimes it seems like there is a serious lack of common sense being used to make decisions that affect each of us.

I think you have a few options if you allready have your CDL.

1. Find a large company that hires anyone regardless of experience.

2. Find a small fleet owner and talk to him or her. In most cases they will value your experience and hire you. As long as their insurance carrier will let them.

If you don't have a civilian CDL a small company owner may help you as far as using there truck for the road test portion of the CDL Test.

My preference would be the route of the small company fewer than say 10 trucks would be your best bet. These companies really look at you as a person not a number.

I got out in 94 and started my own trucking company in 96 with no experience at all. just took a 5 40 hour driving course. When I got my first insurance policy i used my 5 ton military experience and they wrote the policy.

Good luck and thanks for your service.