Out of the workforce for a while and work history on applications

You can say you worked for cash during that period of time. Many truck drivers have said that.
Anyway, you'll be hired after graduating from cdl school.

 

To maximize your chances of success:

• Attend a nearby CDL school that is rated for AT LEAST 160 hours. More is of course even better.
• Find a nearby CDL school that will train (& later final test you) on manual transmission tractors. That way -- you won't have an "automatic transmission only" restriction on your CDL.
• As suggested above -- when you later get your CDL, go ahead & get ALL of the relevant endorsements: tanker, hazmat, & doubles/triples. This opens up more opportunities for you later -- & shows employers that you are more serious, & mean business. Don't let someone else talk you out of the hazmat endorsement. The vast majority of hazmat loads are not really dangerous. MORE ENDORSEMENTS = MORE MONEY.

-- L

 

If you simply told the truth -- & explained a business plan that didn't take off -- that would still sound MUCH BETTER than what I offered.

The bottom line -- what actually happened with you should really be ok.

-- L

 

Total disclosure: the overall freight market is in a recession right now. CDL jobs for drivers with no previous CDL experience (or less than one year of experience) are....in many cases....not easy to get.

This DOES NOT necessarily mean you are completely out of luck. Just know that you may have to endure several "no" application answers before you get to that "yes".

Don't think that it's your recent business failure that is haunting you. Rather -- it's the overall state of the job market.

You can still be successful & get that first CDL job -- if you know where to look, & what to avoid.

The Denver area is not a bad location at all to begin.

-- L

 

I also encountered several "no" CDL job answers...before I got to that 1st "yes".

The other bottom line: persistence pays off, big-time.

-- L

 

I didn't know you were trying to get a business off the ground. You can use that one.Most companies are only interested in the last 3 years. Some companies such as Prime will want to know what you've been doing since birth. Prime refused a guy because he was fired from a job bagging groceries in a grocery store when he was in the 11th grade of high school.
Don't worry, you'll be hirable after graduating from a good cdl school and have all the endorsements.
I tried looking at Careers World Wide, but can't get the website to open. The military uses that school for people returning/transitioning to civilian life.