School starting, suggestions please.

There's some confusion here about what companies may ask, and what they're required to ask (and you're required to provide) under federal law.

Private companies can ask for anything they want. They may want your entire life history, and if they ask for it, they'll also require you to grant them permission to investigate it.

The Federal Government, however, only requires that they ask (and you provide) a history of jobs within the past ten years where you operated a CMV.

The best thing for you to do is go to the web site of the company you're interested in, and fill out the application as they require. Try it; it's easy...I just did two of them over the last couple of days. One company asked for three years complete employment history, the other for five...and of course both of them asked for that ten year history of CMV employment.

If they want additional information, they're entitled to ask for it, and you'll have to decide whether you want to provide it. And if you don't, I expect that's where the conversation will end.

Depending on the size of the company, you may fill out a paper application; but it'll be a similar process.

 

You are going to get a lot further in life being honest up front. How would you like your record to show your frivolous employment and being fired for application falsification?

Also while on that subject, find a company that you are going to stay with from the get go. Especially with your history. You don't need one single more employer added to your list. Do you want a good chance at succeeding? Do you want to make money. How about a good long standing career? If yes to these questions then stay well away from the mega-carriers. (ie: swift, werner, england etc...) Find a good smaller company or owner operator willing to take you on. Plus with your record you are going to have a much better chance of getting hired. Oh yeah, welcome to the forum!

 

As far as not having info for all of them, a couple things can help. Most companies only want the Supervisors name, Phone #, Address. Google maps can help you alot, if you just go to the area and search the company name. It should give the phone number and address, hopefully you remember the contact persons, which may have changed but thats fine.

Try to get the dates of employment as close as possible, and I know that can be tough but do the best you can. Furthermore, if a phone number is unlisted or the HR department isn't located at that location don't sweat it, these background check companies WILL find it themselves. 3 of my previous jobs were outsourced to others states and bought out, but the background companies have their ways. Google Maps is you're friend!!

 

There's another issue you might run into when filling out applications. Some of the people I worked for are dead, others are gone off to parts unknown. The last company I worked for is out of business, there's no current phone number or address, and the application doesn't even allow me to note that. I filled out the name of the company and left the other parts blank.

If they're interested in me, and they want verification, I'll ask them what's acceptable...maybe my old W2s? But, whatever it is they want, I'll have to try to dig it up.

Don't assume you can ignore their requests.

 

Smaller companies run OTR as well.

 

You know what? The only person who can answer your question is the one who screens applicants at the company you're applying at.

Remember, some of what you'll get here is real facts, and some is opinions represented as facts, and sometimes it's hard to separate the two.

 

You're exactly right, and usually a W-2 will suffice. Millis Transfer couldn't verify a company of mine that was previously bought out, and they just asked me to provide a W-2.