Self-Employment History

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BlackCotton, Jan 20, 2011.

  1. BlackCotton

    BlackCotton Bobtail Member

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    Oct 26, 2010
    Houston, TX
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    After many months of research I choose to go with Prime as the trucking company that I would like to work for the most.

    I put in the application and was approved quickly.

    Then, I got an e-mail telling me that because I am self-employed they are going to need some more paperwork. I thought fine, no problem.

    I'm in my second month of back and forth e-mails, now.

    They asked me for Tax returns, so I called up the IRS and ordered my past four years of tax transcripts. A week and a half later I got them and sent them right over to Prime. Nope, not good enough. They want more information. They want a business license. They want company receipts for all the years I have been in business as well as thorough bank statements for each year. Also, they want a couple of things with my business name on it as well as proof of my business insurance information for every year I was in business.

    So far I have sent them well over twenty different documents all pertaining to my business and it's still not good enough.

    To be honest, this is ridiculous. I didn't think applying to be a truck driver was this difficult for the self-employed. How can what's good enough for the state and for the IRS not be good enough for a trucking company...

    I'm not looking for negative feedback back just hoping there is some of you out there that we're self-employed that can help me out.

    Thanks
     
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  3. Lady K

    Lady K Road Train Member

    Not able to help - but that does seem a bit excessive. Hubby is/was self employed - he had to show business licenses and have letters from different people verifying that he was/is in business... that was it.
     
  4. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Apr 18, 2010
    Tennessee
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    Not only self employment, some want to know gaps of unemployment. Crete wanted a notorized statement from a neighbor stating they knew I was unemployed.

    This is a FMSCA rule about proving your 10 year history background check. They are not so much concerned about your self employment. They are trying to prove to the gov't you didn't drive a truck in that period. This keeps bozo drivers from hiding stuff like wrecks and failed drug tests by eliminating them trucking jobs all together on an application.

    If you were self employed and had some slow periods, it might raise questions by just business records. Who ever is putting together the work background check isn't the shapest tool in the shed.

    Ask them if you can get a notorized statement from a neighbor stating you were self employed and had not driven a truck for anyone in that period. That usually works.
    When you do, make a half dozen copies and have them all notorized for future job applications.
     
  5. GoneButNotForgotten

    GoneButNotForgotten Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 30, 2009
    Roxboro, N.C.
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    Basically I think that they are trying to make sure that you were not in some Turkish prison, or a of soldier of fortune, or in some kind of illegal business where cash is king.....like dealing drugs. You know it could even be some an endurance test where they are hoping for you to get frustrated or "to blink". As much as this is a pain right now, I would much rather them get it all out of the way before you go to orientatiion. They are way too many threads on this forum where a lot of companies do not do the backgrounds until they see you at orientation, and then slaughter takes place.
    If it was me and I wanted to go with Prime and had made it this far, I think I would cooperate a little bit longer. Good luck to you.
     
  6. Big Duker

    Big Duker "Don Cheto"

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    Sep 18, 2007
    Weatherford, TX
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    Steer clear of Prime. They suck. You will be their slave for 6 months and then indentured servant for longer.
     
  7. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    Sep 23, 2007
    Ask my GPS...
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    Prime's a good outfit - there are many of us who actually drive for Prime who post here. Those folks who post slurs like, "you will be a slave or an indentured servant" are just posting c.r.a.p.

    I went through the same sort of hassle over my period of self-employment. They're just being careful because of the new regulatory environment - CSA. The FMCSA has tightened the screws on employment of bad drivers, and they're using self-employment to try to dodge the screening process. Unfortunately for those of us who are or were honestly self-employed, it makes the background check difficult.
     
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  8. Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

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    Mar 30, 2006
    ova-hereee
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    go to another company...prime is being too ###### picky....if they cannot accept what you have provided, screw 'em, as NO company is worth this amount of aggravation.....

    and prime having been in trouble themselves some years ago are not the ones to be able to call the kettle black....

    there are way too many BETTER outfits then those misfits of stupidity...
     
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  9. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    Sep 23, 2007
    Ask my GPS...
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  10. Dix_

    Dix_ Light Load Member

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    Dec 11, 2010
    W.Poland, ME
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    Wow.... I've been self-employed for 13 years & the only thing I've been asked for is my last 3-years worth of 1099s.

    But then, I just got my CDL... so there's no way I'd have been driving a truck prior to now.
     
  11. Zuma

    Zuma Light Load Member

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    Dec 26, 2010
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    The FMCSA rules says that employers have to ask for, and you have to provide, history of any jobs within the last ten years that involve operation of a CMV.

    Anything more that a company asks for is their own requirement, or maybe comes from their insurance company.

    Here's the information from the regs:

    §383.35 Notification of previous employment. (a) Any person applying for employment as an operator of a commercial motor vehicle shall provide at the time of application for employment, the information specified in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) All employers shall request the information specified in paragraph (c) of this section from all persons applying for employment as a commercial motor vehicle operator. The request shall be made at the time of application for employment.
    (c) The following employment history information for the 10 years preceding the date the application is submitted shall be presented to the prospective employer by the applicant:
    (c)(1) A list of the names and addresses of the applicant's previous employers for which the applicant was an operator of a commercial motor vehicle;
    (c)(2) The dates the applicant was employed by these employers; and
    (c)(3) The reason for leaving such employment.
    (d) The applicant shall certify that all information furnished is true and complete.
    (e) An employer may require an applicant to provide additional information.
    (f) Before an application is submitted, the employer shall inform the applicant that the information he/she provides in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section may be used, and the applicant's previous employers may be contacted for the purpose of investigating the applicant's work history.
     
    zentrucking and 25(2)+2 Thank this.
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