2 yrs unemployment and very little work in my 3 yrs work history

I agree 100%, it's a JOB, and that the Job Services are pushing it. I even asked about training related to computer technology. I was told, no there's not any, and not many, if any, jobs available for that, without at least a degree. In a nutshell, trucking is about the only job they are offering. Prior to my current unemployment status, which lead me to get a CDL, I was in construction as a Heavy Equipment Operator. I was laid off 2x this year, both because they had no more work!! I'm still paying for that rip-off school, Oklahoma College of Construction. They are no longer in business, I wonder why? I wished I would be paying for my CDL school, instead of that one. There's only $13k difference in tuition.

 

Furthering ones education is a BAD idea in my opinion. Further it in WHAT? I have been in the world of education and can tell anybody that having a bachelor or even a masters (doesn't matter what it's in these days) will only get you into debt with student loans.

These days degrees are NOT worth it. On top of all of that, you further your education and you'll be LUCKY to make 25 to 30,000 a year. Furthering ones education is just not worth it FINACIALLY. I read here how a lot of people make over 2,000 dollars a month.

To people with a bachelor or masters that is EXCELLENT money! Know why? Because the so-called educated people for the most part make LITTLE SALARIES. I feel it is because most jobs people get with degrees are service oriented type jobs and those jobs NEVER pay good whereas trucking is PRACTICAL, REAL LIFE work.

It's refreshing to me to just study for the CDL after having spend over a decade in the world of education. Theories and knowledge society cannot really use. Why trucking? It's a career that society NEEDS...It's PRACTICAL, REAL LIFE work and it won't be shipped to China or Mexico.

 

Try C.R. England, they may give you a chance even with the unemployment you have had. www.crengland.com

You read a lot of bad things about them here but remember that everybody has different experiences with companies. Keep us posted.

 

I'm kinda in the same boat as the O.P. I quit trucking in 2008 to become a construction inspector (I know, bad timing). I got all the required ICC certs to become a combination inspector, but work has been very sporadic. I had hoped that the economy would turn around in the two years it took for me to finish school, but we all know that's not been the case.

Anyway, being away from trucking for three years has hurt my chances of being rehired, but it can be done. Some companies wont hire me at all, some want 35-90 days of refresher training, and with those options you cant be too picky about who to go with. If you want to start up again without refresher/training truck time, JB Hunt is hiring. They'll take on drivers with one year verifiable in the last five. They may want W-2's or other 'proof' of what you've been doing during the gaps. They will accept college transcripts as a means to fill in those gaps. They've offered me a job.

Another option for me is a couple of the local companies in my area. Much smaller than JB, no qualcomms or big brother tactics, in exchange for a few cents less per mile. This is the direction I'm leaning in. Just until the economy picks back up again (God knows when!), then I'll go back to construction inspection.

 

Thats weird ive been to a few places around Phoenix and no one ask for that only to pay check stubs for the last two weeks from my last job never heard that before

 

ok ive gotta chime in on this
just ignore the village idiot hes just that an idiot

john i feel your pain brother i mean union brother

i to am in your position except that my house is on wheels so for the last few years ive been able to travel to where there has been work its getting harder tho from what im seeing const companies would rather hire a 20 something apprentice over a 20 yr journeyman theyre cheaper and dont break as easy and until the village idiot comes and hangs a ton and ahalf to two tons of board a day every day he'll never know where were coming from
ive been on and off unemployment pretty much this whole year and from what ive been reading on this forum a first year newbe will make more than i will this year even before tax write offs
i figure that five years from now when const might come back kinda ill be at an age where im considered more of a liability than an asset theres a reason you dont see old drywall hangers
unfortuneatly i dont have enough yrs to retire and im to young for that anyways
time for a career change

im not my any means putting down drivers i know its not easy, i did otr in the late 80's

ive talked to a few companies about the employment thing and im getting feed back that alot of it is they want to see if your a job jumper or not i mean are you gonna jump ship every time something better comes along or are you a stick it out kinda of person
also be prepared for a credit check some are doing that as well they're looking to see if youd sell a load for a quick buck
the company schooling isnt really a bad gig when you think about it most guarantee a job after that, never got a guarantee in const, plus the up front cost is elimenated

the universial theme is that newbe's get treated like crap, yea probably, but can it really be that much worse than the richard cranium's you had as foreman on the last six jobs
i know your home life is different than mine, ive never had a family, just look at it this way; a few years of investment now will more than likely pay big dividends later
good luck to ya and thanks everyone else gave me some ideas to use in my own search

oh one more thing... to the village idiot
i once hoed sugar beets in nebraska one summer ( when i was an adult, 21yrs old) to make ends so until you know someone dont judge them

 

If you check the news from time to time, you'll see people have 2 or 3 of these jobs, supporting their families.

I got the same goat...in two threads. And you thanked him

 

Quit listening to the dumb #### of the world. And apply for every job you can.

I've had 6 in the past 5 years. "Jumpers" are not what they are looking "at". "Jumper" is an excuse/term they give to someone who is undesirable for their company.

It's also a scare tactic they use to convince "newbs" to stay with a lousy job.

Proud of you. No unemployment for 99 weeks.....

 

I was in a situation like the one you are in, I only have about 24 months give or take of verifiable work experience, and theres a huge gap between those 2 jobs I held I thought it was going to be a hugh hindrance to me, but I have gotten prehires (I'm in school right now) I have applied to Swift (Had a prehire going till they realized I'm only 22 not 23) Roehl (Once again shot down because of my area) Willis Shaw (Good to go on this one) Gordon (Heard that if they prehire you then you pretty much can get a prehire from anyone) and also May. I hope this helps you, I talked to the guy at Gordon a bit more than the rest and he said with a weak work history its like a 50/50 shot, but if you do extremely well in school, good test scores and a high passing grade that will be a positive and highly influence your chances of getting hired, if your question has already been answered sorry I did not read all of the forum, and hopefully this post will help others in the future.

 

Personally, I wouldn't mind if Swift would open up hiring to 21-year-olds. I've known 21-year-olds who are more mature and responsible in their behavior than people 40 years their senior.