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Need advice or ideas on how to get back behind the wheel for a decent company

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by TruckinTrev, Aug 3, 2012.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Aug 3, 2012 #1
    TruckinTrev

    TruckinTrev Bobtail Member

    1
    0
    Jul 31, 2012
    0
    Hi all, I started my driving career in 2005 by going through the "Schneider Mill" to get my class A but ended up leaving after 7 months. I'm still driving locally but I would like to get back into a regional or OTR position. My problem is that all my driving since Schneider has been local and I can't verify any of it and the driving that I can verify is too old. I feel like I would be better off to surrender my CDL and then get my class A permit and go back to a company that will "train" me, get my Class A again and basically start all over. I really don't want to go through all that but I don't know what to do to get back in a truck. My license is clean and i know that I can handle a rig but without any recent verifiable experience, I feel like nobody will hire me. Are there any companies out there that will hire someone in my situation that offer a refresher course for drivers that havent been behind the wheel in a while? I know that when i originally started at Schneider they offered a refresher type program but they no longer do that. I don't have the money to go to a private school for the refresher course that many companies want me to complete before they would hire me. Do I look for a small company that will hire me without the verifiable experience? There is one company located near me that has maybe 20 trucks tops and they run the northeast to the southeast and no further west than the Mississippi. They pay .30 cpm and say I won't be out more that 6-8 days but we know how that goes. I would like a few more options but in my situation I don't think that I have any. Should I just suck it up, run for them for six months to get recent verifiable experience and then move to a larger company with more job security, better equipment, better pay, and more miles? Does anybody know of any companies that would hire someone in my situation? Would an O/O hire me to run their truck for them? Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated, I need some job security and a decent check every week. Thank You and stay safe out there and hopefully I'll be back out there with my fellow drivers. Thanks - Truckin' Trev
     
    TruckinTrev, Aug 3, 2012
    TruckinTrev, Aug 3, 2012
    #1
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  3. Aug 3, 2012 #2
    TruxRus

    TruxRus Light Load Member

    87
    36
    Jul 27, 2012
    Round lake beach Illinois
    0
    i just got done with a refresher course with TMC and they had a 2 week class for drivers just like you or just out of driving school give them a try if you dont mind flatbed work check out the site for more info at tmctrans.com
     
    TruxRus, Aug 3, 2012
    TruxRus, Aug 3, 2012
    #2
  4. Aug 3, 2012 #3
    G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

    7,031
    8,624
    Sep 3, 2010
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    I would expect that any of the major training carriers would take you as long as your CDL was still valid. Swift, Millis, Roehl, CRST and others would likely offer you some sort of refresher course to help you get back into the game. If you have had your CDL for the last 2-3 years with no tickets you may find an owner operator or small fleet owner who might give you a job. Insurance companies usually only check to see how long you have held your CDL. They rarely check previous employment.
     
    G/MAN, Aug 3, 2012
    G/MAN, Aug 3, 2012
    #3
  5. Aug 4, 2012 #4
    dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

    2,856
    4,032
    May 26, 2011
    everywhere, man
    0
    I'm curious why you are driving but you can't verify it ?
     
    dannythetrucker, Aug 4, 2012
    dannythetrucker, Aug 4, 2012
    #4
    Hardlyevr Thanks this.
  7. Aug 4, 2012 #5
    AM77

    AM77 Light Load Member

    171
    47
    Sep 17, 2011
    Chicago, IL
    0
    same here!!
     
    AM77, Aug 4, 2012
    AM77, Aug 4, 2012
    #5
  8. Aug 4, 2012 #6
    Swo

    Swo Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Jul 24, 2012
    Houston, TX
    0
    I am currently in a class with Stevens in Houston. Out of 13 guys that started the class, five (ranging in age from early 20s to 57) already had their Class A CDL and four had experience in an 18 wheeler. I don't have the whole story for these folks but they obviously had choices and decided that it was best for them to hook up with a training company and commit to a year with the company.
     
    Swo, Aug 4, 2012
    Swo, Aug 4, 2012
    #6
  9. Aug 4, 2012 #7
    xlsdraw

    xlsdraw Road Train Member

    4,228
    8,342
    Nov 17, 2010
    Lake Alfred, Florida
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    C A S H. Same as most of the farm and construction industry workers get paid.
     
    xlsdraw, Aug 4, 2012
    xlsdraw, Aug 4, 2012
    #7
  10. Aug 4, 2012 #8
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,745
    12,479
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    DO NOT surrender your CDL and start from scratch, because it will show on your DMV report that you did so and confuse any potential employers. Just proceed ahead with your CDL and experience, even tho it's minimal. Since you've been working under the table and it cannot be verified, you'll have to account for your time in some form.
     
    Allow Me., Aug 4, 2012
    Allow Me., Aug 4, 2012
    #8
  11. Aug 4, 2012 #9
    Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

    4,251
    9,994
    Jan 30, 2012
    Charlotte, N.Carolina
    0
    where do you live ?? might help with advise about other options than the mega carriers.
     
    Numb, Aug 4, 2012
    Numb, Aug 4, 2012
    #9
  12. Aug 5, 2012 #10
    wisemagic

    wisemagic Bobtail Member

    33
    17
    May 28, 2010
    New Iberia Louisiana
    0
    Hi, I went thru the same thing. With 13 years OTR, I took off for several years, and couldn't get back in. The thing I did was kept on trying.... every where, but finally found out that a self insured company was the key. Now I don't know about only having 7 months OTR, but I was hired on with Taylor Express in Fayetteville, NC. 17 months ago ( Actually they are in Hope Mills, NC but have Fayetteville on the trucks ). I've been home every weekend, and been able to make pretty decent money. You can stay out longer, they are pretty flexible & have some good dispatchers. Don't give up, and don't let your CDL go.
    A refresher course will help get you in but these schools are money hungry, and they know you are in a bind. Swift also offered me a seat, after going with a trainer again, and I passed on that.
    The company you mention with the 20 trucks may be key. You might just have to suck it up and get out there to get your status up. It's tough, I know. Talk to some O/O's. Some may give you a shot, and you may actually come out ahead.
    Main thing.... keep applying no matter how big or small the company is. Call the companies you would be interested in, some may offer a refresher. If you can get in some where and get a year OTR, you will be back on top again. Good Luck
     
    wisemagic, Aug 5, 2012
    wisemagic, Aug 5, 2012
    #10
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