They wont hire me!

Because it is one of a MILLION REASONS to ''undermine'' a driver and pay him/her cheap slave wages...Thats what trucking is all about....The job and loads go to the cheapest drivers...If exp and safety paid i would be getting 5.00 bucs a mile..Its all a sham..

 

Give TMC out of Des Moines, Ia. a call. They are very veteran friendly and are willing to train. They are a flatbed company. You will need to prove what you were doing during those times of unemployment. This is a difficulty but not an impossibility. Notarized letters from people that hired you to do work for cash, letters from family and neighbors(as suggested before). Try talking to driving schools to find out what they can do for you, they want you to go to school (they want you to pay them) so they are willing to work for you with the companies to get you hired. Plead your case to the schools until someone listens and is willing to help you. I had a very shaky work history went I went to school in 96' Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS did this for me and got me hired. Good Luck.

 

That is a problem. ive ran into a problem with my work history. I quit working to take care of my dad for a year. Im only 23 now. i have no ged( yes i know but i cant foces on the test to take it..) ive been turned down by a company for that year gap. Ive been driving ALMOST 2 years ive been with 2 differnt companys going to a new one. my history is not looking so good to me cuz of this job hoping. But the way this new company seems and drivers talk its gonna be a great one.

 

Driving a truck is a great way to hardly ever see the wife and kids.

 

I had a similar problem before I started at Maverick, I was self employed for awhile, and didn't file tax returns either. They accepted me after I obtained a signed, typed letter from a couple of my former customers for whom I designed websites, stating that I was providing them services and that they paid for those services.

You might try asking about that type of thing... Unless "self employed" means "drug dealer", in which case I wouldn't go that route, and I would stay the hell out of trucking lol.

Just try to think of any way to prove you we're doing something... Receipts, bills of sale, invoices, or whatever, just to show you were working.

 

Try Roehl. I was self employed for 22 years. Took a year off from making a living after husband died. Only had to have 2 individuals verify my unemployment. Never had to show tax records. They have a CDL school.

 

Even though he was in the Army, he has to explain where he was and what he was doing the last three years! if there is no record? that right there is a red flag for Homeland Security! Not that im implying that you are a suspect? i respect you for your service, but if some of these companies are passing on you, they dont want the background headache. Personally, i would think that the Army would help you with the GI Bill for trucking school? i dont know but keep trying, there is no way with your service, you cant get assistance for trucking in this Country! We got lawmakers trying to make illegals citizens! so you should have all the support too! Good luck.

 

Here's a way to get some experience under your belt so you can move on to bigger and better things. Try to get a job with a custom grain harvesting or forage harvesting crew. My family was in the business for over sixty years, and I am just getting out of it myself. A lot of times we would help guys get their cdl with our equipment, as long as you displayed some sort of competence during the process. Of course we would prefer if you showed up with one, but I know there are crews out there that will help you get one. The pay may not pencil out, especially for your family situation but if you find the right crew and explain your family situation they might work with you a bit. Sometimes crews are looking to hire couples if your wife can help cook for the crew or help with administrative items. That might be a little tricky with kids in tow, but you might be able to work something out.


Our insurance that we had was structured so that we could hire drivers with less experience. Not sure what would happen with your work history from an insurance perspective or from the hiring company's perspective, but that's something you'll have to address when the time comes. The job requires a lot of work, be prepared to put in long hours and do other things than just drive a truck. However if you can hack it you will get good qualifying experience driving a truck, experience hauling oversize loads, and learn lessons in load securement.


It is a seasonal job most of the time, but there are crews that run their trucks for hire in the off season or there are crews that keep guys around in the off season to work on equipment and prepare for the next harvest run.


I know there are plenty of harvest crew stories out there about guys not getting paid well, bad living conditions, etc. but it is like anything else (I.E. report a bad trucking company here thread), if you do your homework before you join up you will find a good home. If you are serious about getting a trucking job (which it sounds like you are) this is a way to get a foot in the door.

 

you can still file those tax returns for the years you don't have. Hire a good tax accountant he will save your butt.

 

Justin,there are companies that will hire u,no experience,paid training.U mentioned 1or2.But the only way U will make any money is to agree to be a trainer or look at ur options on a dedicated route.After a yr or two ur options will increase with ur practical experience.U never stop learning in this business...good luck.Get free mags @the the truck stop,talk to drivers....