Anyone willing to give me a chance?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by thisdude157, Apr 12, 2013.

  1. thisdude157

    thisdude157 Bobtail Member

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    Apr 12, 2013
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    Hello,
    My name is Rob. I've just recently got back to America from Thailand. I was there for 10 years teaching English as a foreign language.
    I have a son there who just turned 4 years old, and his mother is Thai. I've come back to the states to get established here
    so that I could bring my family here. I want my son to study in the USA.
    The problem I have when trying to get into the trucking industry is that, in that time of being abroad, I did not have a driver license.
    I'm here in Texas now, I have my license for 1 week. I want to get involved with OTR trucking but nobody is willing to hire me on
    because I have no license history over the last 10 years.
    Before I left the states, I had a perfect driving record. No tickets, or points, and no insurance claims of any type.
    Also, I was registered to carry a concealed weapon. Which means I've been through a federal background check.

    I brought those 2 things up to show that the only thing holding me back is that I have no recent driving history.
    Is there anyway for me to get into the trucking industry without having to wait 1,2 or 3 years?

    I miss my kid and my wife and would like to get them here as soon as possible. The only employment I'm finding is for minimum
    wage and it will take me forever to save the money to bring them here.

    Is there anyone out there that would give me a chance at this point?

    Thank you for any advice or information.
    Rob
     
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  3. bigkev1115

    bigkev1115 Road Train Member

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    There are several companies that hire with no experience. Most importantly, you have to first be able to pass a DOT physical before you can even get a CDL permit, yet alone think about driving a truck. I would do a search online of companies that hire with no driving experience, then compare pay, benefits, equipment, and home time. As bad as the driver turnover rate is, companies have to have drivers to fill the seats of those empty trucks somehow.
     
  4. richieryan

    richieryan Medium Load Member

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    My son was wanting to train as a new driver,but he's never had a DL, and even the training outfits he called required you to have had a DL for one year.
    I know nothing of the economy in Thailand, but the US economy will likely collapse this year. In my opinion, going back may be a safer bet for you and your family.
     
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  5. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    it'll probably take you 5 years to get your family here anyways. with all the red tape involved.
     
  6. Saint Walker

    Saint Walker Bobtail Member

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    Lmao.. because if the US economy fails, then Thailand will be 10x worse..

    Think before speaking next time
     
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  7. TRKRSHONEY

    TRKRSHONEY Heavy Load Member

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    Why didn't you keep your driver's license renewed while in Thailand?? It should have been simple enough to use a family members address & send in the renewal fees.
     
    Driver of the year Thanks this.
  8. starsonwindow

    starsonwindow Medium Load Member

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    Phoenix, Arizona
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    What about finding a company that has bob tail trucks or a local delivery service that may be able to move you into a CDL position after you have gotten some experience with them and show that you are as good as you say you are, I don't mean to sound rude but you have to start out slow, I would suggest maybe finding a smaller company that may take you, I have not read if you had a CDL before or what but without training you will certainly need to get the training before you are given the chance to get in a 80000 pound bullet going down the road. Good luck with getting your family here.
     
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  9. Driver of the year

    Driver of the year Medium Load Member

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    thisdude157 Im going to be very sincere and dont take this personally. Before i explain something to you, i was an owner operator in 2003-2005 with a box truck delivering appliances and bedding, one day i had a bad stop and i decided to quit the box truck thing. It was football season and as a Dallas Cowbays fan, i decided to park the truck, put a for sell sign on and take one year off work. Thats what i did, did not work for a whole year and then i decided what i wanted to do with my life. I saw a Florida cdl drivers license handbook with a Freightliner Century and i said, why no try this? to make the long story short, after i finished road master school in tampa fl, i went to Star Transportation in Nashville TN. There the in orientation, i had a problem, i was being question what and why i did not work in one year? how i supported myself? where did you go? did you leave the country? these companies are REQUIRED to ask all these questions because of the new rules after sept. 11 2001. I told them that i had money in the bank and thats how i supported myself. They send that info to Washington and by the time orientation was done, records show i did not leave the country. Here's the problem with you and dont take it personal! It's about national security. You want to drive a truck after you were in Thailand for 10 years. Where were you after teaching? did you get involved with the Thailand Terrorist Runda Kumpalan? Thailand today is the 8 country with expanding terrorist 2013 report. You are coming back to the United States after ten years after you were a teacher and the first job you want is to be a Truck Driver? why not a teacher? thats a red flag right there! again, Driver of the year is nobody to tell you that you cant be a trucker, im just telling you what those companies dont want to tell you afraid that they will hurt your feelings. I dont think you will get a driving job after 3 years once theres a pattern who you are after living abroad. I see the FBI watching your every step for at least one year. Just being realistic with you and that happens with anybody coming to this country. Good luck.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2013
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  10. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    I was unemployed for a yr in '08-'09.

    my current, small, (less than 500 trucks) company never had a problem or asked a zillion questions.

    it is not about national security. that's what they may say.

    it's about the mega companies getting burned by sleezebags. money wise.

    just need to explain it and see what happens.
     
  11. seawind

    seawind Medium Load Member

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    My first question to you is: Did you drive in Thailand?
    If so, did you get an International Driver's License? These can be tracked through the government database.
    If you did drive in Thailand, you can get a history from their government. Many companies here in the USA hire foreign born-drivers from other countries. They don't have 10 years of history in the USA either!!!

    Your best bet is to talk with companies that have a lot of freight and the ability to teach new drivers. Schneider is a good example. Schneider used to train new drivers, but now, they reimburse new employees up to $6,000 for their school. Talk with one of their recruiters and get it straight from them. I used to work for them in the 1990's in the tanker division. They are a better company now, than when I was there.
     
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