Will my unemployment be a problem?

CRST, SWIFT and USX will all hire you with major gaps. USX is probably the best of those three, but they're bound to be more picky. In my hiring area, they require at least 3 months OTR experience within the last 18 months (regardless of gaps). That probably wouldn't work for you. Swift will send you to school on a check deduction program and if you do one year with them they'll reimburse all tuition expenses taken out of your check for that year. CRST will beg to take you on and send you to school for FREE, but beware, you're on the hook for the entire eight month commitment no matter what.

 

I don't know of any company that would deny you just for gaps in employment, but you do have to list them.
I suggest to anyone wanting to apply for a driving job to take some time and write down everything for 10 years, listing any gaps of unemployment. Make sure your dates are as accurate as possible. I know of companies that will deny you for falsifying an application if your dates don't match up with what they find. I know for a fact that FedEx is one of these companies.
You should also get a copy of your drivers abstract and also your CSA report so you can be sure of any dates you need from these. If you are new to trucking, you won't have a CSA report, so don't worry about it.
Taking an hour or so before you apply to do this could well save you weeks, and possibly a denial in your hiring process.
Good luck with your job search.

 

I started my driving career with Central Refrigerated myself back when they were Dick Simon. Very good training program back then. You went on the road for a month with an actual owner operator with experience who could train you properly. I started in the winter so I got lots of bad weather experience in a short time frame. The above advice from all is sound. Most companies will take you with gaps in employment, just be truthful and explain why they're there. Swift, Schneider, Werner, Central, take your pick. Good luck, and welcome.

 

Willis Shaw Express advertises a free CDL training program. Check with them.

Some companies will require a notorized letter signed by family member or neighbor that you were unemployed during those gaps and looking for full time work. Maybe get those letters and keep them in case you are asked.

 

US Xpress is a sheep in wolfs clothing regarding what happens to you once they get you in the door. You don't make the $$$ they say you will. I know someone close to me family wise who ran for them for 5 months before he left and in 5 months he grossed maybe $2200.00 each month.

CRST from what I have heard has a new pay package. Might be worth looking at now. You have to run team though

 

I wanted to jump in here and ask something myself if it's alright. I'm in a similar situation except that in 2010 I left my job to try and start a business. That's stretched out until now and has been slowly dying on the vine for about a year or so. Everything I earned was through self-employment. I'm talking with Prime now, looks less than likely that I'll be able to get on board with them since my employment didn't go through a business. What about Swift? I talked to one of their recruiters this morning and she said she's going to run my driving record and told me to call her tomorrow. Am I just going to be turned away when we start talking about past employment? What about when I tell her that my self-employment was essentially failed? Big red flag? Disqualifier?

 

I was self employed before trucking
a letter from my accountant sufficed
unless of course you were under the table self employed

 

maverick did to me