My email from Prime

They do have good pay... IF you can handle being in a small sleeper. And they do have plenty of happy drivers. And plenty here at TTR bad mouth them whenever possible. You could definitely do worse then Prime.

But like @HalpinUout said, plenty of companies will want to hire you. I made my choice by deciding what it is that I want out of trucking, then found the company that best suited MY needs.

Your in a good place right now. You have a ton of time to research companies. I'd suggest looking at the Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop threads as a good place to start. http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...motor-carrier-questions-the-inside-scoop.144/

It should depend on what you want to do. Flatbed? Van? OTR 48 state? Regional? Home every night, week, monthly, few months?

 

Can you please cite that law?

 

Here it is...

§ 383.35: Notification of previous employment.


(a) Any person applying for employment as an operator of a commercial motor vehicle shall provide at the time of application for employment, the information specified in paragraph (c) of this section.

(b) All employers shall request the information specified in paragraph (c) of this section from all persons applying for employment as a commercial motor vehicle operator. The request shall be made at the time of application for employment.

(c) The following employment history information for the 10 years preceding the date the application is submitted shall be presented to the prospective employer by the applicant:

(1) A list of the names and addresses of the applicant's previous employers for which the applicant was an operator of a commercial motor vehicle;

(2) The dates the applicant was employed by these employers; and

(3) The reason for leaving such employment.

(d) The applicant shall certify that all information furnished is true and complete.

(e) An employer may require an applicant to provide additional information.

(f) Before an application is submitted, the employer shall inform the applicant that the information he/she provides in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section may be used, and the applicant's previous employers may be contacted for the purpose of investigating the applicant's work history.

Find the original here: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/383.35

 

Hmmmmm, I must have filled in the blanks then, LOL! I was a 1099 for a LONG time, LOTS of different contracts that don't translate to "employment" easily. Good for me.

 

That's a good point for a lot of 1099 workers. Insist on getting a 1099 from your "employer", and save them. That will help prove your employment. Also try and get a good contact number for those "employers" so that your prospective company can confirm that you were working.

I was self employed for about 4 years and was afraid it was going to be an issue. It wasn't.

 

If you read this it states must provide names of employers where you worked as a commercial vehicle operator that doesn't mean last 10 years of work history only the last 10 years of being an operator any other employment history isn't required by law but most carriers will want it

 

I was unemployed for a year, partly by choice but mainly due to a motorcycle accident, and every time I apply somewhere they question me about this, as if they want proof. If I wanted to quit working for a year, don't really understand what difference it makes to anyone. Always frustrates me, the no employment gaps thing.

 

I didn't catch that. Your absolutely correct. I skimmed right over it.

Do you suppose employers want 10 years history of new drivers to cover there butts that you REALLY are a new driver?

 

I'm with you. I can only think that they are worried you were driving under the table for someone, or maybe for someone that doesn't report to hireright?