Got CDL 2 years ago, never used it. Will anyone hire me?

Abilene hired me with a 14 yr gap in my cdl driving history. Had to go out with trainers for 4 weeks, but that is to be expected. Swift, kllm, Dart and knight also offered me jobs.

I wouldn't pay out of pocket for a refresher until you have at least tried the above companies.

 

I went 2 1/2 years after getting my CDL before driving. I was hired by Maverick with no refresher course. You do have to go out with a trainer but you would anyway unless you had experience. Best wishes!

 

I do agree as stated above that you will find a company to accept you, but you will find many more options if you attend a refresher. One thing to keep in mind, your ability to get hired by some of these "more flexible" companies will be based on your ability to pass their basic student driving test. This will include efficiently being able to shift and minimal backing standards.........doing all while not exhibiting any unsafe maneuvers. Do you really think 2 years post school, after only achieving the very minimal skill level you could pass this test? No quality company will put you in a training truck, unless you can meet this very minimum student skill level. I dont think I would have been able to pull this off, but maybe your a natural. I wish you the best.

 

Several companies will hire you. Put your location on your profile so we know the hiring area you live in.In addition to companies already mentioned:
Freymiller has "Restore Program" for those with a log gap in driving.
Transport America
Titan Transfer
Navajo Express
A.N Webber
Big-M Transportation
May Trucking Company
Super Service
Western Express
and others.
Don't go by what's on the websites; just apply and you'll be on the road in a few days.

 

When I go back and read my previous post , it appears very harsh. As China stated, there are some quality companies that will give you a chance. I'm just all about safety. I work in an environment where I interact with many of the big training company students and brand new drivers. I see so many unsafe maneuvers and just plain unsafe driving. I can feel for these poorly prepared drivers, but these big training companies need to be held fully accountable. I just hate it when a student invests in school and then receives poor over the road training, just setting them up for failure. Like I said, you may have experience in the past and a little refresher is all you need.

 

For me it was about being in the right place at the right time.Had 8 year gap barely 2 months experience.The key is finding a company just starting out,where they dont know what theyre doing.,with an owner with deep pockets.Interviewed with the dispatcher he basically said" if you think you can wake up at 2am,if you think you can back into the docks etc.Im willing to give you a shot.Ended up staying there 6 &1/2 years.JMO

 

This is a topic which when I read it I am left confused. I have had an opportunity to meet several CDL holders that had long gaps. One had almost 15 years. That applied for jobs and had no issues. The biggest issue that I have seen is not gaps but gaps because of being locked up. Even then if you have been released and are not under probation/parole after a year has passed job offers pour in. If you have verifiable experience a lot of the time all you have to do is just go for a ride with someone to show you can still drive. Sign me confused in Virginia.

 

The main issue here is that this person got his CDL 2 years ago and has never driven, so no verifiable experience. I agree it would be less an issue if he had experience.

 

I got my class A in 1995, drove a class B straight truck for 3 years (cannot verify) and drove nothing for the past 14yrs.

I got hired, no fixed training period, and no contract to sign locking me to the company. Been there 6 months earning good money with none coming out of my pocket beyond the initial cdl school in '95.

It can be done without a school refresher.