Will DOT let me become a trucker...

I just last week graduated from driving school. I was all set, or so I thought, to go out with my trainer for Knight Transportation this weekend. Even though they had my application and paperwork for weeks, they then started asking for verification of my employment for the last 3 years. Being new, I didn't know about this requirement until graduating. The very reason I wanted my CDL and to become a trucker was the recent stability of the trucking industry itself. I worked for Michelin for years. About 5 years ago, I had a work-related injury due to faulty equipment. They got very creative and found a way to get rid of me even though I did everything by the book.

Ever since, I have a struggled finding decent employment. I had a horrible streak of employers that never followed through with their promises. My point is, my employment has been very erradic since leaving Michelin.

The DOT, according to Knight, would not give me clearance. You mean to tell me that someone who is looking to improve their life and find steady, stable employment in the trucking industry can't find a job? How bout someone who has been retired for over 3 years then wanted to become trucker. If they haven't had verifiable employment over the last 3 years they're out of luck? This is hard to believe. I desperately need help as to if I'm missing something or if there is something I can do? Otherwise, I have just spent $6,000+ for a license for no reason. Please give me some kind of hope.

 

Thank you for replying so quickly. The exact words from my recruiter and her boss at Knight was that DOT would not accept my last 3 years of non-consecutive employment and would not "clear" me for employment. As for a DQL, not sure what that is and never signed one that I know of at either Knight or Swift Driving Academy in Memphis. Again, not sure what my recourse is and where and how to proceed.

 

Thanks for responding. I'm in the Columbia, South Carolina area. They basically told me if I wasn't able to show 3 consecutive years of being employed, they couldn't hurt me due to DOT regulations. One of my employees during this period owed me thousands in sales commissions and wouldn't pay me. He recently refused to even verify my employment and would never even give me a 1099. I would probably be better off to just say I was unemployed since leaving Michelin. This is turning into a nightmare otherwise.