1 year class D necessary to find a job?

Quick background on me: NO CDL, permit, or experience. Born and raised in the US but been out of the US for years. US passenger vehicle license expired years ago - Military veteran but with no more benefits

I've called a couple of mega carriers to ask about their CDL training programs and jobs. They all told me you need 1 year on a US license to even be considered and previous US licenses don't count. Does anybody know if this is a company thing, FMCSA or insurance requirement?.. since:
1) a lot of states just say must have a "valid" license to get CDL
2) CDL schools just say valid license (but who knows.. maybe they are trying to fill up their classes, and it's kind of assumed a 21 year old has had a license for 5+ years)
3) I've seen videos/interviews of foreigners (with experience) move to the US and get a job almost immediately after getting a CDL, many times from one of those cheaper pay-per-service schools. I've never heard any of them mention a 1 year wait or being restricted due to a Class D license. They don't work for megas though... Some may have had their licenses for 1 year before but others, most likely not.

I know it's a bad market right now.. but #3 makes me wonder how they're doing it. Are there companies that really don't care?

 

Do you have a valid Class D license now?
You can probably attend a cdl school if you do.
Not a trucking company school though.
Might find a 1099 company to hire you if you graduate from a private cdl school.

 

Hi Chinatown! Thanks for the reply. No, I don't have the class D right now but I'm planning on flying back to the US very soon. From what they say, I just need to go to the DMV with my last US driving record and other supporting documents

I don't know if it's worth it to

a) wait a year with a Class D and apply to a trucking company school or private CDL school.. The trucking company schools are looking less and less appealing after reading peoples' experiences on here

b) get class D, don't wait, and go to private CDL school.

 

Trucking company schools are ok. They're not a good fit for whiners though. Remember, they're under FMCSA regulations, the same as private schools. Many new students think they're special and God's gift to trucking, totally unaware they're just one driver out of 1,192,773 total cdl drivers.

 

It's come up before. Not having 1 year of USA license is going to really limit who can hire you. Insurance sets the requirement. Do something else until your car DL is a year old.

 

@captain_picardo --

The general freight market pretty much stinks out loud right now (as you've mentioned) -- and is forecast to remain such, probably into next year sometime. Too many trucks, not enough loads.

Suggestion: if you indeed come back stateside in the near future -- pick up that regular car license, and keep a squeeky clean driving record FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. No speeding tickets, no warnings, no anything.

During that same time -- while the freight market works its way back out of "zombie" mode -- you might look for a "dock to driver" program with one of the LTL carrier fleets. Work the docks -- get some forklift experience -- then graduate up later to a CDL driver job, when you meet the necessary criteria and a driver job opening appears with that fleet at that terminal.

Examples: Old Dominion, ABF Freight, Estes, XPO Logistics, SAIA, R & L Carriers....are all carriers to look for such a program.

Before you look for such a program -- go on-line, and get "forklift certified". This will help you get your foot in the door for that forklift driver dock position.

-- L