Greetings, all. I posted this on another site's truck driver message board. So far, not much response, so allow me to post the same thoughts and questions here:
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I have spoken with recruiters at a couple of companies that work with the truck driving school that I am considering attending.
The recruiters say that they can't hire me because I haven't worked in five years. They want to see a steady work history for the past three years.
When I explain to them that I was with my last employer for 17 years, they don't care. Their response is, "You haven't worked in five years. We can't hire you."
I sure don't want to spend five weeks in a truck driving school--paid for by a WIA grant or not--and not have a job lined up when I graduate.
Am I wasting my time pursuing a trucking career?
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Here is some contextual information:
* 55 years of age; a "young" 55, in good physical shape.
* Retired from the IT industry five years ago.
* Forced to unretire because I lost nearly all of my money in an investment scam. Not Bernard Madoff, but a scam very similar to Madoff's. This is why I am eligible for a WIA grant to pay for truck driving school. Obtaining a WIA grant is conditioned on my obtaining a guaranteed hire letter from a trucking company.
* The investment scam notwithstanding, I have been researching getting into OTR trucking for about three years now because I have been bored out of my skull. I love to drive, and drive the open road, period. So, I believe that I could and would be very happy and at peace with myself as an OTR driver.
* Never married, no children, few living relatives (most are deceased, including my immediate family, except for two brothers), so long periods of time away from home would be no problem for me.
* Squeaky clean, perfect driving record since a DUI nearly 13 years ago (February, 1996). No tickets, no accidents, nothing since the DUI. Prior to the DUI, two tickets when I was a snot-nosed teenager and youngster in his early 20s (speeding, left turn lane violation).
Your thoughts, please. Thanks in advance.
Am I Wasting My Time?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Retired In Nevada, Jan 8, 2009.
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Hey there, Im in the same boat buddy. I havent been told, but I have the feeling Im gonna be. I had the same job from 97-04 with a Class b, but since then my wife has an awesome job so I became the stay at home parent, However I just got divorced, so starting over. Im in the middle of the process for getting my funding, and wonder if it is gonna do any good.
I feel your pain brother, and I even have a spotless driving record for like 10 yrs, not even a parking ticket, just doesnt look good.
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Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
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