Employment gap? Why on every application?

Here is an example of how crazy this can get. Last year (2022) I was made aware of a young man who recently got his CDL training at a local Trade School. Then he put in several applications and the school also put his name out there. Now mind you this guy is driving and the last I heard was doing very well. What he did after HS spent 4 years in the Army and after he was discharged went with 2 friends and they lived outdoors for almost 14 months. Just living off the land. No real way to account for those 14 months. That guy had several carriers question that 14 months and demanded more information. He went and had the 2 friends sign notarized statements what they did for those 14 months. This carrier refused to hire him stating he had to be able to prove that time gap. Then he had a chance interview with a small fleet owner in North Carolina who took the time to have the guy's statement typed up and added to his files. He was hired and after some time as a 2nd seat driver got his own truck.

Several years ago I made contact with the FMCSA Southern Service Center and asked them for written guidance on this subject. All I got in reply was to read part 391 that it is self-explanatory.

This subject along with the almost dictatorial way some medical examiners are with OSA and the way the FMCSA is still forcing THC positives into the clearinghouse with new hires not understanding that THC is prohibited is one reason there are many CDL holders not driving. Understand I do not want drivers operating ANY vehicle high. I just think the FMCSA needs to reexamine the OSA rules and how they treat THC positives.

These days I am almost of the mindset to start using the Nazi "Heil Hitler" salute when speaking to anybody that works for the FMCSA.

 

Over the years I have seen a number of reasons that were accecpted by numerous carriers.

I can attest to the feeling you get when the auditor is demanding things too.

As far as the clearinghouse; I'm glad I retired and let the next guy deal with all that.

 

My best came with 1000% documention, a commercial deep saturation diver who de-compressed driving a nice Peterbuilt every so often.

 

I can list every job I ever had. From being a 16-year-old kid sweeping floors in a tire recapping business through my Air Force service. Every job from my Dec 1980 discharge date forward until Dec 2012 when I last drove a CMV. I can list the dates I started and the dates I left. I can also list the name of my supervisors. The only gap I have in my employment record is the time I was taking care of my mother before she died.

The reason I can do this is because I keep good records.

 

That's the Federal Government for ya.

 

SADLY & UNFORTUNATELY, many other industries will NOT hire a job applicant who has been out of work for any length of time, REGARDLESS of how legitimate the reason is. In a nutshell, it is pure discrimination against someone who is or has been out of work for a long stretch of time.

I myself experienced this years ago. I was out of work for 7 months before finding work at my current job. I was helping my 2 sisters care for our elderly mother, before she passed away back in 2007.

April 17th. 2023, I hit my 16th. year on the job. To this day, I am very thankful. Either this year, or possibly next year, I will probably be retiring. I'm currently 66, will turn 67 this year.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

The absolute sheer driving force of our national economy - without truck drivers, our entire national economy would come to an absolute standstill - if not outright be dead.

Over the mountains, through the woods, into the valleys, coast to coast, from sea to shining sea - truck drivers can and do go anywhere and everywhere, every day, every night, all year round.

 

Yes, I know this. However, it is not because of part 391. It is because these carriers simply choose to be that way.