How long can you stay out of trucking to keep your experience recent?

I think 12 months out of the previous 36 is pretty common

 

@Chinatown.....what say you?

--Lual

 

Depends, it’s all a racket to keep drivers forced into the game / system. You’ll never convince me once someone has driven a big rig for years, in many cases decades, because they take a year off they suddenly forget how to drive. Yeah they might be a little rusty but as soon as I get back in the truck take a few turns and make one delivery, they’re basically right back where they left off. Now if you’ve only got a year experience and then you take a year off that’s different. But it’s designed to keep truckers locked into the system. They don’t want us working a year and then taking a year off and maybe enjoying our lives. Lol

 

Depends on the company. Some companies such as Abilene Motor Express take drivers that haven't driven in 20 years.
You've only been off the road for 2 years, so many companies will hire you, expecially since you live in North Carolina.

 

I would agree with the above...it all depends on the carrier in question.

Some are pretty laid back about it....others--if you've been out of the cab for 6 months or more--forget it.

Suggestion: if a carrier gives you the cold shoulder for being out like you have--then consider it a blessing in disguise.

You probably don't want to work for a "sweat shop" mentality like that, anyway.

-- Lual

 

I’ve taken 4 1/2 years off so far and I feel sharp enough. I drove a whole 300 something miles last year. Mainly to exercise the truck ….lol

 

If you are worried about it maybe you can find a company that needs something part time?