Is it a crime to be unemployed?

In my experience as long as you can explain those gaps they don't much care.

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Apparently that driver shortage is only in certain areas, lol. Anyway, I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I'm already in CDL school, but I have a little over a year of unemployment behind me. I'm not sure what to expect myself, because I've also got a completely clear MVR and no misdemeanors and whatnot. I would suggest calling some recruiters and talking with them. Try to make sure you get some real answers from them, not just have them casually tell you "Oh sure, get your license and we'll hire you, uh huh". I have to believe though that someone will take you. I mean, what companies have you tried or talked to? You can always "settle" for a few months to a year. Work for one of the real "bottom feeders", Swfit, CRE, Werner, Knight. They'll probably love someone not asking them to wait for next week to start due to the drug test, or not going over their felony record, lol. After you work for a company, it seems to overshadow your previous work history a lot more.

 

Just call a couple recruiters and ask what they would need from you. I don't see it as much of a problem if you can explain it.

 

It not a crime, just put Unemployed during that time. If it was a crime then over 44mil other people would be guilty also. Got to love our Government....

 

18 years seems pretty solid to me. Some companies will have you sign a form saying that while you were unemployed you were actively looking for employment. Even if you weren't looking just say you were. In this economy I don't understand why they frown upon gaps in work history. A lot of people who are willing to work are having trouble finding jobs.

 

You'll likely need to provide a notarized letter:

Notarized letters explaining gaps in employment history

 

I think the fact that you worked for the same factory 18 years will say alot, at least it does to me shows you are stable and worth an investment the fact you took five years off to enjoy life before you are too old shows you have smarts i think you will do fine no worries

 

Who are you applying to? Roehl? They are some of the biggest hardasses I've ever dealt with regarding employment history. It was actually pretty ridiculous. One of my past "jobs" (i was an independent, not an employee) was for a fly by night operation doing door to door sales selling cable tv service. Well, the owner doesn't answer his phone so when they tried calling him up and he didn't answer they accused me of providing them a false reference and to explain why no one answered the phone at the place they tried calling. I went to Schneider instead after tiring of Roehl's stupid games. So just explain what happened in a way you feel makes most sense and the right company will take you.

 

Apparently you didn't ask anyone any company about this issue to understand what this is really all about.

It isn't the company, it is a regulation that they have to account for 10 years of previous employment history. Some companies have policies that they don't accept people who can't prove any gaps in their employment and that is alright.

A company isn't there for the driver, they are there to make money and to service their customer. Because we are too scattered and many cases have too many unprofessional people in our profession, we are treated like a commodity - not skill tradesmen as we are.

I don't want to sound mean but if this bothers you, I would say you should not dream about it. We face a lot worse things in our profession and this is one of the most trivial things I can think of.

Call the companies and see what they require.

YOU guessed wrong. Sorry but after years of doing this and having a lot of gaps on my record of employment, I never ever had an issue with it and no one else should have unless they were in Jail.

There is no real shortage of drivers, there is a shortage of companies who are willing to pay good, there is a shortage of companies who treat drivers as skilled and professionals and there is a shortage or regulations of how brokers and shippers work.