Is There an Expiration Date for a fresh CDL?

If you get your CDL, but then don't go to work for a while, at what point do companies stop considering your CDL/ 160hour training?

 

As long as your DOT physical is up to date, many companies don't care how long it's been since you drove trucks.

 

so if you get a cdl but then have no experience for a long time it won't stop you from getting hired somewhere?

 

No, experience ages , you will see language like "12 months experience in the last three years"
If you have not driven OTR in ten years, they are definitely going to want to put you through some training, at least most places will

 

Abilene Motor Express has hired drivers that haven't driven in 20 yrs.
Kold Trans hired a driver that hadn't driven since graduating from cdl school 10 years ago.
Keep your DOT physical up to date and avoid tickets in your car and you'll find several companies that will hire you.

 

They probably put them in a truck with a trainer for a few weeks though right ?

 

Right. I think Abilene does a couple of long runs at least to knock the rust off.

 

Carolina Logistic did run ads that refresher is 12 back to back California runs with an experienced driver.
Don't know what the policy is now.
~
Carolina Logistic Inc.
carolinalogistic.com
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At: Diesel Power Truck Center
2348 Smokey Park Hwy Ste. 204, Candler, NC 28715

 

I remember a husband/wife wanted to team. He had a little experience and she had none. He bought a truck and couldn't find a company to lease on to. Carolina Logistic let him lease his truck on and he and his wife as a team. His first load was from North Carolina to California.

 

@insipidtoast --

When I first got my CDL-A, it was in May of 2017.

I didn't actually start driving with it until March of 2019....for Schneider.

So far--I've gone on to hazmat tanker duty, hauling fuel...& home daily (but NOT with Schneider).

What's my point here?

The above posts are pretty much spot on--a CDL doesn't somehow go "stale"....if you don't start using it immediately.

BUT--I won't dumb it down for you.

It will help out A LOT....if you also have all those endorsements to go along with that CDL.

Those endorsements are indeed "door openers"....and money-makers.

The bottom line: shop around....someone will put that CDL to work.

Persistence pays......

--Lual