Job History

You need zero experience to be hired by a couple hundred companies. Most will require a cdl school graduation certificate and some provide cdl training if you can't afford private cdl school.
The 10 yr. work history applies only if it is CDL driving work history; otherwise they just go by however much cdl driving time you have.
An example is; you start your first job and 2 months later you find something you like more, you can change jobs right then. Some companies may require 1 or 2 yrs. experience and some only require 2 or 3 mos. driving experience and some only require a cdl school certificate with no driving experience.
Some companies will hire you if you have no general work history; maybe you were unemployed or a student or in prison; you're hirable.
Edit : are you a driver now?

 

I am not a truck driver. I currently cannot pass a D.O.T. physical. I am working very hard to change this, to be able to go to a truck driving school and drive professionally OTR.

From my personal understanding, having spoken to various people in the past, truck drivers, dispatchers, fleet managers, and recruiters, the general work history combined with the driving history should equal out to a total of 10 years.

Also, from what I personally understand, it is preferable that the general work history is both uninterrupted and with the same employer.

Examples:

1) 3 year general work history plus 7 year driving history would equal 10 years.

2) 4 year general work history plus 6 year driving history would equal 10 years.

3) 5 year general work history plus 5 year driving history would equal 10 years.

4) 6 year general work history plus 4 year driving history would equal 10 years.

5) 7 year general work history plus 3 year driving history would equal 10 years.

6) 8 year general work history plus 2 year driving history would equal 10 years.

7) 9 year general work history plus 1 year driving history would equal 10 years.

Therefore, if an applicant has 10 or more years of general work history, there is less pressure to have more years of driving history at one's 1st. driving job.

Not too long ago, I spoke to a recruiter to clarify some work history criteria, at a major trucking company. She mentioned that the company is seriously thinking of going as far back as 15 years on an applicant's work history.

I asked why. Her response is that many people have spent the last 10 years of their lives "getting everything straightened out". Therefore, if an applicant has an additional 5 years added onto their work history background check, " a much clearer picture of the applicant" will surface.

I personally do NOT agree with this philosophy! It will lock out too many good people trying to get on with their lives and livelihoods.
Forget 15 years, 10 years is a long time to wait!

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

 

@mje - An 18 yr. old person can attend cdl school and then be employed by some trucking companies. There's no way they can go back 10 yrs. on work history.
Most companies only go back 3 - 5 yrs. for a new driver with no experience and then even if the person has never held a job, he's still hirable.
Then there's the myth that one should stay with their first company 12 months before changing jobs. Why should a driver stay with a company they hate; move on to something better. The only reason to stick around 12 months is if you signed a 12 month contract.

 

If all else fails GO READ THE FRICKING REGS. It is 10 years CDL history. A company is required to ask for and you are required to provide 10 years CDL driving history. Edited to add: This 10 year driving history does NOT in any way mean you can't drive a truck with less then a year or any other amount. There is also a general work history that should NOT be confused with the CDL history.

 

I agree with your disagreement! That is a totally unreasonable expectation! I'm betting that the person you talked with is NOT in recruiting. I can see that attitude though, if it is an extremely small operation.
Filling the driver's seat on 5 trucks, if you're a decent employer, is much easier than trying to fill 500.