Job verification for NON trucking job

One thing I didn't see specifically mentioned, just danced around. Carriers do not have to contact a previous employer. They simply have to make the attempt. That's not to imply they can pencil whip the requirements
Now if you think it will be an issue, call your contact and see if they need more than federal law requires, and what they suggest. I can almost guarantee they have ran into this before.

 

1) In the past, I have talked to various people who work for the federal government. SUPER SERIOUS background checks are fast becoming the norm with defense related industries, private security agencies, (at least the very reputable ones), the airline industry, and MANY interstate industries that have nothing to do with federal government.

2) I myself have worked for cash in the past, without reporting it to the IRS or the state that I was living in at the time. FORTUNATELY & THANKFULLY, I also had jobs that did issue W-2 forms at the time I was "working under the table".
2a) W-2 forms, with copies of pay stubs, really are actual proof of employment, especially when looking for another job.

3) "Working under the table" is not only illegal, but often quite risky and dangerous, from both the legal and safety end of it. If at all possible, try like the dickens to NOT have to ever "work under the table".

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

 

TMC wanted my Schedule C's, and the recruiter even specified the minimum monthly income I had to show. So I downloaded a fill-able IRS Schedule C and did a new one for the years that weren't so great. They had no way of cross-checking my return unless I gave the IRS permission to release them.

Cypress Truck Lines just asked me to bring proof of employment with me to orientation. They never did ask for it, although I was only there for two days and three hours before I got sent home. Maybe they would have gotten around to it if I'd been there the entire week.

Melton told me that I had to show work history and it couldn't be for a relative. In late April/early May, I spent three weeks wielding a sledge hammer and saws-all demolishing a large Florida room that my mother-in-law wanted gone. I charged her $3000. She paid me cash. I simply called up a friend and asked her to pretend to be the person I did the work for, assuming the Melton recruiter would actually call her. She never did.

I think that Melton recruiters are ill-informed. By their logic, if you were ever unemployed, took time off just because, or were a stay-at-home parent, you could never become a truck driver. Just doesn't make sense.

Western Express (flatbed) recruiter told me that they didn't care about anything, they'd overlook everything, and I could become a trainer in 90 days.

It makes more sense that you just have to give an accounting of your time.

 

Dude, just tell them the truth, it goes along way in building relationships with the company, and they know you’re not going to lie to them about mediocre things.

 

I told the truth and got burned for my honesty.

#1 Don’t ever disclose anything medically related. Due to HIPAA laws, they can’t find out unless you had a workers comp insurance claim.

#2 Make sure your application is 100% accurate. The mediocre thing of being off by a few months on when I got out the Marine Corps 26 years ago cost me my dream job.

Just remember, although the recruiter may act like he’s your best friend, he doesn’t give a crap about you. And even though the company may fly the USMC flag, and all the principals of the company have USMC tags on their $60,000 trucks, Semper Fi doesn’t mean jack-squat! You are a series of checks in a long list of boxes.

You aren’t a person. You’re a number. They’ll sweet talk you and string you along for six weeks (Melton), then unperson you the week before you are scheduled to go to orientation.

So, view them as an enemy you are trying to infiltrate...like a U.S. spy during WWII going into NAZI occupied France. Your mission is to get behind enemy lines, use them for a year, then get extracted.

Building relationships. Grow up and face reality!

 

BAD advice! And it's wrong! A carrier has the RIGHT to know if you have ANY medical issue that may affect your driving. There are some medications the DOT allows that a carrier has the right to ban. You NEVER under any circumstances hide something a carrier has the right to know behind HIPPA.

HIPPA, by the way, does not apply to a carrier anyway. It applies to the medical facility you go to. If a carrier asks a specific medical question that applies to a driver I highly advise that driver to fully comply.

 

I didn’t mean a bottom of the barrel companies, they could care less, 25-30 more people will be there next week for orientation.

 

If you’ve had five heart attacks in the past three years, by all means fess up. Or if you have a tendency to go into diabetic commas, tell them that, too. But if a chiropractor hurt your neck 15 years ago, but you fully recovered with no long term consequences, keep that to yourself!

Just remember that there’s a whole division of people at each company just trying to look for any reason, no matter how thin, to not hire you. Don’t give them one.

Hernia surgery 12 years ago, SFTU.

Brain seizures, tell them.

Got it?

Good.

 

That I made bold is pure 100% BS! Not one oz of truth to it. GOT IT?

IF IT INVOLVES YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE AND THE CARRIER ASKS FOR THAT INFORMATION THE CARRIER HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW! GET CAUGHT LATER ON HAVING LIED ON THE APPLICATION YOU MIGHT GET A PHONE CALL FROM SOME OF THOSE NON EXISTENT PEOPLE YOU MENTION!

GOT IT?

 

No. You're only partially correct.

There was a guy in my class at Cypress who had TWO hernia surgeries. He kept quiet about it. I fessed up to one I had 12-13 years ago and got sent home. He's driving for Cypress now.

Do his surgeries or my surgery adversely affect our ability to drive or even pick up a tarp every once in awhile. For me, absolutely not. Flatbedding would be a cake walk compared to what I've been doing for the past 25 years. Did it affect my ability to get hired? Yes.

My advice to new guys, don't listen to Moose1958. Listen to me. Be smart about what you tell them. That knee injury you had in high school playing football might get you sent home. They won't be able to find out if you had surgery. They don't need to know stuff like that. Be honest with yourself as to whether or not you have condition that would endanger others, e.g., bad ticker, diabetic comas, brain seizures, then maybe choose something else to do.