Looking for advice

I'm 51 years old and want to get into trucking. For the most part I've been self employed up until 2007. For the past six years I took an early retirement to raising my kids. Now that one is in college and the other will be graduating from high school next year, I want to get into trucking. The thing I’m having the biggest problem with is my employment history. A lot of companies don’t want to give me a chance due to my six year gap. I have no criminal record, a clean driving record for the last 35 years with no incidents, and I consider myself a very vigilant driver and know this would be a great career for me. The only few companies that are willing to take me on are the ones that have the new driver training and a one year commitment. I don't want to mention any names, because who knows what companies looks at these posts. I’ve been very honest with the recruiters about my employment history, one recruiter told me not to worry and to just have two verification letters from family members stating that I was retired for the past six years. I hear about the horror stories about guys finishing up with training only to get to orientation to be sent home on some technicality. I don't want to go through the three week training only to be turned away in orientation because of my employment history. I'm I over thinking this, or is it a legitimate concern? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Even if I get my CDL from a private school, I'll still need a work history to work for anyone don't ya think? Is that company still in business?

 

Thanks Voltrucker, I've talked with all those companies. Prime turned me down, and would not tell me why, and Werner doesn't have paid training I thought.

 

Thanks Lady, It's funny Central is the one I thought might be a good fit since I'm out here in California, but because of work history they said no. So how did it work out for your husband?