No work history for 10 year's. What can I do to get hired with a good company in NC?

Like I said, the truth is a good place to start. Notarized statements verifying your whereabouts, and what you have been doing are acceptable.

 

I didn't know this could be a challenge when I first started trucking. One mega wouldn't touch me. Finally, they just flat out said it was my work history and if I worked six months prior to reapplying she could hire me then.

It was explained to me that they want to see that you can hold a job, but they also want you to verify your recent wherabouts and going ons. They want to know you weren't sitting in some Mexican jail or something.

I then blew up my email by sending out electronic applications and Werner quickly responded with an offer. I had a bus ticket to Atlanta for the following Monday. My trainer was a good guy with 6 years of experience.

It's a good time of year to start your training. Don't push too hard in your first year. Protect your license and DAC. After 6-12 months you can work just about anywhere.

Spring is a good time to look for work at the fuel farm in Selma NC, if you live near there. Wakamaw used to hire new drivers. If you ask me, worrying about spilling gasoline, in public, on top of being inexperienced is a lot to chew on, but it is doable.

Good luck.

 

I got on with a mega with a several year gap and no one to write a letter for me. It can be done. I did have a job for the 6 months before I finished CDL school which probably helped.

 

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Magnum LTD is a good training company and they hire out of N.C.

Where in N.C. are you?

What type of trucking are you interested in? As @Chinatown would say, put in lots of apps. Start with good companies. Don’t start at the bottom feeders. Do your research. Just be honest about your work history.

I was self employed for the 10 years prior to getting my CDL and starting at Magnum. I lugged 10 years of tax records to orientation and they never even glanced at them. All they needed was a letter from me telling them I was self employed in that time frame.

 

Magnum is one of the better starter companies and any new driver should have them on their short list. I didn't train with them, but from what I've seen and heard, they have great training. The trucks are pretty sweet and when you manage to actually get home they are great about not rushing you back out. And they pay alright. They have a new pay structure, I think, so maybe now they don't penalize your CPM for driving in the mountains or running into a stretch of bad weather. No forced dispatch is a big plus. Nice lounge outside of Minneapolis, where they have a shop. And they were working on secure parking in some of the more difficult cities, which is good.

 

Magnum was definitely in my top 3. I was trying to stay local with a company who had a hub close by me. It's hard for me to fill in the gaps of not having a work history for 3 years. I may ask my former fire chief for a letter stating I was with the fire dept for 3 years. I have plenty of certifications to prove that. And I DEFINITELY don't want to go with any of the top 3 megas. I don't want to be treated like cattle...lol Thanks for your help, everyone who responded has been very helpful. Thanks guys&gals.

 

Part 391 of the regulations actually predate the FMCSA. Over the last few years, the FMCSA has tightened up on them. Some FMCSA auditors will come into a carriers headquarters and head right for safety. They will bring with them the names of 10 or 15 drivers that have multiple violations. They will hit the log dept as well as for these Driver's Driver qualification files. If a carrier has an incomplete file the FMCSA can and sometimes will levy a fine. I have been told that some safety critters have actually wet themselves once an auditor IDs themselves. Some compliance contractors will advise a carrier to get tough on all the things required by all the 391.2x rules. Some carriers totally ignore the fact 391 does not prohibit gaps! What some will do though is make the driver almost have to sacrifice they're first born to get through the vast amount of paperwork needed to hire a driver. This is why these orientations take so dang long.

When I was active I could have parked my truck and took off for 6 months chasing woman and finding myself on some religious quest and still be FULLY qualified to go back to work. I only need to account for the time. It's not possible to prove I was in Miami living in a tent chasing that pretty blonde, can't do it. If my word is not good enough to account for that time then move on and find a carrier that will. Just understand the carriers are having a tough time with the FMCSA with 391.

 

Werner treated me fairly while I was there. They have a lot of dedicated accounts that get you home on weekends or even daily. Some of these accounts dont pay that great but you will be accumulating experience. I dont recommend any dollar store accounts unless you want to break your back. Otherwise, it's not terrible there and you can do a year there no problem. Especially your first year.

My point is that you should get some job offers before you start crossing employers off your list. Some of the true bottom feeders should be stayed away from but when you get offers you can then check them out in depth and decide which is a good fit for you.

Any experience that can be verified is good, but honestly I think HR dept's nowadays may accept your being a stay at home dad. Just be up front with them, send out a ton of applications, and after a few days start calling them and plead your case.

 

Maybe I missed it... but where in N.C. are you located?