Not Enough Recent Experience - The Solution

There is a problem some former truckers are having. They have a CDL but no recent experience, want to return to the industry.

My personal situation was this: I have a degree in computer science, but there aren't many jobs for that kind of work where I live, so I became a trucker. Well, lo and behold, that job got me a job with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin in Washington DC. So, I quit my trucking job and went to work for Uncle $ugar.

I completed my contract with Uncle $ugar and decided I would go back to trucking, well, because I liked being a trucker overall.

The problem I ran into - no recent experience. Here's how I solved that problem.

I posted some messages on some local Owner Ops boards advertising myself as a former trucker, needing to get recent experience to return to the industry. Within a couple weeks, I had an OO that was willing to give me shot. He would pay me 300 bucks a week, we would run teams, but he first had to see that I knew what I was doing. We met, I did a full pretrip on his truck and we went out for driving test. He told me he would give me a chance, but if things didn't work out, I'd have to carry with me enough money to get back home if he has to "deliver" me to a local truckstop. I said fair enough. So, we went out, and after 3 months, guess what, I got enough experience to get on with some companies BUT I decided to stay on with the OO for 3 more months at 300 bucks a week just to show him I appreciate the help AND it opened more doors to more companies.

SO, if you are a former trucker and need recent exp to get back into the business, just hook up with a decent OO, take 2 or 3 hundred a week pay, let him keep the rest for helping you. You then have RECENT VERIFIABLE EXPERIENCE needed by trucking companies to put you on their payroll.

It worked for me. It was a win/win situation for all of us - including the trucking companies that need good drivers. The OO was able to run at least 4500+ miles per week, able to pay me, and still make a profit. I got the recent experience that I need, and the trucking company that's going to hire me is getting a quality driver.

Also note that before I went out with the OO, I had called several companies and they all said I would have to go back to trucking school, graduate, come to their company and go out with a trainer for "x" amount of weeks, then I'd start off as a new hire. For someone that already has 4 years OTR + Canada experience (just not recent) that's not an option and is, quite frankly, stupid in my opinion. I would agree that someone without recent experience may be 'green', but that doesn't mean 'fool'. That would take a LOT of time and a LOT of money, and is not an option for most former truckers. I'd much rather give my time helping an OO make more money in exchange for the recent experience that trucking companies want.

So, if you're trying to get back into trucking and you need recent experience, find a decent OO that'll let you run teams with him. Just structure the deal so its profitable to the OO, and once you're done, give the OO something extra. He'll gladly give you a good review when the companies call to verify.

They call me Southern Star.

"I gots to burn ma boots...they done tectched yankee soil" ~ Yosemite Sam

 

Owner Ops ARE trucking companies. And the requirement is to verify that you have RECENT OTR experience. Doesn't matter if the trucking company that you have recent OTR experience has only 1 truck or 5,000. OTR Experience is OTR Experience.

As far as school grads go, this subject is not about grads and learning the industry and how to drive a truck and road life etc. It's about former truckers who don't have recent experience. This is a way for them to get the experience they need. A grad who has never been on the road should go with a trainer. But for someone who already has years of experience, just not recent, this is a way for them to get back into the industry without having to re-invent the wheel.

There were three reasons I stayed with my owner op an extra 3 months. 1. It opened more doors for me with companies that require 6 months recent OTR exp.
2. It helped the OO who really could use the money in this economy
3. The OO appreciated it and gave me a "highly recommended" verification to the trucking companies.

I win, the OO wins, and the trucking companies win. It helped me get the recent exp, it helped the OO financially, and it helped the trucking companies find a good driver that not only has the recent OTR experience they require, but also has prior experience on the road.

 

There's some confusion I think in the fact that some companies will "train" you meaning you go out without a CDL with a trainer, then come back and get your CDL and your "schooling" is complete. But for someone who already HAS a CDL, all they need is a willing OO to hire them as a team driver with them. As far as damages goes, the OO's insurance co would cover any damages as long as the OO makes sure he lists 1 employee working for him. The OO that hired me already had 1 previous driver who used to team with him part time, so it wasn't much of an issue. As far as a background check, I gave the OO the names of character references he could check to make sure I'm not a member of Al Queda and easily verify that I'm a good, honest, reliable person, just as you would do with any other job. I even had him come over for dinner at my house, which he did, and has done since, and met my wife and children and my dog. The key to this is getting someone LOCAL who can get to KNOW you. You have to put your hand out and introduce yourself, be professional, explain your situation. Sure you'll get a lot "not interesteds", but that puts you closer to getting, "Hey, this might work. I can use you to generate some much needed cash to keep the #### bank from foreclosing on my house." Like I said, you have make it so its worth the OO's time and he has to become a FRIEND and that means he has to get to KNOW you. Hey, I didn't say all this happened overnight at the drop of a hat. It took some time, but it worked (for me at least).

 

Any company that requires a minimum 6 months recent OTR experience will accept me. Why? Because I HAVE 6 months RECENT OTR experience now and it can be verified. The OO was not leased on with anybody. He owns the truck. He has a list of freight brokers whom he does business with.

My 6 months of recent OTR driving is no different than anybody else's 6 months of OTR driving. You have a CDL, I have a CDL (I've had my CDL since 1993). You drive a semi. I drive a semi. You haul chickens. I haul chickens. Just because you work for XYZ mega carriers doesn't make your OTR experience any "better" or "more acceptable" than mine. The carriers simply verify your recent OTR exp with your previous employer. That's all that they're required to do. It's not a Federal regulation, its a company regulation. As far as the Federal law goes, you are legally eligble to drive with 0 recent otr experience as long as you have a CDL with the proper endorsements. And some carriers will take you without recent otr experience. I did find one that would take me without recent otr, put me on with a trainer for about a month, but the thing that stopped me was I lived too far out of their hiring area.

Just befriend an owner op and get your recent otr and it will suffice.