Old Experience = No Experience ?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by VA CDL Holder, May 2, 2022.

  1. VA CDL Holder

    VA CDL Holder Medium Load Member

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    How does this look in the eyes of a companies insurance?

    OTR Experience
    03-2013 to 08-2013-Swift=5 months
    02-2014 to 05-2014- Swift=3 months
    10-2014 to 02-2015-Swift Flatbed=4 months
    06-2015 to 09-2015-Swift Flatbed=3 months
    04-2016 to 07-2016-Knight Trans.=3 months
    02-2017 to 07-2017-Schneider=5 months
    11-2017 to 03-2018-Knight Trans.=4 months
    07-2018 to 10-2018-Knight Trans.=3 months
    03-2019 to 09-2019-Knight Ref.=6 months
    08-2020 to 11-2020-Knight Ref.=4 months

    Total experience is over 39 months, but it’s spread out over 9 years. I see a lot of CL jobs that require experience of 24 months and I wonder if I have any bargaining power? Lots of employment gaps when not driving, I know, but life is for living. Knight basically says I’ve been unemployed too much to be employable and is not interested in rehiring me. I would assume that all the other mega companies feel the same way, so my only option is desperate smaller companies, most likely.

    My record is clean with several no violations DOT inspections on record. With all of this “driver shortage” non sense talk I have to believe some company in Phoenix will take a chance on me when I come back there in a few weeks to renew my physical.

    I wish I could get an honest explanation of “unemployed too long to be employable”? Recruiters, what is the thought process when you see an application like mine? Am I really not employable? I’m even a veteran and they can claim that to some benefit for the company. I am a white male though, maybe I should claim I’m a minority and female? I can be whatever I want under the current regime, or so I’m being told to accept. Thinking out load, possible thought crime in progress.

    Any opinions? And no, I’m not considering another line of work. Thanks
     
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  3. Heaveninamoment

    Heaveninamoment Light Load Member

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    I’d hire ya
     
  4. Plinker77

    Plinker77 Bobtail Member

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    That’s a lot of gaps between jobs, I imagine the way companies are looking at your application are that if they hire you, based off your history you won’t be there long.

    I’m not sure of the reasoning between all that and it’s none of my business but the next trucking company you get on with, I’d try and stay for a few years if possible.
     
  5. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    high plains colorado
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    Looks bad, I'm sorry. Today, it's what comes up on the screen, and you are dealing with averages. To a company, a record like that indicates trouble, they couldn't care less about "life is for living", in their eyes, you are a quitter. Don't get me wrong, I too would hire you in a minute, why? Because rather than stay at one place, for 39 months, in misery, which is what a company would LIKE to see, you had the guts to look around and play the field. Many of us did exactly the same thing. It was just that easy changing jobs back then ( 80's-90's). "Same crap, different shovel," we called it. To be honest, my driving job list was longer than that, but I just didn't include the "one weekers" ( had 2 jobs in a week once) at the "new" job and you can't get away with that today. I too would try a smaller company, but with costs today, "smaller" companies are failing DAILY,,so,,,I think you are kind of screwed.
    If it's any consolation, if you can hold out, I think what will happen, is due to stupid policies that you are running into, will ultimately kill the drivers pool altogether, freight companies will have no choice but to hire "outlaws" to move the goods, it's happened before, it was called de-regulation , and right when I started, late 70's. You had a truck, here's a load, NO QUESTIONS ASKED! That's where a person like you could pick your job, like the song, "Don't call us now, we'll call YOU",,,but it may be a while. Good luck pal
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2022
  6. Lexuslane

    Lexuslane Medium Load Member

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    It’s all mostly with the same company
    Knight and swift are the same right ?

    anyway, looks like you work until you have some money and then take off the rest of the year . nothing wrong with that , but a potential employer looks at the past history and knows you’re not going to stick around long . But most drivers don’t stick around long .

    Looks like to me you need to find a seasonal job like ice road trucking or something , where you get paid good for working hard for a few months and then the work is over till next year .
     
  7. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    Looks like you get pissed off and quit.
     
  8. Lexuslane

    Lexuslane Medium Load Member

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    Kept getting rehired by the same company , so there’s that .
    Company I worked with would hire drivers that quit back once , but if they quit again they were not eligible for re hire .

    I’m not sure if it would work to your advantage to just be up front with the recruiter or terminal manager , that you’re gonna work 4-6 months and be gone 4-6 months ,
    If you find some place that has seasonal work , that might suit them .

    are you working a different type job during those months or just relaxing in a mountain cabin and fishing ?

    Or is it a get angry and quit ?

    or get some money in your pocket and quit till you run out of cash ?
     
  9. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Boy howdy, you sure got my number,,
     
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  10. REO6205

    REO6205 Road Train Member

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    Just on the basis of your job history you come off looking like a flake. Those of us on TTR that know you are aware that you have special circumstances for your employment record to look like it does.
    All your previous employers hired you back but that's because those particular companies are always desperate for drivers and you were a known quantity.
    But a clerk in some office somewhere is going to look at that employment record and say "Nope" and round file it.
    There's no real driver shortage and a resume like yours is more of a red flag than it is an application.
     
  11. VA CDL Holder

    VA CDL Holder Medium Load Member

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    Actually, I enjoy OTR and all of the "adventure" that goes with it. The reason I can only go for so is because I feel that I'm being totally disconnected from what is happening with the family. Because of where I live, there isn't enough home time to remedy that problem.
     
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