Time between school and first job.

No problem, millions of jobs waiting for you. Maybe get a little closer to the window, is all. Best to you!

 

Nah, shouldn't be too much of a problem. Sure some doors will be closed but most of those will be companies you don't want any way.

 

If you wait too long, even though you have the cdl, you'll have to do the school again.

 

There are always options out there. If you have your cdl regardless of when you finished school our company would give you a road test & if you pass you'd go out with a trainer from 1-3 weeks depending on your skills. If they feel you're safe and able to drive and you pass the training period, you get your truck. If not, you get to go home.

 

A lot of companies, especially the larger ones, will offer you a refresher if you haven't driven in a while, then you move on to orientation/training. Some companies (like Schneider) will ask you to take a refresher through an independent school before you attend their orientation.

 

Don't do the refresher courses. They're a money making scheme for the larger companies. Broaden your horizons and look around. When I started driving 14 years ago, you needed 2-3 years OTR before any local company would consider hiring you. With driver shortages as bad as they are, this isn't the case anymore. Even Teamsters companies will hire and train student drivers.

As far as your employment backround is concerned, don't be afraid to use the Army for a reference, since you aren't unemployed.

 

There are quite a few companies out there that have Veteran's Apprenticeship programs that you may want to look into. It was about 2 months after I completed school before I could start work. Had no problems finding a job.

 

hold on......wait a minute. have you even applied for any VA benefits yet. my suggestion.....apply for your VA benefits NOW. you will be denied because you do not have your dd214 but once you do get it, you will be in the system and things will move a little faster. Next, see what percentage disability you rate, anything over a certain percentage you can go to college.....everything is paid for you. GO TO SCHOOL AND GET THAT PIECE OF PAPER FIRST.

i am a 15 year vet with va benefits, i have a degree in education ( i taught for 10 yrs in the public school system) and have been driving solo for 8 months and enjoy it. i work my ### off but i'm not stuck in a room. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY FOR YOUR BENEFITS, YOU EARNED THEM.

 

He can apply for his GI Bill and be approved prior to being discharged. I have no clue what you are talking about Chavo, with being a certain percentage and having it paid for? You have your post 9/11 that we can use, and we have the voc-rehab that we can use as well, besides that I am not tracking anything special coming form your disability rating. I am at 70% from the VA and have exhausted my options for what is offered out there and have not heard of this. still have my post 9-11 to use, but just saying.

As for the OP's original question, you are correct. If you are out of driving school for longer than 60-90 days most companies will NOT touch you without a refresher course, especially if you do not have any recent experience either! Do not expect ANY company to count your Army time as experience either, even if you were an 88M in the Army! They want to see OTR time or recent civilian tractor trailer experience. Now there are companies out there that will touch you and take you in, but expect to be pulled at every weigh station because their CSA scores are so bad that DOT knows they make all kinds of money off of those companies and pull them every chance they can because they take any driver out there that has a heartbeat and a CDL.