I've been searching for truck driving jobs with various carriers and I've received no job offers from any of them. I've applied to carriers like Swift or CR England and they reject my application because I have unemployment gaps or too much unemployment. I got my CDL in 2019 and I've worked for a few different carriers, so I have experience. My driving record is not terrible either, the truckers who've met me have called me a cautious driver, and I even earned a 1 year of safe driving award from JB Hunt. I don't have any DUIs or drug/alcohol violations with the Clearinghouse, no crashes or speeding tickets, no criminal convictions or charges pending (I don't have a criminal record), but I have some job gaps. In my experience, this is enough for the carrier to say no to me, and some employers strictly stipulate no job gaps in your work history. I have about 2 years experience driving truck, it's not a lot, but it's not nothing either. It's like that experience is invalidated because it's not recent. I paid about 5000 USD for my CDL, and now it feels useless. What should I do? Should I give up my license and find something else?
Trouble Finding Employment
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BIGdiesel2019, May 23, 2025.
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Well first things first...where do you call home, and how long has it been since you last drove? How many companies have you worked for? You've got 2 years experience over a 6 year span. Depending on when you last drove, that's going to potentially hurt you to the point of you needing to do a refresher course.
austinmike, lual and Chinatown Thank this. -
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Try Schneider. They will do a nationwide criminal background check to make sure you haven't been incarcerated.
What's your location? -
Employment gaps are the problem. It's tight right now with so many drivers with no employment gaps.
Where is your location? City/town/zip code.
Western Express is a 2nd chance company, so try them.
Western Express
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Western Express | Where Drive Meets Opportunitytscottme Thanks this. -
1099 it to get your foot back in the door. 6 months later, switch to a W2 gig.
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Fill those employment gaps with non driving jobs with someone who will pick up phone and say yes he worked here, reliable guy.
silverspur, austinmike, snowmantrucking101 and 1 other person Thank this. -
Why are you ignoring local opportunities? OTR is going to be tough getting hired during a depression.
joshuapowell61, hope not dumb twucker and tscottme Thank this. -
What we need from you, to help you better:
- Where you are located (a zip code would be just fine)
- When you last drove, & for how long
- What type(s) of freight you have pulled
- What CDL endorsements you have (if any)
- What type(s) of work to you've applied for: local, regional...&/or OTR...& what type(s) of freight you've applied for
- Are you open to relocation...& what limitations/restrictions (if any) do you have for that....
silverspur Thanks this. -
Why did you leave the trucking companies that did hire you?
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