When not to tell the truth??

floydborga · Mar 20, 2014

Hi Everyone,

My mom always told me to tell the truth, but when is the truth not always the best policy??

After 13 years in Europe, I recently returned and decided to take up trucking. A few weeks ago I aced the NJ CDL written test. After doing extensive research on this site and some others about my options for CDL training, I applied to Prime, Roehl, Millis, Knight, Maverick, CTL before looking into expensive private schools LCCC, Sage@LCTI and TDI which I have the money for if needed.

Roehl, Millis and CTL are not hiring from NJ and the others "couldn't accept me at this time" because of my recent employment history and also I believe because of my DL being suspended at some point last year. The suspension was for non-payment(while in Europe I stoped paying) of an insurance surcharge and for the last six years I have been a Day Trader which on the application I put down as "self employed".

Everything else on my application is crystal clean, no felonies, accidents or tickets, I have a BS degree in Accounting which I did back in the '90s and two computer programs from Chubb Institute which I used to become a Computer Analyst working for a Canadian company on projects in 5 different countries in Europe from 2000 through 2007 before they merged with another company and my position was outsourced..

I stopped applying because I didn't want to "burn my name" in the trucking Industry before ever becoming a Trucker.. and Also, I am now afraid to go spend 5/6 thousand dollars at one of the private institutions and then not be able to find a job because it looks like I am unhirable due to the gap(day trader) in my work history.

I'm sure my dilemma is not unique and am open to suggestions of what to do, I know I'm a good worker, have always been a well respect by my peers and think I'd be a credit to the Trucking Industry..

Should I somehow twist the truth in my employment history or do you think these companies react differently and make exceptions if I already held a CDL from SAGE for example?

It seems the truth is not always the best medicine...

Thanks to all here..

77smartin · Mar 20, 2014

The truth always has a habit of revealing itself at the wrong time though...just a thought.

Aireal · Mar 20, 2014

I'd keep to the truth, once you have a CDL, just put down on your application self employed. You can alway's call a couple of companies and ask their HR what their policy is on self employment and how it is best written on your application.

Go to your local T/S and pick up some brochures, then look the companies up on-line and check out their employment section. See what it say's, call never hurts.

NewNashGuy · Mar 20, 2014

How old are you? I would look for a non-driving job and save up the money to go to a cdl school to get experience and then apply for trucking jobs. I was hired while sitting at my desk in cdl school and had a job the next day after graduation. I went to a school that truck companies liked.

Clyde07 · Mar 20, 2014

Just always tell the truth on this board. It's a rule.

FlexinTarzan · Mar 20, 2014

I tidy way to get a impeccable, solid work reference/history, May I suggest a 5 yr stint in the French Foreign Legion......

unloader · Mar 20, 2014

Is there some record of proof that you were a self employed individual? Maybe some tax info that you can use to say I was employed between here and there.

More importantly that license suspension is going to cause some problems. Most places want three years since the last suspension, but may look at different situations on a case by case basis.

One thing I've learned in my one year in trucking is that this industry is run by insurance firms. All of the "qualifications" are mostly in place to appease them, even for companies that are self insured. It's why you see ads they say you must have such and such experience within the last three years or whatever. It's also why a guy can have a decade of OTR experience but if nothing in the last three years he will could end up in a refresher program at a large company.

The insurance company sees a license suspension within the last year as a high risk hire. You will most likely continue to be passed by with that on your record.

unloader

floydborga · Mar 20, 2014

NewNashGuy said: ↑

How old are you? I would look for a non-driving job and save up the money to go to a cdl school to get experience and then apply for trucking jobs. I was hired while sitting at my desk in cdl school and had a job the next day after graduation. I went to a school that truck companies liked.
Click to expand...

I'm 49, and I have the money to go to SAGE in PA, but I'm afraid that after spending $5,500 I'll be in the same situation with companies not wanting hire me because of the work gap..

I think I'll do that, go to SAGE@LCTI in PA and then go from there..thanks

floydborga · Mar 20, 2014

unloader said: ↑

Is there some record of proof that you were a self employed individual? Maybe some tax info that you can use to say I was employed between here and there.

More importantly that license suspension is going to cause some problems. Most places want three years since the last suspension, but may look at different situations on a case by case basis.

One thing I've learned in my one year in trucking is that this industry is run by insurance firms. All of the "qualifications" are mostly in place to appease them, even for companies that are self insured. It's why you see ads they say you must have such and such experience within the last three years or whatever.

So because the insurance company sees a license suspension within the last year as a high risk hire, you will most likely continue to be passed by.

unloader

unloader
Click to expand...

I have no tax return info, I was in Portugal and only returned to the US in Dec.

The suspension was for non-payment, is it that serious for them??

househunter · Mar 20, 2014

I was self employed for 16 years before attending SAGE at LCTI and had no problem getting hired. The key is your tax returns. Did you file a Schedule C each year? If so, this is proof of employment for the year.

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