Will DOT let me become a trucker...

Trucking companies don't normally assign high-level, well-informed staff to communicate with drivers. It's a job assigned as low as possible. You cannot trust web pages and ads from trucking companies and only trust what you are told in phone calls if you have other proof the info is true.

There are other companies that will hire you, but you have to get actively involved in finding and researching them. We cannot do it for you. You'll get some suggestions here, but you have to research or you will continue to have bad experiences and get even worse results.

 

Just for the purposes of being totally accurate. Part 391 really puts special emphasis on DOT-regulated employment history, they are not as interested in Non DOT employers. As some have already said what some carriers do is go overboard and want really more then the FMCSA requires. They really want the prior 3 years accounted for. There is a reason for this but to keep my comment brief I won't get into that.

 

EPES is near you and has positions in Columbia. They seem to have decent reviews but I’ve never talked to one of their drivers.

They have a new driver training program.
https://intelliapp.driverapponline.com/c/epestransport?uri_b=ia_epestransport_818079609

 

You’re all good.

Hey, any chance you reported the work injury and they’re shunning you because of it?

I made the mistake ONCE only, of stating I regularly saw a chiropractor.

Best I’d shut my mouth.

 

The Regs require you to provide the info, requires the carrier to verify the info or document (And report) why it wasn’t or could not be verified but they do not provide for the FMCSA/“DOT” to provide or deny “clearance”.

 

I reported it to @MACK E-6 in the other thread with a post, but you were probably on it by then....

 

PTL in West Colombia
Paschall Truck Lines, Inc. hiring Student Truck Driver - Class A CDL in West Columbia, SC, US | LinkedIn

 

Dry van, all things being equal, is the easiest type of trucking for newbies. The freight doesn't require as much attention from the driver as other freight. However, depending on which companies are near where you live, it may be better for an individual newbie to work for a particular trucking company that pulls flatbed, refrigerated (or reefer), tanker.

Reefer freight frequently has problems getting loaded or unloaded since the customer can and will reject some of the freight for various reasons. The driver and the trucking company will then have to come up with a plan (and time) to get rid of the rejected frieght. Trailers also need to be washed out, which means sitting in line at the trailer wash plus time to be washed. You probably won't be paid for any of that time.

Dry vans are just trailers that carry general freight that has no requirement for temperature. It's the majority of freight in trucking. All the driver may have to do is count the number of "skids", "pallets", "stacks" or items loaded/unloaded. Many loads the driver does nothing related to monitoring being loaded/unloaded other than back into a loading dock, wait, sign some paperwork. I did that for 23 years before switching to tanker.

Flatbed usually requires the driver to secure the freight loaded on the deck of the trailer using straps and or chains and may require traps be placed over the frieght. This is probably the most physically demanding form of trucking.

Tanker you keep the trailer/product right side up while driving form here to there. If the product is HazMat you may be restricted on which routes you can use. When you load/unload you may sit in the truck, sit in a company breakroom, or be required to be outside the trailer unloading it yourself with or without a chemical suit. I love most thigns about tankers except having to wear the very hot chemical suit. If you haul non-HazMat or food grade you don't have to wear the chemical suit. Wearing the chemical suit is exactly like wearing a thick rubber suit and then dragging and connecting hoses, climbing up the side of the trailer. It's not bad in cold weather or cold and wet weather but it's miserable in hot and humid weather. It's a good way to get a heat stroke. Most tanker drivers say they wished they had moved from other type of trucking to tankers sooner. I agree. Most trucking companies do not hire newbies to pull tankers and the companies that pull HazMat are more picky about the background of the drivers they hire. It usually pays more than other types of trucking.

 

To the OP, I had retired from driving in early 2007.... actually just retired in general, did not hold or apply for any job.... early 2017, the ###### itch to drive again caught me. I had given up renewing my CDL in 2013...
I called several companies I was interested in, I was starting over from scratch as I'd not driven in 10 years. I was simply retired.... all my current carrier cared about was what had I been doing the past 10 years, and had no CDL.
I think ( not 100% sure ) all that they cared about was DOT regulated work.... Don't quote me on that, it was over 2 years ago now... and the thought never crossed my mind They'd care about me coming out of retirement.
You should not have a problem finding work.
( Hope I explained that well )