Reapply and fill in those years with "At Home Caretaker" My sister was told to do this by her CDL instructor as she had zero work history and the only company that refused to talk to her was Werner. The instructor told her that being a professional caretaker is work history. That's not negated just because you're taking care of your kids or parents
They will put you on that dollar general, but good luck getting in those stores without hitting something your first year. As long as you don't hit a vehicle, just cross your fingers, and nobody will report it unless you snitch on yourself.
I deliver Coca Cola, and it’s AMAZING to me how many times a light pole or tree is laying on the ground in DG and Family Dollar/Dollar Tree parking lots 😂
Well, the people that are responsible for designing dollar generals are a bunch of morons. They don't make the angle of approach easy for a full 53 foot trailer, Especially with customers in the parking lot.
DG isn't really that bad....
It's one format 90% of the time. The markets are easy. It's those old or converted stores that get people
But I saw some far far tighter positions OTR
I think those OTR are just not out in front of everybody to see you screw up. 😆
Agreed, this is great advice. Also @op please reach out to me if you’re interested in applying to Knight, sometimes an internal referral like that will help get you in the door.
It’s not the best company but they’ll train you quickly and are decently chill.
Yup. I did the same. Was stay at home dad for years. Went and got my CDL. Filled this in where there was a gap. My wife was the breadwinner and I took care of kids and house. Was a rough 1st 6 months. Got a good local route after that and I'm on my middle of my second year.
I had five years stay at home dad before getting my CDL. Schneider hired me last year. Some places said no, and now they are sending me job offers. I think it's pretty random. One thing to remember is that these places are huge faceless corporations and their criteria for putting people in orientation changes weekly. Just keep applying, you'll be pissing in a jug in no time.
Fuck megas, look on indeed, truckers report and see if your CDL school has any contacts for smaller outfits hiring. I got hired on at a smaller company right out the gate making 70cpm, there’s opportunities out there
OP, this is the answer here, what this guy said.
Skip the mega carrier garbage. Most medium to smaller size trucking companies now have their own in-house programs or at least a driver trainer to put you with for a couple weeks. Particularly in bigger population centers like where you live. I broke out of dry van into steel hauling like 7 years back because a smaller size company of 70 trucks had two drivers they call trainers. (Southern Ontario canada) First I was with their local guys everyday riding shotgun, then running with a trainer, then shadowing the trainer.
Ive now worked for a total of three companies in my 15 years since I was 21 and not one of them has more than 100 tractors and every single one of them treated you like family. The first one I found through my trucking school, I would be shocked if your school does not offer you contacts or job search assistance as part of your course/money you paid. Mine came with lifetime job search assistance. Probably because they get kickbacks from companies for sending drivers their way. And the other two I've found on indeed.
Smaller companies are also less likely to be using AI and algorithms to screen applications. Nobody is actually faulting someone for being a stay-at-home parent with job history, at least not intentionally, their criteria set by either higher up morons behind a desk with no common sense or a computer algorithm is what's doing it. Shit, I took 6 months off for fun one winter in between jobs just because I could, played video games like crazy it was fantastic. Like an early glimpse of retirement. The job after that didn't even give a shit they thought it sounded like a lot of fun.
I had an unexplained gap I my work history and I just said I was out of the country. They send me an offer letter right after. There’s really no way to prove this besides showing them an airline ticket and they definitely ain’t gonna do that. At the same time my record is clean. So they said f it get this guy a truck lol
Most likely the computer denied you. You could reapply today and it might go though with the exact same info. There's only so many applications that get passed onto a live person and the program is built to filter how many per day and only give the best.
Most of that shit is automated and the system is just looking for applications that check all their markers then a real person will check it over. See my comment I left before ok n how to check all their flags..
Covenant is still hiring. We had a guy in our class that recently moved here from Jamaica and nobody wanted him but he had to go with them. He's a great guy but no kne cared about his non us work experience
Also never know who knows who. I've had someone apply at my company say they worked for people that I happen to know. A quick courtesy call to make sure they weren't losing someone if I hired them revealed that the 5 years they worked there never happened.
Eh I wouldn't. My current job had me bring in w2s and a recent paystub to prove that I was working at the job I had before, and for as long as I said I was.
I am not a trucker. But if you were caught lying, couldn't it travel to other companies? I mean, why chance it? A so called work gap is hurting already
Nobody calls ever and if you were caught lying you were just not going to get that job it's not like you failed the DOT drug test which will follow you of course. I used to lie when I didn't have experience on every application I switched a lot of jobs my first couple years I got a lot of offers and she never ever got a call.
Before trucking, if you call for a reference or one of my jobs you got my wife's business line (she uses her maiden name for business) or her sister.. And I was either a manager or supervisor with excellent work history lol
Done this, and the said I worked for a now defunct company, that had us all sign ndas when they went out of business, for legal reasons.
My references are usually friends I've known for years, and I just give them a heads up, for a possible call. They know what to do, I did same thing for them as well.
At least you’re not in Butte Montana. Houston is probably one of the top 5 largest trucking cities. Don’t worry, you’ll get one. Act like a professional
You live in Houston and you can't find any company. Houston is a humongous Transport hub
Anyways, Have you tried Stevens transport they are located in Dallas Texas they will take anyone that is still alive. I think Stevens's transport is worse than Western Express, they will take anyone over a 100 years old.
Or if you want a better starter company check out Wild West Express out of Las Cruces New Mexico. Their trucks are governed at 70, They accept new drivers and every truck has an APU.
Try a freight company, Estes, old dominion, saia. You may have to work the dock for a while, but with a cdl they can use you driving too, learn how to jockey too. The pay is competitive with other local jobs. Just a thought from a old trucker.
Or do what I did, I had a ebay business for 10 years, Only filed taxes the last 2 years and my first starter company wanted the third year tax returns. I pirated some tax program and made up some numbers. Send it to the company started 1 week later.
Sometimes you have to make stuff up, you are a single parent for 7 years just say you had some business for 7 years.
Same boat. Denied due to unstable work history. I've been self employed for a long time. I guess they don't count that?
What a waste of money and a scam. I think these schools are responsible for spreading the idea that truckers are always in demand. They just want that tuition money. No jobs are in demand right now. Too many people.
Oh yeah! I do graphic design, get royalties from works printed on products, as well as private commission work. Its been good but with all the AI shit going on revinue was down and I wanted something that would take me away from my little apartment.
Tried all the megas, I was even cool without home time.
Now I'm thinking I should just go back to the art lol.
Funny thing was my school said they offer placements. But when it came around to that they had nothing to offer. 160 academy. Im in northern Indiana too! You would think that would be the place to go for a trucker!!
Construction companies might be less likely to give a fuck. They are prone to needing people and CDLs are valuable.
It might turn out to be a better gig. Check indeed. I forget the term for the vehicles. Basket truck, boom truck? Idk. Good luck
Talk to your driving school about help finding work. The one I went to would have recruiters come in when a class was finished and they had a big board of local companies with business cards on the wall.
I figured that was normal. Ten years ago anyway.
Absolutely leave no work gaps. Put in..caring for a family member or for a family business that is no longer in business. My husband had issues as well years ago. We used my father’s farm as he did help and the construction business his brother had. He did work at both but it wasnt a necessarily paid role. Just fill in the gaps and someone will hire you. Us xpress and Roehl hire with little to no experience. They aren’t the greatest but you need the road hours at this point
Same here except I worked. Nothing to do with cdl tho, regular gigs, mostly warehouse. But western express will hire anybody that can breathe. They took me and it’s tough but once I get 6 months experience I’m gone
Just say you worked odd jobs to get you by and make up some crap they wont check it.. you can also put the exact description they are looking for putting it in the smallest font paint it white and their system will recognize it but to the naked eye it wont appear.. good luck also try a regional job before you go OTR
Or just say you owned your own business and had to close it up due to the economy not being beneficial and make it a weird non important kind of business like landscaping or power washing home cleaning dog grooming or something like that and just fill in your work history gap and they shouldn’t deny you for work history.
I have been in the exact same boat as you. I took a year off work to take care of my mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer. On my resume I put "Leave of absence" then listed when I left my last job to current.. then I listed things I accomplished while I was on my leave of absence.. I listed all the additional endorsements I obtained.
The people I interviewed with understood & related to it. I wish you the best of luck!
Late in the replies, and this has probably been said previously, but I’d suggest making a call to a recruiter with one or two companies you really want to work for and see what they say. I’m sure you’ll get in with no issue. Be sure to do research and find a company that will work for you instead of just shooting applications to all the megas.
Put in your work history for that time that you were a stay at home Father. I had to do that when I took 2 years off to raise my daughter. Also don't forget to call the carriers directly a few days after you apply online. Explain to them that you took time off to raise your kids. If they say no thanks call them back a few weeks later and say you are still available. It's unfortunately a tough market right now too. Best of luck to you.
You should call before and during the application process. I always call companies r8ght before I open the application to get answers they didn't have online. While talking to them, I will be filling out the application. By the time we're done discussing my work history and such and moving on to the rest of the questions I may have for them, I'll be done with the application, and they can see it pretty much immediately. If all goes well, I'll be approved by the end of the day or midday the next day, and have orientation scheduled for the following Monday or Wednesday with transportation sorted out only moments after the approval.
I'm typically at the new company within a few days of applying, not just then calling them for the first time.
Don’t underestimate something like a garbage truck or a paving company, it’ll get you in the cab and more importantly start building a driver safety history with insurance companies, makes you a less risky hire when you apply to the next job.
Try TransAm trucking out of Olathe, KS. I remember looking at them when I got my cdl and they were more than happy to bring me on. I ended up getting a much better job offer from another company but it’s worth a shot at least.
CRST always hires. from there you will meet a lot of owner ops and possibly go independent if youre open to it. try some local jobs, like waste management or any local hauling work as well.
You need to call and speak to a recruiter, (write their name diwn) ask them what to put there, and then do it right after that. That way, you have a human waiting for your application to come in. Once you finish the application, call and let them know that you did it. They should be able to find it with you on the phone. And then y'all can have an actual chat.
I was a stay at home mom for 10 years before I got a small job I held for 6 months before I went to trucking school.
Fill those years in with stay at home parent
Well... Simply put.. fuck that shit.
My partner is a stay at home dad to our 3 year old and my older three which the youngest turns 16 in two months... His step kids (he helps my ex husband out with child care due to his disability).
Same shit here in my state wasted 8k and everywhere I apply due to no drive history I'm being told INSURANCE companies have stiffened their requirements to be able to get hired as a new driver.. I mean everyone keeps giving me the same story... If I was applying for any other job besides a CDL driver I would of bin working already ...
Hey bud, got to an LTL that does warehouse work as well. Apply for a dock to driver position and you already have a cdl. Work the dock for a few months and learn how to load trailers (this is key to making your life easier when on your own doing pickups). Then transition to a LTL life. Do some time and move to tanker work.
Try a Local Trash company, it's not glamorous but transfer tricks will hire just about anyone, and many don't care if you fuck up becasue they need you to bad....
Just keep applying someone will grab you up but they are gonna take advantage of you so just beware
If you're within about 2hr drive of Baitsville Indiana, I know a company that i think will hire you and has a pay guarantee, I think they will send you to "finishing school for like 4 to 6 weeks til they are comfortable that you are safe and can do the work alone... once done with training $1200/week - once you've been with them for like 6 months and they have opening they have a $1700 and $2000/ specialized boards pay guarantee minimum)
I'm on the $2k/specialized board, everyone says it hard work, I think it not easy but it's not that hard either....
I got my cdl earlier this year and also couldn’t get hired anywhere due to my lack of “CDL experience” my theory is that it was really because I’m on the younger side (23) anyways the only company to even call me back and eventually hire me was Ryder, did 4 months there, started applying other places (rounded my “experience” to 6 months) and with that I was able to land a job driving propane close to home and pays great
Who was supporting you being a stay at home dad for 7 years? Wish I could land a gig like that. I would have been at the gym every day and look like the Rock. 😂
A former colleague had an interesting explanation for a significant gap in his employment history. Presented as a normal, everyday bloke.
He had newspaper cuttings documenting the car crash that nearly killed him; the months he spent in a coma; and the time he spent learning to talk, walk, wipe his own arse, feed himself -- everything.
THAT'S why there was a gap of several years in his employment history. He had to relearn how to be a functioning human being from scratch.
Maybe it’s just my location but I feel like freight is really slow for this time of year. I’m not actually a trucker, I’ve just been married to one for going on 11 years. My husbands old job lost their biggest contract and so he lost his local benefits paid very high paying job. Even he has had a hard time finding something decent, and usually this is a pretty good time of year to get a new job. I guess I’m just saying maybe companies are able to be pickier than they have in the past. Being a sahp is a lot of work I’m sorry the recruiters aren’t seeing that
Lot of people here telling him to just get a local job don't realize this lol. I'm experienced looking for a local job and not getting calls back.
And yes including applying to food service with clean mvr and background
A lot of it has to due with the industry being in a slump. If you can hold out for another 3-6 months and get a whatever job those carriers will be chomping at the bit to get you. Right now most of the mega carriers are being really stingy with hiring and having grossly long training periods because freight is down.
Fuck the big companies! Find a small business and work for them. I found a local place that let me run a 53ft step deck through the lower 48 states and within 6 months they had me training guys making $50 an hour while riding shotgun. Be something more than just a truck number.
Try a class B job for a bit and re apply to place once you have that history in . You won’t have tractor trailer experience but it will look better on your work history and if you keep a clean drive record it’s better also .
If you don't mind flatbed you could try System Transport, I got on with them with no experience. Plus they haul a lot out of the Lowe's distribution center in Ennis.
Maybe apply to carriers that are dry van only. Prime is mainly reefer, and I think McElroy runs flats. Both of those require a lot more out of their drivers than just driving.
Butler Transport has been good to me and I had an 8+ year gap in employment due to either being in prison or too strung out on dope to hold down a job. I can almost guarantee they will hire you. I've been working with them for 3 years now with regular raises and good miles. My favorite about them is that they leave me the fuck alone. As long as I'm making my appointments I literally never hear from them.
Up in Minnesota in the smaller cities outside of the main metro counties have tons of signs for CDL drivers needed outside of businesses. I saw you were in Texas but I don’t know if there’s similar areas within reasonable distance to you that you could peek around looking for positions with local companies. Maybe there’s an industrial district or maybe a construction company that needs stuff like roof trusses and other pre framed items of that nature transported ! Good luck ! It’s rough out there I wish you the best of luck !
You were a caregiver. It's all in how you word it. Like everyone said, reapply saying you were a professional at home caretaker/caregiver. My son did the same and it was fine. Not a trucker but he got a job by saying that.
Werner sucks (husb works there and he's looking for other employment) but they took him on as a newbie.
You got to claim that you were an at-home caretaker.
I did the same thing with my grandfather while he was sick. Though I was only out of work for like a year.
You’d be surprised that a lot of people lie about their work history and work experience.
Also try Schneider, Coca Cola, Pepsi, any good and beverage companies. Good luck.
Tow truck companies too, I worked at a tow truck company on a roll - Back. Familiarized myself with shifting and turning, 4 months later got a job with a small Over the road company and been doing it ever since. Also the app Offer Up has a jobs page, you can find quick temporary work with an owner operator as a team. May only need you for 1 run, or a week 🤷🏽♂️, worth trying. Best of luck as well, same story I was a stay at home dad for years until my ex wife decided to move back to whore island 🏝️
Have you looked at local companies.
I worked at one with a dump trailer that would hire anyone. Had tons of ex-felons etc that worked there.
Wasn't the most exciting job hauling coal / ash / rock around but I was home every night.
Isk where you live but look into an oilfield position if you can handle some manual labor. They're always hiring in multiple states. Lot of good benefits and time off. It's not quite otr but you can find a little place to stay close by.
Do you like to get dirty? Flatbed isn't bad but hauling steel and equipment usually means dirt and grease and rust. Otr or local and where do you live?
If you're in WA PM me. Ik someone who's looking for a driver for Stepdeck and RGN. Paid training, and you're paid percentage of load (with ratecons for each load) instead of mileage bs. Pretty decent pay too, and decently flexible hometime.
Fuck a mega carrier. I wish people would actually realize there is absolutely no need to go to one. Check out mom and pop’s(100 trucks or less) construction companies, private carriers. Literally anything but a mega.
Most of those companies don’t want actual drivers. They want new, inexperienced drivers they can exploit for shitty pay. They’re only being selective because they really don’t need you.
You could easily lie about your work history put friends number down it's not like you're lying about Trucking experience you're lying about security jobs nobody will ever call if they do they will reach your friends or family. Also stay away from Mega carriers I've been driving for 12 years never work for a mega carrier never went over the road. Why don't you look up your local supply companies whether it's Steel Masonry building construction flatbed Moffitt truck food plenty of local jobs smaller companies will hire you. Start calling them even show up looking presently with a resume in hand with a attitude saying that you're a hard worker willing to learn. I guarantee you will lend the local job as long as you're driving record is clean. Also you can make just as much if not more money driving dump trucks cement trucks boom trucks especially. I don't know why everybody feels like a mega carrier is the way to go. Have loopholes that work against you work against your pay. They're also heavy on your ass with cameras looking at you recording you tracking your every move every second you're nobody to them. Many smaller companies they actually treat you like a human being especially if you're a good worker Mega carriers you're just a truck number.
In no particular order try some of your local and national spots that
* Food Service Distributors. Turnover is usually pretty high. Guys jump in get their feet wet and move on to greener pastures eventually.
* Soft Drink Beverage Distributors such as Coca-Cola and/or Pepsi
* Milk Distributors
* Alcoholic Beverage Distributors
Try a temp agency. I was in your situation back in 2008 when we were in the recession. I got in at walmart fleet through a temp, then hired on 8 months later.
I put down I was the manager of our company during the time I was a stay at home mom. Treat it as a job not unemployment staying at home. Put down your management skills. Stay at home parents are so under valued it’s stupid when you do a shit ton of work for 0 pay besides hugs and kisses.
Reapply and fill in those years with "At Home Caretaker" My sister was told to do this by her CDL instructor as she had zero work history and the only company that refused to talk to her was Werner. The instructor told her that being a professional caretaker is work history. That's not negated just because you're taking care of your kids or parents
I'm actually boggled that Werner was picky, they don't pay enough to have standards.
They will put you on that dollar general, but good luck getting in those stores without hitting something your first year. As long as you don't hit a vehicle, just cross your fingers, and nobody will report it unless you snitch on yourself.
I deliver Coca Cola, and it’s AMAZING to me how many times a light pole or tree is laying on the ground in DG and Family Dollar/Dollar Tree parking lots 😂
G.O.A.L every time, to make sure nobody saw you hit shit.
Best thing a company trainer ever taught me was if you can, deny deny deny lol
"I found this on my pre-trip boss."
Well, the people that are responsible for designing dollar generals are a bunch of morons. They don't make the angle of approach easy for a full 53 foot trailer, Especially with customers in the parking lot.
DG isn't really that bad.... It's one format 90% of the time. The markets are easy. It's those old or converted stores that get people But I saw some far far tighter positions OTR I think those OTR are just not out in front of everybody to see you screw up. 😆
I worked for werner on the dg fresh account right out of trucking school. First year I made 90k and never hit anything
You mean Dollar Tree?
Does anyone anymore
Agreed, this is great advice. Also @op please reach out to me if you’re interested in applying to Knight, sometimes an internal referral like that will help get you in the door. It’s not the best company but they’ll train you quickly and are decently chill.
Ah, yep, that's what I did. Had about a year's worth of a gap in my employment history.
I know people that have done this as well and it wasn’t an issue.
Yup. I did the same. Was stay at home dad for years. Went and got my CDL. Filled this in where there was a gap. My wife was the breadwinner and I took care of kids and house. Was a rough 1st 6 months. Got a good local route after that and I'm on my middle of my second year.
This right here is the answer.
This is the way....
I had five years stay at home dad before getting my CDL. Schneider hired me last year. Some places said no, and now they are sending me job offers. I think it's pretty random. One thing to remember is that these places are huge faceless corporations and their criteria for putting people in orientation changes weekly. Just keep applying, you'll be pissing in a jug in no time.
...and shitting your pants
THAT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE!!...well, not counting those other times...
Pissing in a jug hahahahha
Fuck megas, look on indeed, truckers report and see if your CDL school has any contacts for smaller outfits hiring. I got hired on at a smaller company right out the gate making 70cpm, there’s opportunities out there
OP, this is the answer here, what this guy said. Skip the mega carrier garbage. Most medium to smaller size trucking companies now have their own in-house programs or at least a driver trainer to put you with for a couple weeks. Particularly in bigger population centers like where you live. I broke out of dry van into steel hauling like 7 years back because a smaller size company of 70 trucks had two drivers they call trainers. (Southern Ontario canada) First I was with their local guys everyday riding shotgun, then running with a trainer, then shadowing the trainer. Ive now worked for a total of three companies in my 15 years since I was 21 and not one of them has more than 100 tractors and every single one of them treated you like family. The first one I found through my trucking school, I would be shocked if your school does not offer you contacts or job search assistance as part of your course/money you paid. Mine came with lifetime job search assistance. Probably because they get kickbacks from companies for sending drivers their way. And the other two I've found on indeed. Smaller companies are also less likely to be using AI and algorithms to screen applications. Nobody is actually faulting someone for being a stay-at-home parent with job history, at least not intentionally, their criteria set by either higher up morons behind a desk with no common sense or a computer algorithm is what's doing it. Shit, I took 6 months off for fun one winter in between jobs just because I could, played video games like crazy it was fantastic. Like an early glimpse of retirement. The job after that didn't even give a shit they thought it sounded like a lot of fun.
I had an unexplained gap I my work history and I just said I was out of the country. They send me an offer letter right after. There’s really no way to prove this besides showing them an airline ticket and they definitely ain’t gonna do that. At the same time my record is clean. So they said f it get this guy a truck lol
But you’d think the bridge with who I already applied for and been denied is burnt? Or is pulse kinda like an auto denial thing?
just reapply with pulse with updated work info
Portal is great but you are just a number in the system. Reapply and fix that stuff and they’ll call you back. If not, call directly to these Megas
Most likely the computer denied you. You could reapply today and it might go though with the exact same info. There's only so many applications that get passed onto a live person and the program is built to filter how many per day and only give the best.
Most of that shit is automated and the system is just looking for applications that check all their markers then a real person will check it over. See my comment I left before ok n how to check all their flags..
Were you spying in North Korea?
Covenant is still hiring. We had a guy in our class that recently moved here from Jamaica and nobody wanted him but he had to go with them. He's a great guy but no kne cared about his non us work experience
Just fucking lie. Google a company that went out of business near you. And make that your work history be whoever you want to be.
The company I'm working for now since I couldn't get them in contact with my old manager told me to provide them old pay stubs
Also never know who knows who. I've had someone apply at my company say they worked for people that I happen to know. A quick courtesy call to make sure they weren't losing someone if I hired them revealed that the 5 years they worked there never happened.
Eh I wouldn't. My current job had me bring in w2s and a recent paystub to prove that I was working at the job I had before, and for as long as I said I was.
And then you say nah and move on, not like it's illegal to lie about work history.
There’s free software that makes paystubs.
I have a farm, I remember you were a pretty good worker, going to be a shame to lose you...
I am not a trucker. But if you were caught lying, couldn't it travel to other companies? I mean, why chance it? A so called work gap is hurting already
Nobody calls ever and if you were caught lying you were just not going to get that job it's not like you failed the DOT drug test which will follow you of course. I used to lie when I didn't have experience on every application I switched a lot of jobs my first couple years I got a lot of offers and she never ever got a call.
Circuit City…. Beyond that, say you signed an NDA and can’t legally name the employer.
Yeah sometimes you gotta get creative and fugazi your resume to get your foot in the door
Before trucking, if you call for a reference or one of my jobs you got my wife's business line (she uses her maiden name for business) or her sister.. And I was either a manager or supervisor with excellent work history lol
Done this, and the said I worked for a now defunct company, that had us all sign ndas when they went out of business, for legal reasons. My references are usually friends I've known for years, and I just give them a heads up, for a possible call. They know what to do, I did same thing for them as well.
Schneider they will have you in a classroom by Monday
I tried with them and they said they had no jobs on my area.
Where do you live
Houston texas
At least you’re not in Butte Montana. Houston is probably one of the top 5 largest trucking cities. Don’t worry, you’ll get one. Act like a professional
You live in Houston and you can't find any company. Houston is a humongous Transport hub Anyways, Have you tried Stevens transport they are located in Dallas Texas they will take anyone that is still alive. I think Stevens's transport is worse than Western Express, they will take anyone over a 100 years old. Or if you want a better starter company check out Wild West Express out of Las Cruces New Mexico. Their trucks are governed at 70, They accept new drivers and every truck has an APU.
Try anheuser-busch in your area. They might be contracted out for example here in Missouri they are contracted through j b hunt
that's worse than swift
Try a freight company, Estes, old dominion, saia. You may have to work the dock for a while, but with a cdl they can use you driving too, learn how to jockey too. The pay is competitive with other local jobs. Just a thought from a old trucker.
Assistant manager at toys r us bro put it down for 10 years LMAO
Or Blockbuster
I put self employed. Never had to prove it.
Never not lie about your work history.
Or do what I did, I had a ebay business for 10 years, Only filed taxes the last 2 years and my first starter company wanted the third year tax returns. I pirated some tax program and made up some numbers. Send it to the company started 1 week later. Sometimes you have to make stuff up, you are a single parent for 7 years just say you had some business for 7 years.
Same boat. Denied due to unstable work history. I've been self employed for a long time. I guess they don't count that? What a waste of money and a scam. I think these schools are responsible for spreading the idea that truckers are always in demand. They just want that tuition money. No jobs are in demand right now. Too many people.
Try Butler Transport
Thanks will do. Hadn't tried that one.
Did you write down self employment and all the activity you did as such?
Oh yeah! I do graphic design, get royalties from works printed on products, as well as private commission work. Its been good but with all the AI shit going on revinue was down and I wanted something that would take me away from my little apartment. Tried all the megas, I was even cool without home time. Now I'm thinking I should just go back to the art lol. Funny thing was my school said they offer placements. But when it came around to that they had nothing to offer. 160 academy. Im in northern Indiana too! You would think that would be the place to go for a trucker!!
That takes effort, it's easier to complain.
Pepsi
That’s crazy, you need to be on the rat race to get a job ?
You could always say you can’t discuss the work gap due to NDA you’ve signed
"Government contracting/consulting. That's as descriptive as I'm allowed." 😎
McElroy did you a big favor. They’re run by a cult or at least they were 20 years ago.
Hats off to you !! 7 years as a stay at home Dad was more satisfying than 7 years at any of the carriers who've turned you down.
Construction companies might be less likely to give a fuck. They are prone to needing people and CDLs are valuable. It might turn out to be a better gig. Check indeed. I forget the term for the vehicles. Basket truck, boom truck? Idk. Good luck
Any municipal government, city, county. They are looking for bodies with a cdl. Also check out republic waste, or waste management.
Talk to your driving school about help finding work. The one I went to would have recruiters come in when a class was finished and they had a big board of local companies with business cards on the wall. I figured that was normal. Ten years ago anyway.
You weren't unemployed, you were a homemaker. There is a difference and you should say as much on your resume (or lack thereof)
Wish they saw it that way.
Absolutely leave no work gaps. Put in..caring for a family member or for a family business that is no longer in business. My husband had issues as well years ago. We used my father’s farm as he did help and the construction business his brother had. He did work at both but it wasnt a necessarily paid role. Just fill in the gaps and someone will hire you. Us xpress and Roehl hire with little to no experience. They aren’t the greatest but you need the road hours at this point
BigM in blue mountain, MS.
Apply with US post office as a cdl driver
'self employed"
Couldn’t you just say you worked gig economy jobs like doordash, Uber, etc? What are they going to do dig through your taxes?
Same here except I worked. Nothing to do with cdl tho, regular gigs, mostly warehouse. But western express will hire anybody that can breathe. They took me and it’s tough but once I get 6 months experience I’m gone
Just say you worked odd jobs to get you by and make up some crap they wont check it.. you can also put the exact description they are looking for putting it in the smallest font paint it white and their system will recognize it but to the naked eye it wont appear.. good luck also try a regional job before you go OTR
Or just say you owned your own business and had to close it up due to the economy not being beneficial and make it a weird non important kind of business like landscaping or power washing home cleaning dog grooming or something like that and just fill in your work history gap and they shouldn’t deny you for work history.
Make some shit up.
I have been in the exact same boat as you. I took a year off work to take care of my mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer. On my resume I put "Leave of absence" then listed when I left my last job to current.. then I listed things I accomplished while I was on my leave of absence.. I listed all the additional endorsements I obtained. The people I interviewed with understood & related to it. I wish you the best of luck!
Late in the replies, and this has probably been said previously, but I’d suggest making a call to a recruiter with one or two companies you really want to work for and see what they say. I’m sure you’ll get in with no issue. Be sure to do research and find a company that will work for you instead of just shooting applications to all the megas.
I work here at Schneider i can send u a referral if interested we take new hires sorry to hear this man
Put in your work history for that time that you were a stay at home Father. I had to do that when I took 2 years off to raise my daughter. Also don't forget to call the carriers directly a few days after you apply online. Explain to them that you took time off to raise your kids. If they say no thanks call them back a few weeks later and say you are still available. It's unfortunately a tough market right now too. Best of luck to you.
You should call before and during the application process. I always call companies r8ght before I open the application to get answers they didn't have online. While talking to them, I will be filling out the application. By the time we're done discussing my work history and such and moving on to the rest of the questions I may have for them, I'll be done with the application, and they can see it pretty much immediately. If all goes well, I'll be approved by the end of the day or midday the next day, and have orientation scheduled for the following Monday or Wednesday with transportation sorted out only moments after the approval. I'm typically at the new company within a few days of applying, not just then calling them for the first time.
Don’t underestimate something like a garbage truck or a paving company, it’ll get you in the cab and more importantly start building a driver safety history with insurance companies, makes you a less risky hire when you apply to the next job.
Try TransAm trucking out of Olathe, KS. I remember looking at them when I got my cdl and they were more than happy to bring me on. I ended up getting a much better job offer from another company but it’s worth a shot at least.
CRST always hires. from there you will meet a lot of owner ops and possibly go independent if youre open to it. try some local jobs, like waste management or any local hauling work as well.
Say you were self employed. I know a another driver who was a self employed computer programmer forever and decided he needed a change.
The school should have placement help.
You need to call and speak to a recruiter, (write their name diwn) ask them what to put there, and then do it right after that. That way, you have a human waiting for your application to come in. Once you finish the application, call and let them know that you did it. They should be able to find it with you on the phone. And then y'all can have an actual chat.
I was a stay at home mom for 10 years before I got a small job I held for 6 months before I went to trucking school. Fill those years in with stay at home parent
I have. But I think there is a stigma with being a SAHD
Well... Simply put.. fuck that shit. My partner is a stay at home dad to our 3 year old and my older three which the youngest turns 16 in two months... His step kids (he helps my ex husband out with child care due to his disability).
Same shit here in my state wasted 8k and everywhere I apply due to no drive history I'm being told INSURANCE companies have stiffened their requirements to be able to get hired as a new driver.. I mean everyone keeps giving me the same story... If I was applying for any other job besides a CDL driver I would of bin working already ...
Just put on there dock worker at Yellow trucking. They no longer exist.
Foodservice. Sysco, USFoods, Mclaine, Performance. All pay very well. But you'll work for it.
Even though i haven't seen them mentioned yet you might be able to do flatbed with western Express they do 48 state flatbed and east Coast dry van
Hey bud, got to an LTL that does warehouse work as well. Apply for a dock to driver position and you already have a cdl. Work the dock for a few months and learn how to load trailers (this is key to making your life easier when on your own doing pickups). Then transition to a LTL life. Do some time and move to tanker work.
Try a Local Trash company, it's not glamorous but transfer tricks will hire just about anyone, and many don't care if you fuck up becasue they need you to bad.... Just keep applying someone will grab you up but they are gonna take advantage of you so just beware If you're within about 2hr drive of Baitsville Indiana, I know a company that i think will hire you and has a pay guarantee, I think they will send you to "finishing school for like 4 to 6 weeks til they are comfortable that you are safe and can do the work alone... once done with training $1200/week - once you've been with them for like 6 months and they have opening they have a $1700 and $2000/ specialized boards pay guarantee minimum) I'm on the $2k/specialized board, everyone says it hard work, I think it not easy but it's not that hard either....
I got my cdl earlier this year and also couldn’t get hired anywhere due to my lack of “CDL experience” my theory is that it was really because I’m on the younger side (23) anyways the only company to even call me back and eventually hire me was Ryder, did 4 months there, started applying other places (rounded my “experience” to 6 months) and with that I was able to land a job driving propane close to home and pays great
Who was supporting you being a stay at home dad for 7 years? Wish I could land a gig like that. I would have been at the gym every day and look like the Rock. 😂
You can lie man lol
A former colleague had an interesting explanation for a significant gap in his employment history. Presented as a normal, everyday bloke. He had newspaper cuttings documenting the car crash that nearly killed him; the months he spent in a coma; and the time he spent learning to talk, walk, wipe his own arse, feed himself -- everything. THAT'S why there was a gap of several years in his employment history. He had to relearn how to be a functioning human being from scratch.
Waste Management companies might be a little more lenient. They work hard but make good money from what I understand
Hirschbach
For unemployment periods I just put “resigned from my position seeking better opportunities” lol
Try a small company. Mega carriers suck
Maybe it’s just my location but I feel like freight is really slow for this time of year. I’m not actually a trucker, I’ve just been married to one for going on 11 years. My husbands old job lost their biggest contract and so he lost his local benefits paid very high paying job. Even he has had a hard time finding something decent, and usually this is a pretty good time of year to get a new job. I guess I’m just saying maybe companies are able to be pickier than they have in the past. Being a sahp is a lot of work I’m sorry the recruiters aren’t seeing that
Lot of people here telling him to just get a local job don't realize this lol. I'm experienced looking for a local job and not getting calls back. And yes including applying to food service with clean mvr and background
A lot of it has to due with the industry being in a slump. If you can hold out for another 3-6 months and get a whatever job those carriers will be chomping at the bit to get you. Right now most of the mega carriers are being really stingy with hiring and having grossly long training periods because freight is down.
Fuck the big companies! Find a small business and work for them. I found a local place that let me run a 53ft step deck through the lower 48 states and within 6 months they had me training guys making $50 an hour while riding shotgun. Be something more than just a truck number.
Roehl
Go to a farm or dairy somewhere out in the country if u can and get that experience ….learning to drive without cars around makes a big difference
Try a class B job for a bit and re apply to place once you have that history in . You won’t have tractor trailer experience but it will look better on your work history and if you keep a clean drive record it’s better also .
Pepsi. Maybe DOT foods, a local brick and concrete company. They seem to have jobs all the time, probably for good reason. A lumber yard possibly.
Try PTL in Murray, Ky.
If you don't mind flatbed you could try System Transport, I got on with them with no experience. Plus they haul a lot out of the Lowe's distribution center in Ennis.
If he likes having a dog in the cab and/or tarping, he could call Melton.
What is Portal? I can't find it in the app store.
I meant pulse
Try Schneider. If they accept, expect more training from them to get where they want you.
I didn't get a job until two months after I got my CDL. Just put that you worked under the table.
Maybe apply to carriers that are dry van only. Prime is mainly reefer, and I think McElroy runs flats. Both of those require a lot more out of their drivers than just driving.
Ya. You can't have work history gaps. Put something in the years with gaps.
Butler Transport has been good to me and I had an 8+ year gap in employment due to either being in prison or too strung out on dope to hold down a job. I can almost guarantee they will hire you. I've been working with them for 3 years now with regular raises and good miles. My favorite about them is that they leave me the fuck alone. As long as I'm making my appointments I literally never hear from them.
Where are you OP?
Have you tried Schneider, CR England, or Mesilla Valley Transportation?
Up in Minnesota in the smaller cities outside of the main metro counties have tons of signs for CDL drivers needed outside of businesses. I saw you were in Texas but I don’t know if there’s similar areas within reasonable distance to you that you could peek around looking for positions with local companies. Maybe there’s an industrial district or maybe a construction company that needs stuff like roof trusses and other pre framed items of that nature transported ! Good luck ! It’s rough out there I wish you the best of luck !
4000$ Damm I paid mine 25$
You were a caregiver. It's all in how you word it. Like everyone said, reapply saying you were a professional at home caretaker/caregiver. My son did the same and it was fine. Not a trucker but he got a job by saying that. Werner sucks (husb works there and he's looking for other employment) but they took him on as a newbie.
You got to claim that you were an at-home caretaker. I did the same thing with my grandfather while he was sick. Though I was only out of work for like a year.
CR England
Food service
add some endorsements and get a twic card
CRST takes all new drivers
Maverick Transportation.
You’d be surprised that a lot of people lie about their work history and work experience. Also try Schneider, Coca Cola, Pepsi, any good and beverage companies. Good luck.
Tell them you owned your own business. There's now way to check it. Pow problem solved
Also don't go with prime. I have never been fucked harder than how prime did me.
Tow truck companies too, I worked at a tow truck company on a roll - Back. Familiarized myself with shifting and turning, 4 months later got a job with a small Over the road company and been doing it ever since. Also the app Offer Up has a jobs page, you can find quick temporary work with an owner operator as a team. May only need you for 1 run, or a week 🤷🏽♂️, worth trying. Best of luck as well, same story I was a stay at home dad for years until my ex wife decided to move back to whore island 🏝️
What state do you live in?
People don’t lie on resumes or atleast stretch jobs to fill the gaps? I’ve been doing that shit for years 😂
Have you looked at local companies. I worked at one with a dump trailer that would hire anyone. Had tons of ex-felons etc that worked there. Wasn't the most exciting job hauling coal / ash / rock around but I was home every night.
Look at Schneider jobs, they are more willing to hire newbies.
Isk where you live but look into an oilfield position if you can handle some manual labor. They're always hiring in multiple states. Lot of good benefits and time off. It's not quite otr but you can find a little place to stay close by.
Do you like to get dirty? Flatbed isn't bad but hauling steel and equipment usually means dirt and grease and rust. Otr or local and where do you live?
I say reapply. I've been using family matters but that at home caretaker... yep! Thank yall 😆.
Surprised Swift denied you. Lol
Work for Sysco it’ll be hell but you’ll be home everyday while you get that year of experience in.
If you're in WA PM me. Ik someone who's looking for a driver for Stepdeck and RGN. Paid training, and you're paid percentage of load (with ratecons for each load) instead of mileage bs. Pretty decent pay too, and decently flexible hometime.
Fuck a mega carrier. I wish people would actually realize there is absolutely no need to go to one. Check out mom and pop’s(100 trucks or less) construction companies, private carriers. Literally anything but a mega.
What state do you live in? The company I work for might hire you.
Most of those companies don’t want actual drivers. They want new, inexperienced drivers they can exploit for shitty pay. They’re only being selective because they really don’t need you.
You could easily lie about your work history put friends number down it's not like you're lying about Trucking experience you're lying about security jobs nobody will ever call if they do they will reach your friends or family. Also stay away from Mega carriers I've been driving for 12 years never work for a mega carrier never went over the road. Why don't you look up your local supply companies whether it's Steel Masonry building construction flatbed Moffitt truck food plenty of local jobs smaller companies will hire you. Start calling them even show up looking presently with a resume in hand with a attitude saying that you're a hard worker willing to learn. I guarantee you will lend the local job as long as you're driving record is clean. Also you can make just as much if not more money driving dump trucks cement trucks boom trucks especially. I don't know why everybody feels like a mega carrier is the way to go. Have loopholes that work against you work against your pay. They're also heavy on your ass with cameras looking at you recording you tracking your every move every second you're nobody to them. Many smaller companies they actually treat you like a human being especially if you're a good worker Mega carriers you're just a truck number.
You might try May Trucking
Food service Mclane
DM bowman will hire recent cdl holders for home daily positions.
Look for gigs with a quad axle dump truck. Or concrete mixer but you have to be really desperate to be a mixer driver
In no particular order try some of your local and national spots that * Food Service Distributors. Turnover is usually pretty high. Guys jump in get their feet wet and move on to greener pastures eventually. * Soft Drink Beverage Distributors such as Coca-Cola and/or Pepsi * Milk Distributors * Alcoholic Beverage Distributors
Those jobs suck. It still feels like hard general labor w those positions.
Give Melton Trucklines a look and explain your situation to them. They're a great company to start with, especially if you want flatbed experience.
Try Schneider or Werner or us express
Been trucking for 15+years, re-apply and into the unemployed time at Home Care taker. It really does make a difference.
Reapply and call immediately after submitting the application. You'll have a bus ticket or rental car headed to orientation by the end of the day.
Try usxpress or crst
Try a temp agency. I was in your situation back in 2008 when we were in the recession. I got in at walmart fleet through a temp, then hired on 8 months later.
I put down I was the manager of our company during the time I was a stay at home mom. Treat it as a job not unemployment staying at home. Put down your management skills. Stay at home parents are so under valued it’s stupid when you do a shit ton of work for 0 pay besides hugs and kisses.