Comments By Sno-boy

Be out of private CDL school soon, Hogan ad on my local Craigslist (claims to " hire recent CDL graduates") looks like what I'd like. Home every other day and a dedicated no touch run. Haven't seen much recent stuff about them on Indeed or Green Door reviews. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks.

Good to know this isn't true.... I was told by a couple recent community college graduates that I was ****il now) planning on attending, there were several (6 to be exact) trucking company recruiters contacting them either before or around graduation day offering them jobs. I am now going to rethink going to school there next month.

Is a community college program (reasonably priced in my state) not an option? You should have no issues after graduating from that I would think. Finding a driving job with a current CDL is practically guaranteed if you are clean on felony convictions, OWI and no drug charges.

Hello and in serious need of advice. I'm an experienced CDL driver however my CDL expired while driving overseas in Iraq for KBR over 6 years ago. For the past 3 years I've had periods of unemployment along with periods of working under the table, and I'm having trouble finding a company sponsored CDL program that will work with me considering the challenge I have with employment verification of my last 3 years. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

This is absolutely NOT true. Just search some of the threads that discuss people who pay for schooling only to find out companies will not hire them. Prime is one example that rejected a member here recently for lack of work history....CDL or no CDL...prime is very picky with work history.

The 10 year rule is for CDL jobs. If you drove then you go back 10 years. If you did not hold a CDL or drive for a living then companies usually go back three to five years.

Learn something everyday Big Scott ... I did not know the government had started requiring 10 years work history. Interesting..... very interesting.

You will have to provide 10 years of employment. If you were unemployed and not collecting unemployment, you will need some form of proof for how you were living. This is a Federal mandate to help prevent terrorism. If you were working "under the table" as a handyman, for example, you could get letters from your customers as proof. Trying to start your own business is not necessarily "working under the table". If you were caring for a sick reletive, how were you eating? Get the drift. You could try calling a recruiter at a company and speaking with them honestly and see what they say. The main thing is being able to go back 10 years from the day you apply. Good luck. I hope that helps.

Is a community college program (reasonably priced in my state) not an option? You should have no issues after graduating from that I would think. Finding a driving job with a current CDL is practically guaranteed if you are clean on felony convictions, OWI and no drug charges.

Hello and in serious need of advice. I'm an experienced CDL driver however my CDL expired while driving overseas in Iraq for KBR over 6 years ago. For the past 3 years I've had periods of unemployment along with periods of working under the table, and I'm having trouble finding a company sponsored CDL program that will work with me considering the challenge I have with employment verification of my last 3 years. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Or my son at almost 69 😉

I feel like the little brother at 50 LOL P

Geritol ?? In my case ?? More like smelling salts.

You old guys are a hoot! Glad to know you're out there... If I run out of Geritol I know who I can hit up for a shot.

Thank you Old School: I never thought of that, Iowa only has certain days of the week that my DMV office is even open. I need to call the DMV and figure what I can and can't do test wise.

In Texas I did mine while just a permit holder. When I was issued my CDL all my endorsements were there and I was good to go.

One problem with waiting is that it is difficult to find the time to get it done while you are a rookie solo driver struggling to keep up with the demands of your new lifestyle.

Thanks Rick, I appreciate the info. I will probably just wait now. Sounds to complicated to navigate the system before having my CDL.

It varies from state to state. Most states won't put it on your CLP - even AFTER your BG check comes through, because with a CLP you aren't authorized to haul HM anyways.

States vary as to whether they'll even do the fingerprint check, until you actually have the CDL in hand. Best way to speed things up - is to go get your TWIC Card first. That'll speed up the BG (and get you a discount on the HM background if you recently got the TWIC).

That'll give you more time to study anyway. The HM test is the most complicated of all (lots of details to remember), and the easiest to get tripped up on. I "aced" all the other tests my first time through - and failed my HM the first time (by one question). I aced it the second time, and on my renewal (thanks to the TT training program). I need to start drilling it again, because it renews again in Sept (you have to re-test every 4 years for the HM endorsement).

Rick

Thanks Patrick, more examples of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. I am about of the opinion just to wait. Submit my prints and the other to DHS and by then I should have my CDL then sit for the test.

In TN the only endorsement you can have on your CLP is Tanker. But while you have have a CLP you are restricted from hauling anything in a Tanker, lol. TN won't let you take your Hazmat test until after your background check comes back.

Thanks Augie, that doesn't surprise me that you get two different answers from a bureaucratic operation like a state DMV. I have experienced that on other situations.

It may even vary within the state.

I took my CDL permit test at one location and they said I couldn't do endorsements until I actually got the CDL. Yet another DMV within the state let me take the endorsement tests prior to me getting my CDL.

Go figure.