Help Getting Started

Topic 10304 | Page 1

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Edward L.'s Comment
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I am VERY interested in getting into OTR trucking and have been doing a lot of research and talking to a few recruiters. I have been running into one roadblock with several and I could use some advice. For the past 2 1/2 years I have been down in florida as a fulltime caretaker for my elderly mother, who has been going through multiple health issues. Most of that time I have needed to be with her nearly 24/7. Her health has improved and we are now moving her to Va to move in with my sister, which has means now I am a free man. My problem is even though I pass the background check and driving history check, I have this 2 1/2 year gap of no verifiable income, which has been a total deal breaker for some companies, such as Prime. is there anything I can do, or does anyone have any suggestions for companies that may be willing to work around that? also, if I attended a driving school and got my CDL , will some companies still view that work history gap as a negative? Thanks in advance for any help

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Errol V.'s Comment
member avatar

Eward is worried:

My problem is even though I pass the background check and driving history check, I have this 2 1/2 year gap of no verifiable income, which has been a total deal breaker for some companies, such as Prime. is there anything I can do, or does anyone have any suggestions for companies that may be willing to work around that?

Welcome to Trucking Truth, Ed! There is tons of material here to help you out.

To answer your first question, can you get a letter from someone that you were a full time care giver? Check with Prime's recruiter to see what m\would make them happy. Often a letter from your supervisor or other credible person who knows what you did is enough. You just need to show the company that you weren't just hanging around the house watching Price is Right for 2 1/2 years. Full time caregiver is a legitimate activity for your time not employed.

TT does have a big list of Trucking Companies you can check on. You might check out how to use Pre-Hire Letters.

There are independent Truck Driving Schools as well as Company-Sponsored Training . Here's a hint: many trucking companies will pick up the tab for your tuition. Check with their recruiters.

By all means start your CDL permit test studies right now - tonight with the world's best test prep system: High Road Training Program.

There's much more. Check out that dark bar at the top of the page. Good luck, and come back to the forums to hang out!

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

Pre-hire:

What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?

Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.

We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.

A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment

The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.

During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.

Company-sponsored Training:

A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.

The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.

If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.

Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.

Edward L.'s Comment
member avatar

Thank you errol, I found two so far that the recruiters said they would accept someone who could verify me as being her caretaker. I am sure my mothers primary Dr or Orthopedic would do so. Swift and CR England are the two. they weren't my first choices, but at this point I feel like the kid being picked last for kickball. I just need someone to give me a chance.

It has been discouraging, to say the least. Having given up everything I had to come do what I believe was the right thing. And now that is being held against me as I try to find a job. Not just in trucking, I had tried to find some part time/ late night jobs as she started to get better and was able to at least get out of bed and to the bathroom at night if need be.

This site is extremely helpful, I am very happy I stumbled upon it.

Errol V.'s Comment
member avatar

Ed, I sent you a PM. Check your regular email and maybe your spam folder.

Thank you Errol, I found two so far that the recruiters said they would accept someone who could verify me as being her caretaker. I am sure my mothers primary Dr or Orthopedic would do so. Swift and CR England are the two. they weren't my first choices, but at this point I feel like the kid being picked last for kickball. I just need someone to give me a chance.

It has been discouraging, to say the least. Having given up everything I had to come do what I believe was the right thing. And now that is being held against me as I try to find a job. Not just in trucking, I had tried to find some part time/ late night jobs as she started to get better and was able to at least get out of bed and to the bathroom at night if need be.

This site is extremely helpful, I am very happy I stumbled upon it.

Use this to apply: Apply For Truck Driving Jobs. Shoot first, investigate companies as they call you.

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