Im Trying To Get Into Trucking But My Crappy Work History Is Blocking My Applications To Companies
Topic 2164 | Page 1
Welcome aboard Robert!
Ok, first of all you mentioned being sober. Do you have any DUI's or other alcohol-related charges? If so, that's a total game-changer and it will be very difficult to overcome, especially if it's in the past seven years or so.
But if you have a decent driving record and no DUI's or felonies then a less-than-stellar employment history will not keep you out of trucking. Some companies will not hire anyone who has been unemployed for over a certain amount of time - anywhere from 6-18 months is the norm. Other companies won't care. So you're going to get some rejections, but there should still be plenty of opportunities.
We have an excellent listing of Truck Driving Jobs including the ability to Apply For Truck Driving Jobs With One Application so you can rifle off an application to a ton of companies at once. Then you'll want to call each company at least every other day to make sure they're working on your application instead of letting it sit on a pile collecting dust.
Have you already gone to school or are you looking for pre-hires before attending school?
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.
Pre-hires:
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.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
No DUIs or OUWIL or any thing yeah im trying to get some pre hires to findout if going to school would be viable in Michigan there are michigan works offices that will pay for your trucking school but was hoping to get into a Company sponsored training program with Prime but they denied me because i was fired from my last job. your site is a great source of info keep it coming.
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.
Pre Hires:
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.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
Hey, don't stop with Prime, Inc! Apply at all of the programs. Actually, Prime is one of the carriers I know of that has a strict policy against hiring anyone who has been unemployed for an extended period of time. Honestly I can't remember if it's 6 or 12 months but it's one of the two I believe.
We have a ton of information on the various Company-Sponsored Training Programs. Apply to them all and see if there are any takers. If your criminal and driving backgrounds are decent you should get an opportunity with one or more companies.
But I'll say this - if you can get the state to pay for your training then do it! I'm assuming you're referring to WIA - the Workforce Investment Act - which is what a lot of people use to get a grant for their schooling. If you can get that, do it. Going to a private Truck Driving School would be a better option that going through a company-sponsored program. Normally the number one reason for going through a company-sponsored program is because you don't have the funding for private schooling. So go for the state funding if you can get it. If not, company-sponsored will work just fine.
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.
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.
Robert, My husband is in his last stage of training with Prime. He has never been unemployed. worked his last job right up till a few hours before he left to go to school with them, has a spotless driving record, and no criminal history and they still made us jump through so many hoops it was crazy and every day we wanted to give up. Even after he got there it was one thing or another and every day we thought he was gonna get sent home.So unless they give you definite NO, keep pushing. I agree with Brett about the government funded training. If you can get it then do it. If you go with Prime, you have to give them 12 months. If you hate them or decide this isn't for you they don't even give you a chance to pay it back. They send it straight to collections. However, I have heard nothing bad about Prime. That's why he chose them. Yes, we are still new to the company but they seem to really care about their drivers and even their families. Really nice new trucks and an open door policy. Give me a few months and I may change my mind about them but right now it is good. Even if you go with someone else for a while, once you get a few miles behind you, you can always reapply.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
No DUIs or OUWIL or any thing yeah im trying to get some pre hires to findout if going to school would be viable in Michigan there are michigan works offices that will pay for your trucking school but was hoping to get into a Company sponsored training program with Prime but they denied me because i was fired from my last job. your site is a great source of info keep it coming.
Hi,
I also want to encourage you to do the state paid training. Just my opinion but a company sponsored school will some how include a obligation to them. Minimum term of employment to pay them back or payback in lump sum if you move on, or other things. I looked into Knight Transport, and with TONS of great advice from this site learned they are a good outfit. If your situation dictates that you make money while training check out Knight using this web site. Great program and reasonable pay for a trainee. Keep using trucking truth for your info and be suspicious of any third party advice, (I got a buddy who...). Not going with Knight myself, last min. unique offer came in and I'm taking it, but keeping my relationship with the recruiter I was dealing with because he was a good guy and I can trust him. Success will be through hard work and knowing how bad you want something. If you want this, roll up your sleeves and get to work! You'll get it. Best of luck, Bill
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.
Pre Hires:
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.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Hi Robert and welcome.
Job history is important, but if your driving and criminal backgrounds are clean that seems to carry even more weight.
I was out of work for over a year. Worked retail in the flooring industry on and off for a total of about 11 years,but had had enough of retail. And was officially fired from my last job. I was burnt out and told the owner so. But I also told him I would not quit because he would fight my unemployment so he finally let me go.
Long story short, well, shortish. After a year of being unemployed I decided on trucking. Was accepted to Knight but decided to attend a private school as their training was not open in Indiana yet. While in CDL school I went from a guy that had NO decent interviews in a year to a guy that had several companies calling wanting me to work for them.. Gotta tell ya man it really did a lot for my mojo.
I started Knight's orientation last Monday and will be leaving for the road with my trainer Saturday, so don't let the work history slow you down. It may take a little more persistence than some of the other guys but you can get there.
Apply to the companies and then CALL them. Speaking to a live person always makes a bigger impact than them just reading it on the application. In fact you might do what I did, and call the, before applying. That way I was able to talk to my recruiter and build a report before I even sent the application.
Woody
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.
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is there anyway around this or am I forever Doomed by past mistakes? I was a mechanic for 14 yrs but I lost interest in doing it, im sober and want to turn my life around with a fresh start in a new career but I dont know how to overcome this hurdle. PLEASE HELP!