Question Regarding Employment History

Topic 27614 | Page 1

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SunnyDayz's Comment
member avatar

First off, thank you for all the great information on this site and the High Road Training. I have read tons here and completed the HRT, except for the NY state coil endorsement.

My concern is that for 10+ years I was a stay at home husband and 2 1/2 years ago went through a rough divorce. I have been trying to restart my life and get back into the workforce. It has not been easy because of my lack of current skills. In the last couple of years I have had a few shot lived low paying jobs, started school for Radiology Technician, school closed after 6 months (Brightwood College). I really want to become a truck driver, even after reading all the pros and cons the life style really appeals to me. I have no children or family that is depending on me. My resume is this:

Real Estate Agent from July 2015 - March 2017 This ended with the divorce because of financial problems. March 2017 - August 2017 Moved to Atlanta (I am from CA) to help take of my friends mother who was in hospice. Inventory Specialist Sept 2017 - Sept 2018. When I started school for RT I couldn’t work full time and my boss fired me Six Flags ticket taker Sept 2018 - April 2019 This was a dead end job and after the school closed I started looking for something else. May 2019 - July 2019 Applied for many jobs. No takers. August 2019 - present working, under the table, painting houses Nov 2019 - Dec 2019 worked for Lowe’s while painting was slow

This year California passed a law that changes the rules for private contractors and my boss told me I can’t paint for him anymore.

Before I start applying for paid CDL training I would like to here some of your opinions about the likelihood of getting hired or if getting my CDL through a private school might be a better route.

Thanks

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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
ID Mtn Gal's Comment
member avatar

No, still go to one of the companies with schooling. They will look at your time frames and weigh the reasons for the different jobs/lack of. Some will say no, some will give you a chance.

My husband wanted to be a ranch hand and get off the road (we drove team...I had 4.5 yrs experience). Several years went by and I would pick up local jobs when I could. In 1996, he had two Traumatic Brain Injuries 45 hrs apart. Tough living on Worker's Comp so I picked up odd jobs when I could. In 2014, I went to school to get my CDL and placed him in a nursing home where he fell breaking his hip. He also hit his head and that ultimately killed him (hospital didn't check the cut until too late). I was hired before he died by the son of a caregiver lady that was helping me...so he knew what I had been doing for 6 yrs (he had 4 trucks). It was the insurance company that had issues with my lack of consistent work history and they required me to run with a co-driver for 6 mths. After 2.5 mths I was able to go solo....for the first time ever. If I hadn't been hired by him, I'm sure I would have had a harder time, but probably would have been hired by Swift, Prime, Western or someone.

Laura

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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Stevo Reno's Comment
member avatar

Get reference letters from people that know you.....longer they known you the better. Got 2 myself friend of 50 yrs & 20 plus years was good enough

They just wanna know you didn't run off to Iran/Iraq to learn to be a terrorist lol

I did that since I have worked under the table , for myself, and a couple real jobs in the books in previous 15 years

SunnyDayz's Comment
member avatar

Thanks for your help IDMtnGal. I will apply to all the companies that have paid CDL training and that hire from California. I would like to drive either dry or refrigerated. Have a good day!

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.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
SunnyDayz's Comment
member avatar

Get reference letters from people that know you.....longer they known you the better. Got 2 myself friend of 50 yrs & 20 plus years was good enough

They just wanna know you didn't run off to Iran/Iraq to learn to be a terrorist lol

I did that since I have worked under the table , for myself, and a couple real jobs in the books in previous 15 years

Thanks for the advice Stevo Reno. I am working on reference letters now.👍

Lol. Yeah nor going to happen. I was in the Navy for 4 years. My rate, Anti-submarine Warfare Operator, required a security clearance. I love my country.🇺🇸

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