Currently Unemployed Looking For Career Change
Topic 28407 | Page 1
I previously worked in an office job for 16 years through September 2019...
Do any of you guys have any knowledge as to whether my employment gap is going to be a problem with all the carriers?
Hello Tim, and welcome to our forum!
You've got a strong work history. Someone will give you a shot. You're going to have to put out more applications. New drivers get rejected fairly regularly. It's really hard to know the reason behind it. I had a long list of rejections when I first started.
As far as that employment gap. Just document the time period, and explain that it was during the covid down-turn. Somebody will overlook it and bring you on board. Here's a list of some really solid companies offering paid training programs.Paid CDL Training Programs
Also, here's what we call our "starter kit." Do some reading in these places. You're going to learn a lot by doing so.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
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.
Thanks Old School. I appreciate the encouragement. I've been reading everything I can on TruckingTruth and have been enjoying it! I will keep applying and keep my head up.
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Hello All, I need some advice. I previously worked in an office job for 16 years through September 2019 and quit due to burn-out. I have applied to similar places since then, but am not excited about going back into the office environment. I talked with three recruiters and put in many (20-ish) applications and had a couple of interviews before the COVID-19 outbreak just to try to get another "job" in my field, but haven't received any offers.
I have been interested in trucking for quite a while, so I decided that it's now or never to get my CDL since I have a few more months' of savings left. So I decided to put in applications for paid training. I applied to one carrier that has a drop yard relatively close to my home. I received an initial call where they asked about my employment gap, so I explained it. I received an email shortly afterward that I was declined. I called back and they couldn't tell me specifically why, but I was declined due either due to driver history, work history, or freight needs in my area.
Do any of you guys have any knowledge as to whether my employment gap is going to be a problem with all the carriers? I have good references from my prior employment and left on good terms with my employer. I have great credit and no tickets or accidents in the last three years. Thank you for your time.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: