Ex Pat Returning Home

Hey everyone, I am looking for some advice regarding drivers licenses. I have been living in the UK for the last 28 years and don't have a valid drivers license any more in the US. I noticed most companies require you to have a drivers license for at least a year. Is there any way around this, as I would like to start cdl training asap. Any advice is welcome.

Short answer.....NOPE, 1 year minimum....Plus 28 years outside the US, with no job history back home another -minus

Welcome Jason B. to the forum! About your situation, I'm not going to say it's impossible, but it's going to be very, very difficult for you to get a job in trucking within a year of your returning to the U.S. The insurance carriers who insure the trucking companies are nearly all going to require a valid driver's license for at least a year before allowing you to be hired, but you probably have already figured that out. Some companies, Prime for example, requires a valid license three years prior to them hiring you. I was out of the country for approx. four years before returning and becoming a truck driver, but kept up a valid license and did find about a dozen of the larger (mega) carriers willing to hire me. The best way for you to approach this is to just start applying everywhere.

Start here: paid CDL training.

Apply to each and every one of these companies; if they hire you, great, you will get your CDL and will not have to pay out-of-pocket to get it.

Next, follow this link, and fill out the application: truck driving jobs.

This may get your application out to other companies, not all of whom will help you with getting your CDL, but at least it will put you in contact with recruiters, with whom you can discuss your situation. These are your two best options, as they will connect you with the larger trucking companies with greater resources, i.e. more trucks, more mechanics, facilities, freight, benefits, etc.

What I see as your third option definitely carries greater risk, and that is searching the internet for trucking driving jobs; if you know which city & state you're returning to look at Craigslist, or other online classifieds in the nearby region for open positions. Using this approach you may be relying on a verbal guarantee to hold your job until you get a CDL, which you will very likely be paying for out-of-pocket, so there lies the risk. Also, those are companies with far fewer resources, so you may find yourself broken down or low on fuel in the middle-of-nowhere, or even somewhere, but asked to take care of whatever problem you're experiencing on your own, with the promise of reimbursement. More risk.

Not knowing anything about you, if I were you, I would just move back, get your driver's license, and then get a non-truck driving job. Work for a year, then consider entering the truck driving profession.

Whatever your decision, if it remains connected to trucking, please keep everyone on this forum apprised as it may provide a roadmap for others in your situation to follow. Thank you and good luck!

I hate to say it, and I speak from experience, but that answer is a solid no.

I taught English in Asia for over a decade. Of course, I let my license expire. Why would I need it over there?

Came back 10 years later and thought trucking would be a great opportunity (which it is). I posted the exact same question, called around, and got the same answer. I'm not saying to give up, but you're gonna need some time.

Get your license back now, even if you're not driving. You're going to want to have it for at least a few years with at least *a few years verifiable US employment* and after that, you should be able to get on with a mega carrier.

I just did my DOT physical with Swift, hoping to hear from them soon so I can start their academy on the 19th. Just give it some time and don't give up.