32 No Job History Will I Be Able To Get Hired?

I’ve been on disability since I was a kid. It wasn’t a physical disability but a mental one that has been getting much better.

My goal is to completely stop the disability after I complete CDL school. I want to go to my local community college, it seems like a great program. It’s not cheap but definitely not as expensive as other schools I’d happily pay for it.

Now the thing is I’ve been doing a lot of research on companies and thought it was going great. The thing is I over looked the part where they require my job history. Now obviously since I’ve been on disability I haven’t had a job never had one.

Are there any companies that will hire me? I want to start out on flatbed and eventually move onto tanker/hazmat.

I plan to get all my endorsements done before applying if that helps idk in my situation.

I don’t know what to do. Do I say I haven’t worked because I’ve been on disability? I feel like I’d have no chance whatsoever at that point.

Welcome, I’ll give you my opinion. First I would look at company sponsored schools. The employment history issue is a federal requirement and most companies just need letters from people that know your situation. Get them notorized. They just have to show you were not is some foreign country being radicalized.

Your bigger issue is your medical, and a mental health issue will be regarded as medical. That will be looked at much harder than the lack of employment. Be prepared to answer any questions honestly, and they will also want info from your dr.

I would not spend money to get a cdl then find out you may not be employable.

Companies that train will look at all that up front.

Your basic info is not enough to know if your employable as a driver or not. I would lean toward if no training company will hire you, then you may need to look at a different proffession.

I would hate for you to spend money and time on something, if you won’t get a return on your investment.

Best wishes for you!!

My concern is that you have been suffering from a mental disability your entire life and it is getting much better.

Trucking is one of the most stressful professions you can find. The pressures may push you over an edge and make you decline mentally.

I watched my sister spiral out of control from mental issues and I never want to see anyone go through that.

My suggestion would be to find a job and get some work experience first. If you cannot handle the pressures of a job. Trucking may do some real damage to you or god forbid others.

Thank you

Welcome, I’ll give you my opinion. First I would look at company sponsored schools. The employment history issue is a federal requirement and most companies just need letters from people that know your situation. Get them notorized. They just have to show you were not is some foreign country being radicalized.

Your bigger issue is your medical, and a mental health issue will be regarded as medical. That will be looked at much harder than the lack of employment. Be prepared to answer any questions honestly, and they will also want info from your dr.

I would not spend money to get a cdl then find out you may not be employable.

Companies that train will look at all that up front.

Your basic info is not enough to know if your employable as a driver or not. I would lean toward if no training company will hire you, then you may need to look at a different proffession.

I would hate for you to spend money and time on something, if you won’t get a return on your investment.

Best wishes for you!!

Welcome, I’ll give you my opinion. First I would look at company sponsored schools. The employment history issue is a federal requirement and most companies just need letters from people that know your situation. Get them notorized. They just have to show you were not is some foreign country being radicalized.

Your bigger issue is your medical, and a mental health issue will be regarded as medical. That will be looked at much harder than the lack of employment. Be prepared to answer any questions honestly, and they will also want info from your dr.

I would not spend money to get a cdl then find out you may not be employable.

Companies that train will look at all that up front.

Your basic info is not enough to know if your employable as a driver or not. I would lean toward if no training company will hire you, then you may need to look at a different proffession.

I would hate for you to spend money and time on something, if you won’t get a return on your investment.

Best wishes for you!!

Appreciate it, I thought trucking would be good for me. I’m not really social I keep to myself. I like driving my car get it’s not the same idk. I really don’t get mad at people when driving im patient maybe a little to much. Thing is once I get a job I’ll be off disability right away and won’t be able to get back on. So trucking seemed like the best option and career long term don’t know what else I could do that would bring in enough money without a degree.

My concern is that you have been suffering from a mental disability your entire life and it is getting much better.

Trucking is one of the most stressful professions you can find. The pressures may push you over an edge and make you decline mentally.

I watched my sister spiral out of control from mental issues and I never want to see anyone go through that.

My suggestion would be to find a job and get some work experience first. If you cannot handle the pressures of a job. Trucking may do some real damage to you or god forbid others.

Let us out it this way.... trucking is extremely long hours without any consistency or real schedule.

If we park at 5pm we have to eat, shower. Laundry. Sleep and be nack to work at 3am. Drive until 1pm... then back to work at 11pm.

Most people with mental illness need a set routine and adequate sleep. That is very hard in trucking. Often training requires team training meaning one person drives and the other sleeps. It is very hard to sleep in a moving truck.

It isnt about liking the driving..or road rage.. it can also be about making a thoudand decisions a day that are life and death decisions. Aldo. Be advised that many companies may not accept whatever meds u may be on.

No offense intended to anyone reading this, but I don't think any of us here is qualified to say whether trucking will be a good or bad occupation for you with regard to your past mental health issues. There are plenty of drivers working today who have some kind of mental health issue.

If I were you, I would ask a counselor or therapist, preferably one who already knows you. An occupational counselor might also be a good resource.

Regarding work history, PJ already gave you a great answer.

Regarding your health history, including mental health, don't volunteer information but do answer any direct questions honestly. You didn't say anything about medications, so all I will say is that there are some medications that will disqualify you from getting a CDL job. You can do an internet search pretty easily that will help you figure out whether that would be an issue.

As far as stress goes, one man's freakout stress is another man's garden of groove. Some people thrive on chaos, and trucking offers plenty of that, especially the first year or two. Personally, dealing with trucking chaos is far preferable to dealing with the chaos of personalities when working closely with a bunch of strangers in other kinds of jobs. I've been driving for 15 years and can't imagine going back to that.

Hope this helps. Please keep us informed on what you decide.