My Job History Is Destroying My Entry Into The Trucking Industry

I have been a stay home dad for 8 years since I got out of the military, my wife has a good job but works many hours and we both wanted our kids, in the early years, "hands on" by one of us.. So now my youngest daughter is in middle school I want to get my own career underway.. I am only in my early 30s and I acquired my cdl permit early this month and my job history is destroying my chances at a career in this industry, I dont know what to do.. can anyone help?

Apply to Swift, i have been unemployed for years due to taking care of ill/dieing family they didn't seem to care about my unemployment. Swift is also the largest trucking company in North America, so it shouldn't be hard to get enough miles.

As for Prime, as long as you can get notarized letters from friends, neighbors, Doctors, etc they usually are good with that. Just to take your word for is isn't good enough.

Hope this clears up some mis-information that seems like I am seeing here.

I went through Prime's training and know of several folks that was in the same boat as you guys are in and that cleared the way for them. Unless they have changed the policy, that should do the trick for you.

I would call and talk to a recruiter to clarify this, but that should be all you need.

Ernie

Prime would not even let me talk to a recruiter when they saw my unemployment :(

As for Prime, as long as you can get notarized letters from friends, neighbors, Doctors, etc they usually are good with that. Just to take your word for is isn't good enough.

Hope this clears up some mis-information that seems like I am seeing here.

I went through Prime's training and know of several folks that was in the same boat as you guys are in and that cleared the way for them. Unless they have changed the policy, that should do the trick for you.

I would call and talk to a recruiter to clarify this, but that should be all you need.

Ernie

Prime would not even let me talk to a recruiter when they saw my unemployment :(

Swift didnt care at all about your void? thats whats up..

Thanks Ernie and MG, I didn't mean to misinform, I heard/read it and should have checked it out myself before conveying along. I will also have to try your approach to the void. And yes, it was a job to be a home dad but I wouldn't change a thing. Thank You!!!!

-MRC

Sure, no problem. I know the deal. You guys (Karl A. and MRC) need to get out of the house for a while. I know exactly how this stay-at-home thing breaks down your self-esteem a bit. While caring for and raising loved ones is honorable, there's also something to be said for a paycheck. I read a Money magazine article a couple of years ago that calculated the worth of a homemaker based on all the talent and coordinated effort from orchestrating a regular school day, activities, sports, transportation, meal-planning, to maintaining the house and emotional sanity of the family: it was a whopping $90 - 100,000 per year! Trucking will be soooo good for you! I'm excited for you guys.

-mountain girl

As for Prime, as long as you can get notarized letters from friends, neighbors, Doctors, etc they usually are good with that. Just to take your word for is isn't good enough.

Hope this clears up some mis-information that seems like I am seeing here.

I went through Prime's training and know of several folks that was in the same boat as you guys are in and that cleared the way for them. Unless they have changed the policy, that should do the trick for you.

I would call and talk to a recruiter to clarify this, but that should be all you need.

Ernie

Prime would not even let me talk to a recruiter when they saw my unemployment :(

Swift didnt care at all about your void? thats whats up..

It was one of the first things i asked, my recruiter said that it was no problem and even put in my file i as taking care of family to make it a non issue.

The thing that does not make since to me is with how the economy ha been for the last several years there are millions of people out of work, how can they expect everyone to have flawless job histories. I had 2 college degrees by the time I turned 20, by 25 i had help open and get 5 different restaurants started. Then my grandmother had her cancer return, so i stopped working to help take care of her, and just when she was about well enough for me to go back to work something would happen, from falling and breaking her ankle, to getting MSRA, and othe things, then mu brothers liver started to fail.... For me it been one thing after another, i lost my grandmother and brother last year, and right after getting things from that settled my mother had a stroke. Now she is as recovered as she is going to get and i ant to do something new. I grew to hate restaurant work, 16-20 hour days infront of 600 degree stoves for **** money and 0 insurance.

Anyways Swift has given me no trouble about being out of work and i start their Academy on the 22nd.

Well the turn over rate of truckers is what 90% -120% these days? I can kinda see why they are being picky.. Why invest money and time into someone who doesnt have a steady job history without a proven track record that means they have like a what 10% chance of staying in the industry hahah.. the turn over rate is terrible.. I mean they dont have problems getting those guys to go fishing in the Bering sea in the winter? O wait those guys are paid ridiculously.. I personally feel like trucking is going to have so many positions to fill in the next few years they are going to have to start paying more and currently the fleets are trying to get a solid core, does that make sense? Also why do you have to put up so much money upfront for swift compared to other companies.. Swift is the wall mart of trucking you would think they would put more money into the training.. the training system they have is a HUGE turn off..

Well the turn over rate of truckers is what 90% -120% these days? I can kinda see why they are being picky.. Why invest money and time into someone who doesnt have a steady job history without a proven track record that means they have like a what 10% chance of staying in the industry hahah.. the turn over rate is terrible.. I mean they dont have problems getting those guys to go fishing in the Bering sea in the winter? O wait those guys are paid ridiculously.. I personally feel like trucking is going to have so many positions to fill in the next few years they are going to have to start paying more and currently the fleets are trying to get a solid core, does that make sense? Also why do you have to put up so much money upfront for swift compared to other companies.. Swift is the wall mart of trucking you would think they would put more money into the training.. the training system they have is a HUGE turn off..

all i have to pay is for the CDL tests up front, they can take everything out of your pay checks later like the 500 for the hotel.

Their deal is for 13 months you pay them 300 bucks a month for the school, in return for 26 months they pay you 150 bucks a month for going though them to get your CDL. You can leave any time but they stop the reimbursement. I ends up being 37.50 a pay check for the first year.

What money up front were you talking about?? Also they just did a pay raise, you start at 33cpm out of their school now.

Well I havent contacted anyone up there yet but here on TT when you look up it says..

-you have to pay for all your food

-Knight pays you a paycheck from day one, Swift doesnt..

-All students are required to pay a $150 seating fee which is due the first day of class.

-Each location requires a different amount for up front costs ranging from $154 to $400 plus basic living / food expenses.

Sharing rooms with 5 people daaaaamn..

I mean it is better than a lot of places, but I have to go for the better deals first, makes it seem more personable to me.. But swift would definitely be in my top 5

Well I havent contacted anyone up there yet but here on TT when you look up it says..

-you have to pay for all your food

-Knight pays you a paycheck from day one, Swift doesnt..

-All students are required to pay a $150 seating fee which is due the first day of class.

-Each location requires a different amount for up front costs ranging from $154 to $400 plus basic living / food expenses.

Sharing rooms with 5 people daaaaamn..

I mean it is better than a lot of places, but I have to go for the better deals first, makes it seem more personable to me.. But swift would definitely be in my top 5

knight i think is about the only one that pays you while in class, the school i am going to ts 2 to a room with a full kitchen. You do have to pay for food.

Nothing in my paperwork says anything about a seating fee, just need 40 bucks for the DMV CDL test. The 500 for the room can be done though paychecks or upfront.

I can give you my recruiters name an number if you want it

Wow thats actually not as bad as it says on TT ... smh.. yeah go ahead and shoot me the intell, If it doesnt have all those fees and it is what your saying i will look into it.. although ill be frank it would be my 2nd or 3rd option at this point.. If I do go you gonna split that referral with me? :)