Ovcercoming A Lack Of "Verifiable" Employment History When Applying For Company CDL Schools?

I am a 13 year veteran of the U.S. Navy. I have a Bachelor's degree in Finance & Banking, and 15 years accounting industry experience. I was divorced in 2001 and (as a single father) moved to a small mountain (Historical monument) town near San Diego, CA. I chose to exchange a large income for the blessing of being there 24/7 to properly raise my two children. I had sufficient funds to supplement choosing flexible "Handyman" employment opportunities Not on anyone's "Payroll." Consequently, I am now faced with possessing no "Verifiable" employment history as required by the larger companies with CDL schools. My children are grown now, and I lack adequate savings to pursue other paths to entry into the trucking industry other than via a company school repaid by future employment with that company.

Has anyone overcome this particular hurdle? I would appreciate any viable solutions as I am very committed to my goal of entering this industry. Thank you.

I'm in the same predicament with "no" verifiable work history, although I worked at the same employer since 1992. After being let go in '09 I chose to help my parents. They provided everything for me so I might hold onto my savings.

I've been turned down by Knight who said I needed at least 6-12 months recent history.

Which company-sponsored schools have turned you down?

Thank you David. Swift declined me. I've spoken briefly with two other recruiters without filling out applications and heard essentially the same. I decline to share which at this point (you'll understand why I'm sure). Hopefully we'll get some specific alternatives in this forum. Thank you.

If you filed taxes, you can verify where your income came from.

Alan T; not knowing where you live, you might try checking with the local "workforce assistance" office. They are sometimes called different names (like county career center), but in my area unemployed people can get assistance there for independent truck driving schools.

David A; if your parents provided so you could keep your savings, is any of that left that you can use for school? In my area, technical colleges are gearing up registration for January start of truck driving classes. One I looked at is $2,500, a far cry from what anyone else charges and still very in-depth and will get you your CDL.

Also, some people have posted on here that if you go to Coca Cola or another beverage distributor, sometimes they'll cover the cost of your training, provided you are willing to give them time and deliver which means lots of handling product, but at least it would get you started.

Drive into industrial parks in your area to see if there are local food distribution or building material companies. Maybe they'd do like Coca Cola and take you on and pay for your CDL training. I'm just throwing out suggestions. I have no idea if they'll work, but I have to believe that if you really want it, the obstacle you're facing is just that and not the end of the road.

Good luck!

There are a number of ways you can verify employment even if you were working for yourself or off the books for someone else. Every company will give you some options. Usually it entails showing tax returns of some sort (if you have any) or getting a signed and notarized letter verifying that you were working for someone. This is pretty common for people coming into trucking. A lot of people either had "unofficial" small businesses, worked part time, took care of relatives, went to school, or worked for someone under the table.

For trucking companies the key is verifying what you were doing at all times. They have to know what you were doing so they don't send you out in one of their trucks and find out later that you were actually in prison for the past two years or something. Most of them would also like to know you were doing something other than eating potato chips, watching tv, and collecting unemployment. There aren't too many people who will sit around doing nothing for a year or two at a time and suddenly flip a switch and become hard working, productive people. So if you can show them you were doing something productive that will often times be just fine.

Thanks for the suggestions Brett & Steve L.

I do have money that could be used for private school. I worry that once I pay for the school companies are still going to say no because of the lack of verifiable work history. Then I'm out the money and stuck with a couple thousand $$$ piece of plastic.

Brett; the recruiter for Squire told she has not been able to get anyone with similar issues approved. I guess it's just too difficult and near impossible for them to be sure. Probably an insurance thing, maybe.

My plan is to get this school bus gig, which will get me a cdl of some kind or other; work that for the school year and reapply to the company-sponsored training , or go private.

David; the school bus thing sounds good for establishing work history. But if you want the private school, see if there are more than one in your area. At TDI (Truck Driver Institute) they seem to take their job placement very seriously and as a reflection on them. They give you a bunch of apps for different companies, fax them off and bring in recruiters while you're in school. At least the person at Squire was honest with you and didn't waste your money/time.

I agree w/Brett. Remember; you're applying for a job. Any hiring manager wants to know the person they are considering has a work history worthy of them putting their stamp of approval on you.

Good luck!

Most of them would also like to know you were doing something other than eating potato chips, watching tv, and collecting unemployment. There aren't too many people who will sit around doing nothing for a year or two at a time and suddenly flip a switch and become hard working, productive people.

LOL HEY! I did just that! '09-'11, on my Nissan Forklift job, since my boss lied thinking he was smarter. He was even heard telling store manager he was gunna cancel my health insurance,which I PAID for haha. But I'm the bust azz working type. putting in 12-18 hour days, especially when for my self.

Good to note, on "under table work" because I've done that a LOT since 2001-presently, Independant car shops (2) that paid cash. Since '08 when they economy tanked, real shops got very cheap! Most want to pay you far less than minimum wage for mechanics. Which in Calif, when you supply your own tools, you're paid double minimum wage to start (as newb) $16 an hour.

With my years of experience and certs, they thought I'd work for $10-12 an hour?? And work on Beamers, Vettes, Porsches, Ferrari's?? Hell, I started in 1984 working on diesel haz-mat tankers/trash trucks for $13 an hour. Car jobs $20-$35 flat rate

I do have money that could be used for private school. I worry that once I pay for the school companies are still going to say no because of the lack of verifiable work history. Then I'm out the money and stuck with a couple thousand $$$ piece of plastic.

David, trucking is the only industry I know of that has an informal system in place to help prevent that. What you do is apply for truck driving jobs before you ever even commit to any Truck Driving Schools. If your application checks out and they would be willing to hire you they'll give you what's referred to as a pre-hire. A pre-hire is not a guarantee of employment. What it says is that you qualify to work for the company and if nothing changes between now and when you graduate from school with your CDL they would be willing to hire you. Because it's not a guarantee you really want to make sure you get two or three minimum before committing to any schooling. If you can do that, you can be sure you'll have no problem finding work upon graduating from a private school with your CDL.

We have an excellent article on Understanding Pre-Hires written by the owner of a private trucking school for anyone who'd like to know more about the process.

Much appreciated, Brett. I'll definitely read that article as going private seems to be the better option for me.