Question:
Well, I was looking into the possibillity to become a truck driver, even later a Owner/Operator. After a driving school caught me with false "promises", I found out that almost all big companies require a "varyfiable work history" of at least 3 years. I don't have that!
I eventually got a CDL B instead of a CDL A, because for the time being I am driving a school bus.
I would like to know, if there is any chance to find a trucking company out there which doesn't look for a long work history, or do I have better chances if I start as a Owner/Operator w/o OTR experience at all ?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Answer:
They want you to prove you can hold down a job for a couple years before they'll hire you. It's pretty standard. In fact, you may have trouble finding financing to even BUY a truck to be an O/O without a couple years verifiable work history. They don't want to be stuck with a repo if you change your mind, and MANY new drivers change their mind.
Don't jump into buying a truck. Wait it out and try living on the road first as a company driver before buying any equipment. Very few folks who THINK they want to do this still feel the same way after they've lived on the road a while. It's not what you think it is. Be a company driver first and find out what it's REALLY all about.
I know this may not be what you want to hear, but it's the best advice to anyone wanting into the business. In the meantime, your current bus driving job will start building your work record.

Answer:
Your "work history" does NOT have to be in Trucking...it could be in ANYTHING.
Most carriers require 10 yrs Drving history or 3-5 yrs work history in a Different line of work.
In Other Words......
What were you Doing the past 3-5yrs?
Unemployed?
flipping burgers?
locked up?
digging ditches?
Welfare?
janitorial?
bus drving? etc.

Answer:
Thanks for the fast response, guys. I appreciate it. It is more or less what I expected. Nobody here is interested in my past outside of the US, cause they can't verify it.

Answer:
So where are you from?
With technology the way it is today, I can't see where foriegn work experience is so hard to come by.
As said previously, driving the bus is building work experience. If nothing else happens in the meantime, you still have that.
As for owner operators hiring you, this is difficult at best, not because of the lack of verifiable work experience as you put it, but because of insurance. As a new driver, the premiums on you would be very high, more so than most O/O's could afford to pay.
«"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers."»

Answer:
Some truths up there. The fact is it a law that you must have a varifiable 3 year work history. That in itself is also a little bit of a misconception. You actually have to only prove what you've been doing for the last 3 years. It doesn't matter if its working for a company, yourself or taking care of grandma. You have to prove what you've been doing for the 3 years prior.
I as well as many others did not have a varifiable 3 year work history. It's hard to have being self employed or working as a subcontractor. All it took for me and many is 3 notarized letters stating what you have been doing. They have to state what you were doing, where you were doing it and the exact time frames you did it in. If you have 3 reputable aquaintances that can and will give you a notarized work record. No personal recomendations required but it might help. Then you will be hireable at many training companies. The ones that accepted mine were, Swift, Werner, Stevens, SRT, Covenant, Arrow, KLLM and Dick Simon. Those were also the only ones hiring newbies from my area at the time.
Because it is acceptable to the DOT many companies also accept it. Make some calls and check it out. You might find it is acceptable to many companies.
"Caution: Door May Open"
_________________
RC Universe


Answer:
Is that the verifiable work history is a DOT requirement. It is not a "company" thing. Even if an O/O hires a driver or a co driver he must still have this information on file to be in full compliance. Also it is my understanding that since the 9/11 incident that this is one of the hot areas in a drivers employment file.
In very basic terms
Companies must verify the last 3 years of employment information.
In addition carriers must have on file all driving jobs the employee has held in the last 10 years.
Most carriers any more, to simplify matters simply require drivers to complete a 10 year work history and will verify the last 3 (even on drivers with little or no driving expereince.)
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
_________________
RC Universe


Answer:
Originally posted by Stuffs:
uturn2001 your still on meds I can tell. -->
I said the same thing as both your post. The same thing only different that is. -->
"Caution: Door May Open"
Maybe that is the problem. --> --> --> -->
But at least I am back on solid food again. --> --> --> --> -->
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
_________________


Answer:
Thanks again, guys. All that information is of great help. BTW, I came over from Spain, but I am German. Found a nice woman here. This was all before 9/11 and the world was a bit easier and relaxed.
Well, I have letters from my former employers in Europe, so it shouldnt be a problem to establish this <<verifiable>> work history. Thanks

Answer:
My husband had only about 5 years of work history here in the USA when he graduated from driving school..(he was born in Venezuela)
He provided all his past work history from the country he is from, with complete addresses, phone numbers dates, etc.
He provided all his legal documents,Work Permit & SS card number
Companies can do international work & criminal backround checks,if they want too...but it costs a lot of monies for them to do this.. so some do it, some do not do it..
In my husbands case, the company he just started with, took over 6 weeks to complete his entire work and criminal backround check due to the fact that part of his 10 year work history was out of the country..
The key is to make sure all the info you provide is verifiable, and if not, explain why.
Also, any gaps in your work history should be explained as well, like if you were taking classes, not working, etc., etc...
The key is to provide all verifiable information, and make sure that the numbers and contacts of past employers are current..
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http://www.hlatty.com/FSL5CS/Articles/articles4.asp


Answer:
A work history, for the purposes of a driving job at least, must be inclusive, meaning that no time periods in the past 10 years are left unaccounted for. These are things to include in a work history if applicable:
All employment
Military Service
Time spent in school (CDL school, high school, college, tech courses, etc.)
Periods of unemployment
Periods of self employment.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
_________________


Answer:
Here is why backround checks are so important...
To prevant things like this..

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http://www.hlatty.com/FSL5CS/Articles/articles4.asp


Answer:
Hi Me, I understand why it is so important to have that work history, especially after 9/11. However, I got background checked twice, 1st by the INS, 2nd by my current employer the school board. It took me 5 month to get this driving job.
Most trucking companies I talked to are not interested in foreign work history, because they can't talk to the old employers (language problems) or like in my case, some companies went out of business.
Anyway, I try to get it straight. Some day I want to be a Owner/Operator -->