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Location: Moose Jaw, in between the Moose's butt and nose.
5,152 posts, read 8,534,772 times
Reputation: 2038
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Just about all of them that I've applied for, want you to have at least 6 months experience, 1/2 want at least one year and maybe 33% want 2 years or more.
How the **** can you get experience if no one will hire you?
It's extremely discouraging. I was real excited to get my CDL when I got it. Now I don't feel any different than I did before I got it, since 90% of the companies will not even look at you if you don't have actual driving experience.
There are a good amount (not a lot like a few years ago) driving jobs out there, so it's not so much that there aren't jobs and it's a dying industry.
I have a class A CDL, but for positions that require a class B or C (or even no CDL) I can't get those since they want experience. A class A has no restrictions (except for endorsements like Hazmat and Tanker which I have) while the other ones do. Go figure.
Is there anyone who is finding this out to be true as well (or knows of someone who is running into the same thing)?
Thanks.
Lot's of areas are hiring bus drivers for their transit systems--drive for them to get some experience. Most will help you get your class B with pax endorsement and are government jobs with good benefits.
And frankly I'm not unhappy to know that people aren't getting hired to propel 20 tons of steel down the highway at 70 mph when they have no experience doing so and nobody watching over them.
Just about all of them that I've applied for, want you to have at least 6 months experience, 1/2 want at least one year and maybe 33% want 2 years or more.
How the **** can you get experience if no one will hire you?
It's extremely discouraging. I was real excited to get my CDL when I got it. Now I don't feel any different than I did before I got it, since 90% of the companies will not even look at you if you don't have actual driving experience.
There are a good amount (not a lot like a few years ago) driving jobs out there, so it's not so much that there aren't jobs and it's a dying industry. I have a class A CDL, but for positions that require a class B or C (or even no CDL) I can't get those since they want experience. A class A has no restrictions (except for endorsements like Hazmat and Tanker which I have) while the other ones do. Go figure.
Is there anyone who is finding this out to be true as well (or knows of someone who is running into the same thing)?
Thanks.
Kind of fuzzy on your question. Why not try and focus a job that requires a Class A CDL if that one has no restrictions?
I don't know where you live, but where I live (Long Island/NYC) there are many companies that will take people with no experience (and even train them in some cases) to drive buses ... school buses, transit buses, and small para-transit buses where they transport handicapped people who have trouble taking the subways and regular buses.
If where you live, those type of jobs are available, perhaps you can start out driving buses, get some experience, and then maybe the trucker type jobs will be interested in hiring you. Ask if the insurance requirements would include bus driving as something that is applicable as prior experience.
And frankly I'm not unhappy to know that people aren't getting hired to propel 20 tons of steel down the highway at 70 mph when they have no experience doing so and nobody watching over them.
Isn't the Class A license the one for the 18 wheelers? From the OP's post (if I understood it correctly), it seems that one doesn't have problems hiring newbies, but the insurance companies covering smaller trucks do.
Just about all of them that I've applied for, want you to have at least 6 months experience, 1/2 want at least one year and maybe 33% want 2 years or more.
How the **** can you get experience if no one will hire you?
It's extremely discouraging. I was real excited to get my CDL when I got it. Now I don't feel any different than I did before I got it, since 90% of the companies will not even look at you if you don't have actual driving experience.
There are a good amount (not a lot like a few years ago) driving jobs out there, so it's not so much that there aren't jobs and it's a dying industry.
I have a class A CDL, but for positions that require a class B or C (or even no CDL) I can't get those since they want experience. A class A has no restrictions (except for endorsements like Hazmat and Tanker which I have) while the other ones do. Go figure.
Is there anyone who is finding this out to be true as well (or knows of someone who is running into the same thing)?
Thanks.
You just got in at the wrong time. Freight is down because the economy is down.
I hear more truck driving commercials on Sirius now than a few months ago, so there may be some opportunities for you soon.
This happens a lot with other careers too! No experience = No hire! Just be glad you didn't pay $40,000 + for an IT degree [+ 4 years of studying] and then no one will hire you!
CDL isn't a waste of money. I got hire with no experience. My employer was asking 2 years exp. Just have to be patience. There isn't many trucking jobs going around these days. Look at other option such as food delivery, Pepsi, dump truck, furniture moving company. Look at straight truck job options also.
Location: Moose Jaw, in between the Moose's butt and nose.
5,152 posts, read 8,534,772 times
Reputation: 2038
There aren't any bus driving jobs in my area right now. Of course once school opens back up, that may be an option, but that's a last resort kind of thing for me (driving a school bus).
Class A with Hazmat will be worth it just survive and don't blame yourself for a bad economy. Keep an eye on the American Trucking Association (ATA) Tonnage Index (Truckline) and wait for it to change to the upside.
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