I have spoken with recruiters at a couple of companies that work with the truck driving school that I am considering attending.

The recruiters say that they can't hire me because I haven't worked in five years. They want to see a steady work history for the past three years.

When I explain to them that I was with my last employer for 17 years, they don't care. Their response is, "You haven't worked in five years. We can't hire you."

I sure don't want to spend five weeks in a truck driving school--paid for by a WIA grant or not--and not have a job lined up when I graduate.

Am I wasting my time pursuing a trucking career?

Could you use your tax returns for the last 5 years to show you had income??

I don't know. All of my income in retirement has been passive income from interest earned on investments. The trucking companies seem to emphasize working steadily on a job--any job, not necessarily trucking--the last three years.

With the unemployment situation, it isn't just trucking companies looking for continued ( uninterrupted) employment. It has always been considered, but with it being an employers' market, they can be much more selective in choosing candidates.

Another problem I am running up against is that many recruiters tell me their companies are not hiring in Nevada.

I'm just about to give this up and pursue other things.

RiN --

PM for ya

With no employment information for the preceeding 3-5 years there would be few companies that would hire you for a professional position let alone a driving position.

If you did want to pursue the truck driving or any professional position you would have to find some job for 1 - 2 years.

Your best bet might be to try and seek smaller companies in your area, tell them your situation with the bigger carriers, ask if they would be able to hire you if you were to get your cdl, and ask the probability of them hiring.

Dont hide no info from them, be clear as possible.

Other than that, your probably going to run into the same problem with all the "Mega Carriers".

But then again, you dont know until you try.
Good luck, keep us posted.

Most companies want to see a steady work history. They will at least want to have a way to verify what you have been doing with your time during the last 5 years. I am surprised that it would be such a big deal as long as you can prove that you have been retired for that period of time. Most smaller carriers will be limited in hiring inexperienced drivers due to insurance restrictions. If it is something you are really interested in doing then I would keep knocking on doors. There are thousands of carriers. I am not sure how interested they will be until you actually have the CDL. Most of us are looking toward experienced drivers mainly due to insurance.

Keep on trying. I was in the somewhat same boat as you. I was told the same thing. I had 4 years experience though and was able to get on with smaller companies is the only difference.

I kinda have a thing about me if you say I can not, I WILL. example;

I was told I could not get into the US Coast Guard, I did 13 years in the USCG.
I was told I could not pass in College, I was A honor roll
I was told I could not get back into Trucking without a refresher, I am on the road now in a truck without a refresher course.

I use the negative against them, as a fuel of encouragement to achieve my goals.

Keep trying, you too can over come...