How do these companies check previous employment?
Posted by pandagreen17@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 18 comments
don't yet have a trucking job, but I'm wondering how they check your employment history? (Whether you were fired from a previous non-dot job, what dates you worked, what your salary was, etc) I'm thinking of applying for Werner's CDL training so I'm looking for information on them specifically if possible. Would they generally be able to see if I was fired if I told them I quit? Do they check deep on non-dot employment or do they just check the box and say they tried?
jmzstl@reddit
They don't care as much about your work experience before you started driving, but they do have to verify the dates and get confirmation that each job was not DOT regulated. The goal is to make sure you aren't trying to hide a previous trucking job.
Your previous jobs probably won't even say if you were fired or not. Just make sure you put the contact information for corporate/HR and not a former supervisor, who might try to screw with you by giving out incorrect information.
pandagreen17@reddit (OP)
What if this would be my first CDL job, and I'm going through them to get my CDL and do my year
justaguytrynadie@reddit
I went through PAM to get my CDL and they did call my previous employers but legally they are not allowed to ask if you were fired. All they do is verify that you worked there for the dates you put and that you weren’t subject to DOT regulations. They don’t care about anything else before you got your CDL.
yevo_@reddit
Rule is past 3 years employers for all positions and 10 years if it was CDL position. If not CDL 3 years is max needed
pandagreen17@reddit (OP)
Alright cause my application is squeaky clean besides 1 ticket in the last 10 years and I got fired from my last job, so my plan was to just say that I quit
justaguytrynadie@reddit
Like the first commenter said, you should list a phone number for corporate or a 1-800 number because often times hiring agents get fed up with the prompts and getting transferred that they might not even verify your employment there. Some companies don’t even actually verify at all. I’ve only had one company (PAM) call my previous employers.
But regardless, they won’t know you were fired unless you tell them.
pandagreen17@reddit (OP)
I trust you guy, but if I get got I'ma come haunt your dreams for 7 days and 7 nights with nightmares of brake checkers on foggy country roads and triple-delayed home loads
justaguytrynadie@reddit
I appreciate your faith. One last word of advice: say that you quit your last job to pursue a career in trucking, specifically. If they ask on the phone or at orientation, it’s the same answer. Once you’re hired you can let out a sigh of relief and start your new career. Good luck out there.
First-Journalist9393@reddit
Swift just rejected me because I have a year of unemployment in the last 5 years. It’s this past year. I’m shocked. I have actually been kinda self employed, just not successfully yet, so I’m pivoting to get my CDL. For the period of self employment they want to see it verified by tax filings, but I didn’t file taxes for the last quarter of 2023 when I started the biz because it didn’t make any money. So I’m in the process of filing an amendment retroactively just to get it documented. I’m hoping that other companies will accept that or be less bothered by this past year of self-employment/unemployment.
creationrose@reddit
I put Uber driver. Technically was unemployed also and didn’t drive uber like that. My income is not documented until end of year.
But if they need to see screenshots and summary payrolls, I have that.
They didn’t ask.
First-Journalist9393@reddit
If you don’t mind telling, which company was it and were you going through their CDL training or did you get your CDL first?
creationrose@reddit
Got CDL on my own. They do have a training program although I think they might be selective on location for who can join. I joined Nussbaum.
I would add self employed on the resume and what the activities are. It may as well be similar to volunteer or school experience. It just shows you were doing anything even if you didn’t make any money.
I guess the companies don’t ask for income in the past year if you get the CDL on your own. I do remember Roehl asking for my uber activity proof and how much I earn when I was considering their training program. But I’m sure they won’t ask for that if I had told them I was full unemployed without income. And my last job was X and I have the paystubs/W2 tax forms for that.
Just keep applying to other training programs and see what lands?
Prime, Roehl, Wilson logistics, Schneider.
First-Journalist9393@reddit
I appreciate the insight, thank you
Waisted-Desert@reddit
They are required by law to investigate your employment for the previous 3 years. The actual regulation only mentions employers for which you drove a commercial vehicle, but many companies want to be able to record that you did not drive for your previous employer. The form they send usually looks something like this: https://imgur.com/eTjLXQI
49 CFR 391.23
pandagreen17@reddit (OP)
What if you worked somewhere like Amazon, from what I can tell they only verify through theworknumber.com and probably wouldn't fill out that little sheet even if they were sent it
Waisted-Desert@reddit
Amazon has a DOT number, they are required by the same regulations to respond to the inquiry even if you didn't drive for them. They're not going to potentially face fines from the DOT for something as simple as responding to an employment verification inquiry.
pandagreen17@reddit (OP)
I meant like in a warehouse capacity, no DOT involved
RoadRatzzz@reddit
Worked for Werner many many years ago and started as being a new driver. One thing I remember, I filled out application and gave to a recruiter.....was accepted and showed up for orientation. One of the things we did was fill out ANOTHER application. I pulled copy of original out and transfered info. Later on people were called out of the 'class' and we never saw them again. Some of the issues were the applications didn't match and/or they tried to hide stuff. Be honest.
Also, when doing road test and they have you back into a spot....do NOT open your door while backing in order to 'adjust' your mirror....instant fail, lost first the applicants.