Most new drivers get their first trucking job by applying to carriers that hire recent graduates and by having their paperwork ready before they apply. A new CDL holder has no commercial driving history to show, so the hiring decision rests on records: your license, your motor vehicle record, your medical card, your drug test, and your work history.
Truck U is an FMCSA-registered training provider in Las Vegas. This article covers what to prepare while you are still in school, what carriers are required to check, and where graduates usually start.
Get four things ready before you graduate
- A ten-year work history. Federal rules require a driver application to list employers for the past 3 years, and CDL applicants must add the 7 years before that (49 CFR 391.21). Write down dates, addresses, and reasons for leaving, and account for any gaps.
- Your own driving record. Order a copy of your motor vehicle record from the DMV and read it. The carrier will request it, so you should see it first.
- A Clearinghouse account. FMCSA requires a pre-employment query of its Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for every newly hired CDL driver, and you give consent inside the system. Register and verify your CDL before you apply.
- A current DOT medical card. Keep the certificate with your license, and note the expiration date.
What a carrier checks before it hires you
Carriers hire under federal rules, which is why the process looks alike from one company to the next. Expect these checks:
- Application. The form asks for accidents and traffic convictions from the past 3 years, in addition to your work history.
- Motor vehicle record. The carrier must request your record from every state where you held a license in the past 3 years (49 CFR 391.23).
- Previous employers. The carrier must investigate your safety history with any DOT-regulated employer from the past 3 years.
- Clearinghouse query. A driver who refuses consent cannot be allowed to drive for that employer.
- Drug test. A pre-employment drug test with a negative result comes before your first trip.
- Road test. Many carriers put a new hire through their own road test, even with a new CDL.
Some carriers also pull a Pre-Employment Screening Program report, which shows 5 years of crash data and 3 years of roadside inspection data. The program is voluntary for carriers, and it requires your written authorization. A new driver’s report is usually empty.
Be accurate on every form. A ticket you left off the application will appear on the record the carrier pulls, and the mismatch does more harm than the ticket.
Where new CDL holders get hired
Large over-the-road carriers
Large national carriers are where many graduates start. Many pair a new driver with a trainer for the first weeks before assigning a truck. The trade-off is time away from home, since over-the-road work can keep you out for weeks at a stretch.
Regional carriers
Regional routes stay within a few states and bring drivers home more often. From Las Vegas, that commonly means lanes into California, Arizona, and Utah. Some regional carriers take new graduates, and others ask for six months to a year of experience.
Local employers
Local work includes delivery, construction hauling, waste collection, and passenger transport. These jobs put you home every night, and they are harder to land without experience because many employers’ insurers set a minimum. Our article on jobs you can get with a CDL license in Las Vegas describes each type of work.
Truck U offers job placement assistance and works with a variety of local employers. Ask about openings early in your course, while you are in CDL training in Las Vegas and still have time to prepare.
Remove the limits on your license
Three things on a license narrow the jobs you can take:
- An automatic-only restriction. A driver who tests in an automatic truck cannot drive a manual. Truck U runs a one-week course to remove the restriction.
- Missing endorsements. Tanker, hazmat, doubles and triples, and passenger work each need an endorsement. Truck U’s one-day hazmat course meets the federal entry-level training requirement for the H endorsement.
- Age. Federal rules require a driver in interstate commerce to be at least 21 (49 CFR 391.11). Younger drivers are limited to routes inside Nevada.
Not every driving job needs a Class A license. Hotshot training prepares drivers who plan to haul with a pickup and trailer.
How to apply
Apply to several carriers in the same week, so you can compare offers side by side. Before you accept one, ask:
- How long is the training period, and who is the trainer?
- How often will I be home?
- Is the truck manual or automatic?
- What freight will I haul, and will I load or unload it?
- Is there a contract, and what do I owe if I leave early?
Read any tuition reimbursement or training agreement before you sign it. These agreements usually tie the benefit to a period of employment.
Recruiters call quickly, and a missed call often goes to the next applicant. Answer your phone, return messages the same day, and keep your documents in one folder.
Your first year
The first year decides which jobs open up next. Many local and specialized employers ask for one to two years of verifiable experience and a clean record. That gives you two priorities: stay with your first carrier long enough to build that history, and protect your record.
- Do a full pre-trip inspection every day. Roadside inspection results follow you for 3 years.
- Report every incident to your carrier, however small.
- Keep your logs accurate.
- Ask your trainer to work on the skills you find hardest, such as backing into a tight dock.
Our post on what makes someone successful in truck driving covers the habits that carry drivers through that year.
Frequently asked questions
1) How long does it take to get a trucking job after CDL school?
Drivers who apply before they finish school can have an offer waiting when they pass the skills test. The hiring checks, drug test, and orientation then take additional time, which varies by carrier.
2) Do trucking companies hire drivers with no experience?
Yes. Large over-the-road carriers hire new graduates regularly and train them with an experienced driver. Local jobs are more likely to ask for prior experience.
3) Do I need a resume for a trucking job?
The carrier’s application matters more than a resume. It must list ten years of work history for a CDL position, so prepare those dates in advance.
4) Can I get a local job as a new driver in Las Vegas?
Some local employers hire new CDL holders, and a Class B license with a passenger endorsement opens bus and shuttle work. Many other local jobs become available after a year or two of experience.
5) Will a ticket on my record stop me from getting hired?
It depends on the violation and the carrier. Federal rules require carriers to review each driver’s record every year and to give great weight to violations such as speeding and reckless driving. Expect the same scrutiny at hiring. List every violation on the application.
Conclusion
A first trucking job comes down to preparation. Have your work history, your driving record, your Clearinghouse account, and your medical card in order, then apply to the carriers that hire new drivers.
To talk about training and job placement assistance, call Truck U at 702.533.3565 or contact our Las Vegas CDL school.