How much work history is required to apply for a truck driving position?

When applying for a job with a trucking company, you’ll undoubtedly be asked for an explanation of your employment history. In some ways, this is no different from any other job. Of course, companies like to know as much as possible about a potential employee before investing in them. When it comes to operating a motor vehicle, however, the caution and responsibility required gives work history a higher level of importance than with other fields of work.

 

Because the safety of others is at stake, legal regulations have been set. The Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires the work history of any truck driver hire to be thoroughly screened by any potential employer.  Applicants must provide a complete list of names and addresses of employment, without gapsm, for the last 3 years. The dates of employment and reason for leaving the job are also required. Although trucking companies are only required to verify 3 years of records, they ask for 10 full years of employment history.

 

This confuses some drivers, who don’t understand why 10 years is required when only 3 years needs to be verified. The reason is that even while one federal regulation asks for 3 years of history, another requires an additional 7 years if any work during this time involved the operation of a commercial motor vehicle. Because employers want to be sure that the driver is providing all necessary information, the result becomes an effective requirement of 10 years of employment history.

 

When applying for a truck-driving job, the more forthright you are about employment history, the better. Being honest and thorough leads to a smoother hiring process and less complications down the road.