Green Card holder looking at getting into trucking. Am I hirable?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by carter93, Sep 4, 2023.

  1. carter93

    carter93 Bobtail Member

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    Hey folks.

    I am a permanent resident/Green Card holder. Currently going through divorce and looking for a career change; used to do freelance IT/software but this is no longer sustainable. Looking into trucking as a possible career path with comparable pay and solitude.

    CDL is $4900 through the local community college which I'm happy to pay for out of pocket, but I'm not sure if it's worth it. I mainly have two concerns.

    1. Is my lack of citizenship going to mean I'll have a harder time getting hired? I know they "can't" discriminate, but I still fear they will.

    2. I only just got my regular US drivers license. Effectively my driving history here is no better than a 16 year olds, even though I'm 30. Is this going to be a sticking point once I get my CDL?

    Many thanks for any input. Location is Michigan if it makes any difference.
     
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  3. Short Fuse EOD

    Short Fuse EOD Road Train Member

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    No, you will be fine. You demonstrated a level of English some born citizens do not possess.
     
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  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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  5. carter93

    carter93 Bobtail Member

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    Thank you. I figured only recently acquiring my US drivers license would be the biggest barrier.

    Would it just be better to just drive a non-CDL job like Amazon/FedEx for a year and go for a Class A next fall?
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2023
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    May have to do that.
    Talk to Experior first though.
     
  8. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Your "green card" will let you work in the U.S. I've had one all my adult life, born in canada. I can do anything a U.S. citizen can do, except vote, serve on a jury and run for president of the U.S. ! The only way I could be deported is if I commited some horrendous crime.
     
  9. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Without 1 year of a US driver license you are hardly able to be hired by decent companies. Their insurance company won't allow it. The less desirable you are to good companies the more attractive you are to the dishonest companies.
     
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  10. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

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    Your right they can't discriminate based on your race, colour, age, religion, etc, etc however there are always loopholes for employers to exploit. Bottom line is its down to you, I got my CDL after being in the USA for less than 2 weeks although that was back in the mid 2000's perhaps the laws have changed, you are a legal permanent resident and thus are allowed to work in the US, so its all just a matter of qualifying for the relevant driving job your applying for, and it won't be any different for you as would be for any other person who is new to the trucking industry. There are many doors that open in this business its just a matter of keeping on knocking and one will eventually open for you. :cool:
     
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