Self employed helps?

dolphin · Jul 14, 2011

Hello! I am considering returning from Europe and getting into expediting. I have been reading these forums the last few months, but have a few questions. Some of them maybe a little odd.

I have 18 years/800k OTR experience with my own import/export company(sold in 2004). 1)Can I use this as experience as expeditor when filling out the jobs forms? I know its not exactly the same, but similar as I was on the road with e350 vans and box trucks close to 35-40 weeks per year. No tickets or accidents ever.

2)Previous self employed experience is looked on as a positive by the carriers?

3)Don't have any work recommendations for last 7 years as I am overseas running a PC shop. Will this sink me? I do have all my tax returns for business(USA) including travel/fuel expenses etc.

I basically want to get back on the road and come back home.

Thanks

LDB · Jul 14, 2011

Certainly include that experience in your applications. The primary requirement, especially for bigger well-known carriers, is mirror fogging and herd compatibility. Good luck.

JohnMueller · Jul 14, 2011

Leo;

A pulse helps the qualification process also!

John

greg334 · Jul 14, 2011

WOW so d8mn helpful there guys.

On to the OP's questions.

dolphin said:
I have 18 years/800k OTR experience with my own import/export company(sold in 2004).

Great start. I think it is an asset for you and you can bring that up.

dolphin said:
1)Can I use this as experience as expeditor when filling out the jobs forms? I know its not exactly the same, but similar as I was on the road with e350 vans and box trucks close to 35-40 weeks per year. No tickets or accidents ever.

Yep in a way, but you are not applying for a job, you are applying for a contractor's position which means that you will have to have documented 10 years of previous employment. This is not a carrier requirement but a federal one. ANY professional driving experience helps, always remember that.

dolphin said:
2)Previous self employed experience is looked on as a positive by the carriers?

Not really unless you are doing something outside of this work we call expediting - like heavy haul stuff. Most of the time, they are looking to see if you are a safe driver because of insurance costs.

dolphin said:
3)Don't have any work recommendations for last 7 years as I am overseas running a PC shop. Will this sink me? I do have all my tax returns for business(USA) including travel/fuel expenses etc.

Actually you can prove it with a letter from the shop owner or some other way of proving it. A few carriers use outside verification services and they may require an affidavit to be signed and notarized as what you did. It isn't as intense as a process as many would think, some carriers (won't name who) don't even check more than the last two.

dolphin said:
I basically want to get back on the road and come back home.

Thanks

You're welcome.

LDB · Jul 14, 2011

What? I answered 1 and 3. Yes use the experience in 1 and no worries with 3 so long as you can fog a mirror and be compatible with the herd some companies will throw you in.

John, I thought about just using pulse but decided to go with mirror fogging instead, both suggesting alive and breathing is pretty much it with some of them.