Whether you are just starting out, have years behind the wheel, or are thinking about returning to the road, one question comes up again and again: what jobs can I realistically get?
The short answer: it depends on three things carriers look at first. Your CDL-A driver experience (how much and what kind), your safety and employment record, and how long you have been off the road. With around one year of experience, many more carriers will consider you, and at about three years your options widen further. If you are getting back into trucking after a break, recent experience and current paperwork matter as much as your total years.
What Carriers Check Before They Hire You
Job ads usually give you a good first answer, for example a minimum of three months of OTR tractor-trailer experience. However, the actual hiring requirements are more specific. They also include steps the carrier must complete under DOT rules: reviewing your motor vehicle record (MVR), verifying your employment history, a pre-employment drug test and Clearinghouse query, and a road test, unless the carrier accepts your valid CDL instead.
The good news? Once you understand what carriers look for, you can assess your situation honestly and apply with confidence.
Have your documents ready and know your history. Carriers must verify your safety performance with DOT-regulated employers from the past three years, and your application lists up to ten years of CMV driving work. Address gaps openly, because otherwise they will come up at a later stage.
What Makes Your CDL-A Driving Experience Valuable
Your options generally grow once you have at least one year on the road, and even more at around three years.
Carriers typically look for:
A clean driving and safety record
Steady employment, without frequent job changes
Over-the-road (OTR) experience
Endorsements such as hazmat, tanker, or doubles/triples
Strong communication with dispatch, customers, and fellow drivers
Strong safety awareness and responsibility for your equipment
Soft skills also matter more than many drivers realize. A carrier wants to know you can handle a problem calmly and keep everyone informed.
Why More Years Is Not Always More Value
Your market value rises quickly in your first few years, then tends to level off. To keep growing, add something new: an endorsement, a specialized segment, mountain or winter driving, or a move into a driver trainer role.
Getting Back into Trucking After Time Away
Many drivers step away for family, health, or a job in another field. Coming back is possible, but it takes preparation. Before you apply, ask yourself:
How long have you been away? The longer the gap, the more likely a carrier will want recent training.
Is your CDL still valid? If you first got your CDL before February 7, 2022, FMCSA does not require Entry-Level Driver Training to regain the same class, even if it expired. Your state still sets the reinstatement steps, which may include retesting.
Is your medical card current? A DOT medical certificate is valid for up to two years.
Is your Clearinghouse status clear? Drivers in "prohibited" status lose their CDL privileges until they complete the return-to-duty process. Not every carrier hires drivers coming out of that process, so look specifically for SAP-friendly trucking jobs.
Even when the rules allow you back, company policy often sets the bar higher. Many carriers and their insurers require recent driving experience within a set time frame, and may ask for a refresher course or their own road test.
The Refresher Course Question
A refresher course can cost from under $1,000 to about $3,500, depending on length and location. Larger carriers are more likely to offer or pay for it. Smaller carriers often cannot. If you are not able to cover the cost yourself, ask openly whether the carrier would share or reimburse it.
Choose your training provider carefully, because FMCSA is actively cracking down on training fraud. If you need ELDT, for example for a new endorsement, check that the school is listed in FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.
Example: A Returning Truck Driver After Three Years Away
Consider a returning truck driver who ran OTR for eight years, then stepped away for three years to care for family. The CDL was issued long before 2022, so ELDT is not required to get it back, but the license has lapsed and the medical card has expired. Before applying, this driver renews the medical certificate, checks the state’s reinstatement steps, pulls the MVR and PSP record, and registers with the Clearinghouse. Some carriers will still ask for a refresher course because of the gap, while others may accept their own road test instead. By preparing first and explaining the break openly, the driver can focus on carriers that are likely to say yes, instead of collecting rejections.
Check Your Own Record First
The more you know about your own history, the fewer surprises during hiring. Consider:
Requesting your Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) record to see the crash and inspection history carriers may review
Registering with the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, since carriers need your consent there before hiring you
Pulling your motor vehicle record (MVR) from your state
Writing down your employment history with dates, including gaps
Resources Worth Knowing
If you are earlier in your career, the Next Generation in Trucking Association supports new drivers through school partnerships and a registered apprenticeship program. And if you are weighing where to apply next, read: Are There Benefits to Working for a Small Trucking Company?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience do I need to get a CDL-A truck driving job?
It depends on the carrier. Some accept drivers with a few months of verifiable tractor-trailer experience, while many prefer one year or more. Recent CDL graduates usually start with trucking companies for new drivers that run their own training programs, often advertised as entry-level CDL jobs.
Do I need to complete ELDT again if my CDL expired?
Not if your CDL was first issued before February 7, 2022 and you are re-obtaining the same class. Your state still decides the reinstatement steps, which may include knowledge or skills tests.
How long can I be out of trucking before it gets hard to get hired?
There is no federal cutoff. The limit comes from carrier policy and insurance requirements, which often ask for recent driving experience within a set time frame. The longer your break, the more likely you will need a refresher course or a road test.
What should I check before applying after time away?
Request your PSP record, register with the FMCSA Clearinghouse, pull your MVR, and confirm your CDL and medical card are valid. Write down your employment history with dates so you can explain any gaps.
Are there trucking companies that hire SAP drivers?
Yes, but not every carrier does, often because of insurance requirements. You must complete the return-to-duty process with a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and pass a return-to-duty test before you drive again, and follow-up testing continues after you are hired. Be upfront about it and focus your search on SAP-friendly trucking jobs.
Key Takeaway
Whether you are new to the road or getting back into trucking, your options depend on your specific situation: your CDL-A driver experience, your record, your time away, and the skills you bring. Knowing what is realistic before you apply saves time and frustration.
There's always a way forward. If you are not sure where you stand, HolyRecruit can help you look at your situation and connect you with carriers that match it. Talk with our team or sign up for our newsletter to get started.
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View from a truck cab onto an open highway, illustrating the truck driving jobs available to CDL-A drivers
