Profile For J Neal C.

• Location:
  Portland , OR

• Driving Status:
  Preparing For School

• Social Link:
  

• Joined Us:
  1 month, 1 week ago

My name is Neal. I’m 54 and live in Portland Oregon where I’ve dilly dallied the last 29 years waiting for the time when I’d know what it is that is like to do. Following my dreams, it turns out, is easier than remaining asleep and only dreaming, you know?

I was working with a dear friend of mine over this last year (2024-25) and he started sharing his experience when he’d gotten his CDL and told me about the kings he’s had. He’d started off with America’s , then worked with the water department and then dump trucks. And it was really resonating with me and seemed like a great achievable goal in getting trained and following a dream of driving semis that I’ve had my entire life.

My friend passed way farther unexpectedly, in June 2025, only 56 years old and that’s been a difficult loss for his family and friends like me. And I had gone by the library and picked up a CDL manual and as I read through the requirements it was even more evident that there’s nothing holding me back, nothing to stand in my way except money and not having a stable place to live, rotating around couches, I’d keep meeting people who had CDL’s and it was like I was being pushed forward more. I’d returned to a church I’d investigated and ended up joining at the end of my marriage, to network with those who love helping people like me rebuild their lives, and the current Pa truck driver!! And he was almost more excited about what I’m doing than I’ve been cause he’d done it and his life is so much better than he could have imagined.

He’s the one who told me about SWIFT and I’ve applied AB’s am waiting to hear back film them.

I’m currently writing this from my phone on a bus, making my way out by the travel centers in Troutdale, heading over to Elite Driving Acadamy to take a tour and discuss what’s going on and whether I can move forward doing this . There’s also a school in Clackamas, I-360? Something like that. I spoke to them a few months back but I want her receiving SNAP benefits yet. I read that Worksourxe Oregon has funding to cover the tuition.

Last night I took a spill on my deck I had recently thrown together. So I’m going to be limping a tad, nearly there!

It’s an honor truly to join this site. Look forward to meeting and getting to know you all as I step into the next chapter of my journey and new career goals.