Comments By Tim

Oh yeah, thanks. I had Estes on my list but forgot to type it (they're not too far from where I live). ABF won't accept any DUI's and Old dominion doesn't appear to be hiring in Wisconsin.....

Thanks Parrothead66! I'll check them out

These are a bunch of companies who have at least something appealing and may be a good fit for me once I get out of trucking school. Any input and opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

In no particular order: YRC, Holland, Saia, Sheehy, CPC, Hotline, CTS, XPO, Fedex, UPS, Country Hearth, United, Wisconsin Distributors, LME, Menards, NFI, Dart Express, NTB

Thanks guys. In my research I have found a few companies that allow only one DUI in a lifetime but a lot of them say "none in the last 3, 5, 7 years etc". But none really specify anything about having more than one. I've seen a few that no more than two in a lifetime. I have looked at the dui list here on this site and I noticed, for instance, it says NFI allows none, but the recent job listings say "none in the last 5 years".

Joseph, I noticed Roehl has a 7/4 7/3 Hometime Plus schedule. How easy would it be for a new driver to move into something like that?

Thanks Brian and Jakebreak. I spend most of my free time researching companies in Wisconsin and have a pretty good list of places that some day would be a good fit. I talked to a truck school guy and he said going OTR isn't a requirement anymore.

Hey everyone,

I've been getting really serious about starting a career as a driver for a while now. I live in Sun Prairie Wisconsin which is near Madison. What I would like to do, is tell you my intended path and then I would really like some honest feedback on whether my goals are realistic or not. So, here it goes.....

I'm 47 and have been at my current job (factory) for nearly 22 years and I need a change. I currently make $20/hr. and generally work 40 hour weeks. I plan on taking four weeks vacation in November and attending the Diesel Truck Driver Training School in Sun Prairie (anybody have any experience with this school?) for four weeks. As a side note, not sure if it is helpful, I worked in the shipping department at my place of work a while back and moved hundreds of trailers for a couple years with a "yard dog" and got good at backing up to the dock, but that was at least 13 years ago but I guess maybe it's like riding a bike? Anyway, I have plenty of time to study the CDL manual, get a physical for the DOT, save up for tuition and get my permit and hopefully find somebody to allow me to practice driving before I even attend school.

I'm leery about the big companies like Roehl, Schneider, Swift etc. Ultimately, I'd like to find one of those home daily and weekends off kind of gig but I know that I have to get that experience first. OTR would be awesome if I was in my early 20's, but now, not so much. I'm recently married again and I have a thirteen year old son who is with me every other weekend.

I guess I want to have a career path clearly laid out before I jump into anything. I see a lot of places that will hire students with no experience or will hire with 3, 6 or 12 months experience. I would really like regional or local over anything else. If I'm home at least every weekend, that would be ideal.

Another issue (please leave feedback on this) is that I had two dui's in my past. One in 1990 and one in 1992. I can't imagine that they would be relevant considering that they were a quarter century ago, but I think they may be. I've pretty much had a pristine driving record since then and haven't had a so much as a speeding ticket since 1999. I know J.B. Hunt say that they will only hire one dui per lifetime, but do they consider how long ago it was?

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I really have my mind made up about driving, but I really need some input (especially anybody living in the Madison area) on how to land that ideal balance of income and home time as a new driver.

I think this site is amazing and I look forward to hearing some advice from you guys.

Thanks