Profile For Gismo

Cobwebs in here lol, ah well, diary complete

Well, can't believe the time has flown in so much. It just felt like yesterday that I was starting and here I am well into week 2 of the course.

First week was entirely the CDL Permit instruction, we had a great instructor, Kirk. Lots and lots of info and homework to hopefully get us all to pass. A great phone app is DMV Genie, invaluable for testing of the questions.

Thankfully I was able to pass the 3 exams first time around, the general knowledge was incredibly more difficult than all the papers I had seen and some others failed the same paper, everyone passed with some failing on the Friday and passing on the Monday.

Now we are in the trucks going round and round the test track in groups of four getting the shifting sorted out. I got it pretty quickly and most everyone followed by the end of the second day.

Wednesday we are actually going on the main roads, will be interesting

Not sure you are gonna achieve what you want to do. One way is to apply for an E2 visa in your own country USA embassy (what i have) this is a business investor related visa where you create a business in the USA and you must deposit some money into that business bank account to show you are keen to do business. You are effectively self employed.

Assuming you are successful and there are absolutely no guarantee's you will be, then you move to the USA and obviously that takes whatever means you have to get there and seek a house etc.

From there you apply for a drivers license and then have that for 1 year, gotta show proof of utility bill, bank account etc. You also need to apply for a social security number at the local government facility, this is what allows you to work.

Once you have held your drivers license for a year then you can apply for the CDL through sponsorship from any of the various companies that offer this service, say CRST or CR England etc.

Your E2 visa is only valid for 5 years and at each renewal you will have to reapply and due to your original business created for the main reason to gain access to the USA not being fully serviced may mean you will not get your visa renewed. But, if you show continued employment and are benefiting the USA you may get renewed.

Of course, best way is tog et a green card through direct family, ie, parents or brother or sister

Good luck, it's a long journey for you

Today i joined a webinar from the National Trucking School where i will be doing my training based in Jacksonville. An excellent service that provided all the info needed to attend the school and how to get there etc and what to expect during the course. All attendee's also dialed in and we were all invited to ask suitable questions or concerns.

I thought this was a great idea.

So, i travel through on Saturday for the course start date on Sunday for the DOT Physical and drug screening

So, here we go, been unemployed for over 8 months waiting for the oil and gas industry to get going again, no idea when it's likely to start, so, decided for a career change. Start the CR England course on Sunday 16th October and thought i'd share my journey as others have done.

I've never driven an 18 wheeler before so a significant change for me, no idea how much free time i'll get to update but i'll give it my best shot