Comments By Mike E.

I found it, CDL Training Diaries. Also, silly question. How do I go about getting prehires? Is that any different than just filling out an application?

Good news. I just got the ok from WorkOne that they will be funding my schooling for truck driving. I begin on February 3rd and should be completed on the 21st. I can't describe how I feel. The past 3 months I've been working for a temp service driving forklift and spotting trailers. I know a spotter truck is nothing like the real thing, but I feel it is invaluable experience nonetheless. If there's one thing I've learned, it is a huge pain backing trailers in the snow, you can't see the lines! I do know exactly where I need to have the trailers though, since I work on both ends: inside and out. I suppose it wouldn't really matter as long as you can get the dock plate in, but we load and unload trailers 2 pallets at a time (side by side) so it's pertinent to have the trailer as perfectly lined up as possible.

Anyway, enough about that. I'm not exactly sure how to find my first thread, so I started this one. I would imagine the stage I'm at, I need to get as many prehires as possible. The company I work for has an account with Schneider and J.B. Hunt. I mention this because the guys that roll in and out of there are dedicated and I made the assumption that each and every one of them had to put their time in to get on that account. As it turns out, there are several people fresh out of school that are on this account as well. And from what I've been hearing from a lot of drivers, it may not be as hard to get on something like that myself. I suppose I just want to hear opinions and get any info that may also aid in getting me a job. As I had mentioned in my last thread, I think the biggest issue will be the suspensions that I had on my license. Even though I haven't had any tickets in the last 3 (almost 4) years, I've had some suspensions that are just now 2 years old. I think this may doom me, but I cannot be for sure.

Ultimately, my goal is to get on something local. I've heard that the first year, that's just not going to happen. If it doesn't, I'll do what I have to do, but not for the lack of trying. I have a 1 year old and I would like to spend as much time with him as possible. But he and my family are also a big reason I am doing this in the first place. I need to be able to support me and my family and I feel like this career is what I need to do that and for so many other reasons. If I were to go in to detail I would bore everyone. But simply, I hate working with people who don't want to work or follow the rules. So it's probably best I just work by MYSELF.

I'm going to try and detail my experience as much as possible. If there is a section for this, someone please direct me to it! And thanks in advance for any leads on job opportunities or advice!

Thank you very much! I'll get right on that. My guess is, the only chance I have is to wait until that last suspension is at least 3 years old. Waiting isn't going to be easy!

There is a really long story that goes along with this, but I will try to keep it to a minimum. Basically, I have been in Shipping & Receiving for over 10 years. For whatever reason, it wasn't until this year that I took an interest in becoming a truck driver. Forklift drivers just don't get paid well, in my opinion. Since my last job, the interest has only grown stronger. Now, at my current job, I spot trailers on occasion and I absolutely love it.

Here's the problem. Back in October, I quit my job to go to truck driving school, because my recruiter said that he was able to get me sponsored. The problem is, two days into truck driving school, they decided to revoke my sponsorship and they didn't give me a reason why. My guess would be (even though my recruiter said he got me approved) my driving record.

Now, while I have no accidents and the last ticket I received was a seat belt ticket on 5/6/10 the issue is with my suspensions. Every company that I have applied is able to get me through for everything until it comes to my suspensions. Sadly, I never paid any of my tickets on time. At the time, I had no intentions of paying them and then when I did, I didn't have the money.

I have 3 suspensions in the last 3 years and unfortunately, the most recent one is in regards to a ticket I received in 2009. Unbeknownst to me, I was apparently driving while this suspension was in effect due to not receiving anything in the mail.

So here it goes:

1. Effective Date: 10/24/11 - Expiration Date: 1/22/12 Offense Date: 6/16/09 2. Effective Date: 7/7/10 - Expiration Date: 7/7/11 No offense date given 3. Effective Date: 6/18/10 - Expiration Date: 9/13/11 this is for the last ticket (seat belt)

Just to put it out there, my license is currently valid and I have no points on it. I've past the 3 tests (General knowledge, Air brakes, Combination vehicles) at the BMV and can receive my CDL Class A permit as soon as I complete a D.O.T. physical (or so I'm told)

As I'm sure by now everyone is laughing at the thought of me even considering becoming a truck driver, I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask. I do not consider myself to be a bad driver, I just happen to be very good at getting caught doing stupid things. Going over the speed limit, no seat belt or what have you. As I said though, I've done a pretty good job as of the last 3 and a half years (I think!)

One thing I do know is that if there ever will be an opportunity for me, I will do anything to take advantage of it. It may turn out that if and when I do become a driver, I may not like it as much as I thought I would or at all. But it is in my best interest to do what I can to support my family and driving truck feels like the career path I was meant to take.

My apologies for the long post. If there is any hope for me at all, I appreciate any advice. Thank you