Options For New Driver Denver Co.

I am looking to get into OTR trucking. I love driving and want to see the country. I have no problem with being away from home. Getting paid to drive a truck around the country seems like a dream. I can handle being on the road for long hours. Detroit to Denver in one shot didn't phase me.

I have a couple of obstacles, and one thing that could help me, but I have no idea as to what extent. Any and all advice is appreciated.

Obstacles:

I have pretty much no money. I am currently employed, but have very little cash left over after bills. Three speeding tickets (None over 15+), one driving with a suspended license, one ticket I got for taking a left when I shouldn't in a construction zone. All in the past year. Need to find a place that doesn't test hair. I can pee clean. I have no qualms about never smoking cannabis again. I have a cat.

Thing I have going for me:

I have a friend who runs a trucking company who said he would hire me. I don't know how big it is, but it's not Swift.

I want to do this with as little burden as possible on my friend if he does hire me. How does this work? Do I still need to go to school, or is it possible to be trained in a company? He has told me he hired a guy at a truck stop in the NE, was out of work and paid for his bus ticket. I don't think he had any experience.

I am considering going through Swift. The home time seems decent, as well as they pay. Although they seem to have a bad rap, I can't seem to find any concrete reasons why. They seem to be pretty much drop and hook , and you get compensated for the time you are waiting for a load.

Random factoids because why not: I work just around the corner from what I think is Navajo HQ (there are a bunch of their trucks there) It would be awesome to get sent up to Alaska, never been. I love driving stick I play a lot of Euro Truck Sim 2. I am horrible at backing up. I fear that not being able to back a trailer will be the death of me.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

If you see a building on 64th Ave. in Denver, I think, and a maintenance building across the street with a bunch of Navajo trailers, then yes, that's their HQ.

Good company. I still have their number on speed dial.

Dave

I love driving stick (...) I am horrible at backing up. I fear that not being able to back a trailer will be the death of me.

A truck transmission is somewhat different than a car type transmission. It's good that you like shifting; you'll be doing it a fair amount. It will probably take some doing to get the knack for double-clutching.

Learning to back up seems to take about 3 weeks. This is based on my subjective observation of myself and a fair number of classmates.

As for your friend offering you a job... have him run a background check, and all the usual pre-employment stuff they do. If he's still willing, then start talking about their training program and pay. You're not a burden if he's got freight to move and you're moving it.

And if nothing else works right now, cut all your hair off (now), stay clean and out of trouble for the next year and a half, and try again.