Job Advice While Maintaining Primary Custody

I recently acquired my CDLs with automatic restrictions through CRST. Just recently my exwife, who was okay with it at first, decided that she was going to take me to court being I have primary custody of my son. Now I'm in a bind of either losing custodial rights of my son, who was staying with his grandparents on my side, or having to struggle through the depths of the Internet looking for a local CDL job. Just hoping my greatest fear isn't going to become reality and maybe someone can point me in the right direction.

Joshua I feel for your situation. It’s more of a complex answer though. First you need a good local lawyer in family law. There are reasons you have had primary custody, has anything signifcant changed other than your job?? You are trying to make a better life for you and your son, and the court will take that into account. The foscus of the court is “what is in the best interest of the child”. I would talk with your employer and see if you can get them to issue a letter of your behalf. In trucking we never know what is likely to happen, however if they are willing to work with your schedule it should have a positive impact with the court. Show the court you have a plan in place that is in your son’s best interest and you should prevail. I wish you the best.

PJ is very correct in many of the things he stated.. I would like to share my story in the hopes that it will help you.. will try to keep it short..

My now ex wife and I split up after 2 years of Marriage.. She was pregnant at the time with my son.. She left and moved to her family in Ohio and I lived in Kentucky at the time.. In Ohio you can not file for Divorce while pregnant so she waited till after my son was born.. We went to court a month or so after he was born.. I went to court at my date and had all the stories of the things she did.. Her lack of work, education, etc etc.. I did not have a Lawyer.. (No Lawyer).. I gained Custody of my Son at 3 month old.. Again, with no lawyer.. The Judge found that I could provide better financially, and educationally then she could.. I was in the best interest of my child.. At the time I was an OTR.. But I knew an infant would not be good on road and I came off to be local.. (it was the one thing the judge asked me to do even tho I had a good family support system).. In 2002 was still kinda new for a man to get custody, much less to send infant across state line to another state..

I did come off the road, and did some crap jobs and such to be home daily till he was 8.. I do not know your situation, or your kids age.. But these things along with reason why you got your kid does come into play.. Jobs, and family network are also important.. Open road is not a place for a kid.. Sure its ok for summer break and such but they miss out on so much like school, friends, etc etc.. And I would suggest you look for a company that have both OTR and Local.. Drive Local during the school year, and take out on road during the summer.. Gives you stability, and more important your kid..

Tucking and family is always a hard life for the family.. You did not get custody of your kid for your parents to raise and for you to watch grow up in pictures.. And as a fellow single father, I know what challenges you have in front of you..

As a new driver my advice is if she takes you to court.. Remind them why you was giving custody.. explain your situation that you need to gain 12 months OTR to be able to go to a better local employment in this industry, and that is why your kid is with your parents.. Then if judge does not like the 12 months then make sure he knows that you are willing to come off road to do what is necessary.. The judge may be just looking for that little extra from ya to give you the 12 months to do so..

I wish you the best man..