New Driver Disqualification (Suspension)

Hello to everyone!

So a little about me, I am 32 years old. I am currently working in the hospitality field (Hotels), and looking to expand my financial growth. I have been interested in getting my CDL for a few years now. My adopted dad drives flat beds, and my biological father has been pushing for me to get it as well. I have finally grown some interest in getting into the industry as I know it could broaden my horizons. I may of ran into a bit of a snag as I have been doing a bit of research, and found out my license in South Carolina is suspended. Read below the details of my driving history.

I was born and raised in Ohio, received my drivers license at the age of 16. I had my drivers license from 16-21.

At 22 (2009) I had rear ended someone, as well as my license was suspended due to failure to pay child support. During this time I also received a driving without a license, driving with a suspended license, and expired tags.

Being dumb as I was I didn't take care of these charges and let them go until October 2017. At this time I payed all fines, and child support suspension had been lifted years ago. I was able to successfully get my drivers license at this time. I did have to file SR-22 in South Carolina. In November of 2017 I purchased a new car.

In December of 2017 I relocated back to Ohio with my new car and continued my life. March 2018 I had transferred my South Carolina license over to Ohio, with no issues. South Carolina even at this point stated that if I surrendered my South Carolina license they would cancel out the SR-22 in me doing so. So that didn't haunt me after. At this point I felt like everything was good with my license! I did not receive any new violations, never was pulled over.

Keep in mind my Ohio license stayed valid, and is still valid to this day. (It is only affecting my South Carolina license in which I had already surrendered to the Ohio BMV when I got my Ohio license.)

So now that I have been doing my research on getting my CDL I found out my South Carolina license had been suspended after I switched over due to failure to pay taxes on my new car, which I completely forgot about. (In the state of South Carolina, you have to pay taxes on your vehicle every year because its considered property. Property tax on vehicles just like you would on your house) I will be taking care of this tomorrow to be exact 01/08/20. I am not quite sure when my license was suspended here, but I am assuming shortly after April 15th 2018. Anyways so now this has been my first suspension since I fixed everything back in 2017.

I have had no moving violations, no dwi , ovis, etc...just this stupid suspension that I didn't realize I had.

I was interested in driving for Prime, but after speaking with a recruiter it doesn't sound like I will be approved due to the suspension, even though it wasn't a moving violation. It seems that after I get this taken care of, I am going to have to wait a year before trying to get my CDL.

I understand I can go and pay for a truck driving school to get my CDL but I do not have those types of funds available.

My question is, is there anywhere I can go that will pay me to get my CDL with my recent suspension? What are my options? Or will I have to wait out the 12 months before I can do anything? I've been quite excited about getting into the industry and now this seems like it shot down my hopes of getting my CDL and into a trucking school such as Prime, Swift, etc... I hope I am wrong and someone can guide me in the right direction. Thanks for everything you guys do, and I appreciate any and all advice!

Welcome, Matthew! I dont know the policies of all the companies that offer paid training or how they would react to the issue of your suspension. You should call as many company recruiters as you can and ask them about it. You might get a lot of rejections but, if you keep at it, you might get lucky and find a company willing to overlook your prior suspension. Prime is considered very picky about whom they choose to hire.

You said they want you to wait a year before applying, right? Well if you can get hired by another company, you can pass that year gaining experience and earning money at the same time. Then if you still want to drive for Prime you can apply. That is pretty much how I ended up driving for Prime. I was originally rejected by them, then after a year with another company I reapplied and was hired.

You can send out an application to multiple companies at once by filling out the required information here: Apply For Paid CDL Training

This will allow you to throw several hooks in the water and see if anyone bites. Even if you aren't accepted by a company that was high on your list, you can still get your CDL and valuable experience by committing to another company for a year.

Welcome Matthew.

Your first priority right now will be to get your license squared away asap. Most companies want to see a clean license going back for at least one year, so the sooner you start the better.

Next, you need to do everything in your power to protect that license from now on if you have any hope of making a career in this field. Your license is your lifeline. Without it you are dead in the water.

As RD points out, it'll be difficult to land a job at most mega carriers with a recent suspension. Your best bet will be to apply to every company that provides Paid CDL Training Programs. Maybe one of them will give you a shot, and if they do, you better jump on it.

Good luck.

Only heard of that once in 1990s working at a Ford dealer in Calif. Then couple years I get this packet from the county to fill out for "property taxes" ?? They tried taxing us on our tools lol Est. $50 a year.....I said like hell !! Pay taxes on every tool I buy, sure ain't payin that tax.....Well smog guy being the sheep he was said "oh its just 50 bucks" pffft I never paid it and the following year that taxation was repealed....

DMV here tried that when I was in my 20s too.....Traded my el camino for my 1st VW beetle. Went to transfer title lady asks what was value of trade? Not knowing whats up, I said eh about 1500 bucks.Then she starts on the calculator so I ask uh what are you doing?? She says figuring the sales tax you owe......

Oh noooo wait a ninute lady I'm not paying sales tax on a straight trade, basicly on same car!! Get a supervisor over here......

After explaining to him our dilemma he told her " No, waive that he don't have to pay that.....THANK YOU I told him......

Hell Calif gets enough money and keep raising dmv fee's even on older cars now. Think we're highernow than even N.Y. lol

I would not waste time or money getting your CDL at a private school, since you have 2 suspensions it will be difficult to get hired and you would just end up wasting money and time since your CDL will be stable by the time you are hireable and you'll have to start school all over again.

Do like the others have said get it fixed asap, apply a few places and see what they say. At worst keep your license clean for a year and try again.