Just Need To Vent To People Who Understand

So the past three years ive been waiting for my driving reccord to clean up so I could start my new career and reopen my fathers trucking company. I got out of a lot of bad habits and away from negative influences in my life. I’ve made a really big turn around and im proud of myself for sticking to my goals and being a responsible adult. I stopped doing drugs. I cut back on drinking quite a bit, almost completely. And I’ve been studying hard to pass the cdl tests first try and get out there driving and to get the hell away from my current life.

This was my year to do it. This month marked 3 years since my last speeding ticket. It’s my time to shine. The lease on my apartment is up in september, thats when i wanted to head off to driver training at one of the very few programs that hire out of Florida. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time and it was finally in my grasp. I’ve been dreading going to work every day knowing I have better plans ahead of me. It’s been like psychological torture and it was finally about to end. I don’t think ive ever had this much to look forward to. I even convinced my parents to watch my dog for me while im training which was a task on its own.

I fill out my application, gather my work history and fill it out as accurately as possible, send it off knowing I was going to get a call from the recruiter explaining where id be going and all that jazz. Well I got an email, and it’s probably the ****tiest thing I’ve ever had to read in my entire life. It simply says “i was unable to get your unemployment time approved.” Im honestly heart broken.

My work history has been somewhat inconsistent the past few years. From covid to my motorcycle accident that almost took my leg and a short period of time where i was struggling to find work after another injury. I call my recruiter up to ask why my dreams are being shattered and how long I would have to wait for the company to overlook it. Another year he tells me. Another year. Circumstances that are 100% out of my control have rendered my application useless. I don’t even know what to do now. That was absolutely the last thing I thought I had to worry about. Ive called every pay to train company I can find and all of them either dont hire where I live or also have an issue with my unemployment.

I’ve sold or trashed almost all of my belongings in preparation to leave, I’ve sold all my motorcycles (which were the only things keeping me sane), I’ve got nowhere to live after next month and my savings are depleting quickly. I don’t know if I can stomach another year of my current life.

I've never wanted something more in my life and now that I thought I had it, it’s gone for at least another year. I’ve felt I’m suffocating in my own misery, wanting desperately to leave and start a new life for years and now im just ****ing crushed. I know this is all on me and my personal choices. Im only 25, I hopefully have a long life ahead if me. But it really sucks to finally realize where you belong, working and embracing the suck to make it happen, being good when I had plenty of opportunity and influence to do otherwise, and I just get **** on by my 1 opportunity to make something of myself where I know im not going to hate every morning getting out of bed to do it.

Honestly I hope nobody reads this cause it’s embarrassing to me ranting and complaining like a little ***** but I needed to get it off my chest. Another year. I can do it. It’s gonna be worth it, right?

Take a look at these Paid CDL Training Programs to see if you've applied to all of these. There's also CFI, Swift, C.R. England to name a few that have schools but aren't included on that link. Unfortunately living in Florida cuts into what companies will hire you as you're finding out. Don't give up hope. If you indeed do need to wait it out another year just keep doing what you're doing. Keep your nose clean and stick with whatever job you currently have. We have plenty of members here that had a rough start and have used that to push them to be the best they can and now enjoy a very lucrative career. Don't give up or fall into a bad place due to frustrations with the situation.

I called every single company I could find that offers training. Im either going to have to relocate and hope that the other companies will be ok with my spotty work history or just wait. I know im not gonna relapse into old habits. Ive made it this far, im not going to give up my progress. Im just super bummed out. Ive been counting the days for a long time, now i have to start over from 365.

Take a look at these Paid CDL Training Programs to see if you've applied to all of these. There's also CFI, Swift, C.R. England to name a few that have schools but aren't included on that link. Unfortunately living in Florida cuts into what companies will hire you as you're finding out. Don't give up hope. If you indeed do need to wait it out another year just keep doing what you're doing. Keep your nose clean and stick with whatever job you currently have. We have plenty of members here that had a rough start and have used that to push them to be the best they can and now enjoy a very lucrative career. Don't give up or fall into a bad place due to frustrations with the situation.

I think I’m gonna call the original one I applied for in the morning and try to talk to them and explain my situation and ask if they’re willing to make any exceptions. Id rather **** in my hands and clap than have to wait another year.

One thing that Old School has suggested to people in similar situations is to see if they would be ok with friends or family having a letter notarized verifying what your claims are of why you weren't working. We've had plenty of people that hadn't worked for quite some time due to being the primary caregiver for a sick relative that had success with that approach. With the demands of trucking they know that the odds of somebody succeeding are much higher if they have a solid employment record as opposed to someone that's been living in their moms basement for the last 5 years capable of working but they'd rather sit around and milk the system. The biggest thing is the employers are required by law to verify what you were doing. They need to make sure you weren't overseas training in an extremist camp and planning to use the truck as a weapon. Don't give up, if you do need to hold off try to make the best of it. Good luck

Rob is right. What they actually need from you is more than just a "work history." Try to provide them with a complete time line of your life for the past three years. It could look like this...

July 2017 to October 2017 - working at Kroger in the frozen food department. Contact person is Freddy Freezer @ 909-333-4321.

November 2017 to June 2018 I was recovering from a bad motorcycle accident and couldn't work. Attached is the documentation of the doctor's release for me to return to the work force.

July 2018 I took a job at our local Ace Hardware. That lasted until August of 2019 when my Dad got sick and I had to stay home and help with his care until November of 2019. The contact at Ace Hardware is Mr. Allthread @ 409-867-5309.

Attached are three notarized letters with names and contact numbers verifying what I was doing during that time period of taking care of my Dad.

December of 2019 until present I have been doing lawn care to earn some money. Here's the names and numbers of three customers who can verify this.

That's the kind of information they need. Leave no unexplained gaps. You don't have to be employed consistently for all those training companies. There's a very small few who are more meticulous about it, but most of them just need a complete time line of what you were doing and where you were. As long as you can provide them a way to verify it other than just your word, they can use your documentation to get you approved.

But, waiting another year is NOT the end of the world. I have a criminal past (not drugs, being a pervert, or a piece of crap domestic abuser) but fortunately the convictions are over 20 years old, one was for two DUIs'(second one was felonious) in less than a year. We, unfortunately, have to pay our dues sometimes with a checkered past. The important thing is to keep your head up, do not let obstacles lead you back to the past that got you here in the first place.

I was worried that because of my past I would get rejected, but I ended up with several good opportunities. Just relax, accept it for what it is, and do what you need to do to get yourself where you want to go.

Speaking from experience, I know all about being impatient but if you let it get to you, you might make a decision out of panic that makes it worse instead of better.

I think I’m gonna call the original one I applied for in the morning and try to talk to them and explain my situation and ask if they’re willing to make any exceptions. Id rather **** in my hands and clap than have to wait another year.

Just relax, accept it for what it is, and do what you need to do to get yourself where you want to go.

Speaking from experience, I know all about being impatient but if you let it get to you, you might make a decision out of panic that makes it worse instead of better.

Really excellent advice Mike - thank you for jumping into this. I sometimes teach in here concerning the "Tyranny of Urgency." Anytime we make decisions under the stress of feeling we have to get this done immediately we often make a bad decision. Most decisions or commitments can wait a little while. We have to be careful we don't allow ourselves to make poor choices based on a false sense of urgency. Urgency can be a cruel taskmaster.

Indeed. It's not easy but as we get older we should learn these things. Unfortunately I chose to learn the hard way that my irresponsible path had long term repercussions. It's cost me jobs I would have been good at and happy at. But, even though I grew to hate it, I stayed in the flooring business for many years because I am good at it and it pays well so if I couldn't have the jobs I wanted, then I had to be good at the job I had.

By sucking it up, being dependable, staying out of trouble, and making myself valuable to my current career, after time, I am able to get a job that I have always wanted and am genuinely excited about.

But, it took time, Zakk S. Hopefully for you it won't take 20 plus years and a divorce from a crazy person, but it might take an additional one or two years, so stick to your plan and stay away from the people and situations that helped cause your current situation.

Just relax, accept it for what it is, and do what you need to do to get yourself where you want to go.

Speaking from experience, I know all about being impatient but if you let it get to you, you might make a decision out of panic that makes it worse instead of better.

Really excellent advice Mike - thank you for jumping into this. I sometimes teach in here concerning the "Tyranny of Urgency." Anytime we make decisions under the stress of feeling we have to get this done immediately we often make a bad decision. Most decisions or commitments can wait a little while. We have to be careful we don't allow ourselves to make poor choices based on a false sense of urgency. Urgency can be a cruel taskmaster.

Just reassurance that above advice will help i was helping my dad when he recovered from a stroke. A accurate time line with info for companies to double check makes a difference.

Best of luck.