I'd Like To Become A Driver, But Having Trouble Finding What I Need...

How do you feel about dock work?

You could look into taking a dock position at a LTL company then getting into their dock to driver program.

James you are really getting some good suggestions here. The dock to driver suggestion might work well for you. Do you understand what that is? Just ask if you need more info.

Also, about the cat. It’s totally understandable that you have been through a lot and the cat is your lifeline. For your own emotional well being, please don’t give up on finding a temporary home for Chance. I sense that you could tolerate an absence but not a complete separation. Can you start a GoFundMe page to raise some money for temporary arrangements for Chance? If you did this, let us know. I’d kick in some money, maybe others would too.

Also, try applying to Schneider National. They pay for most everything if you are accepted into one of their school locations. Plus pay during training and a shorter time out with a trainer than Prime. This can be good or bad depending on your natural ability to learn driving.

Keep those mental wheels turning and a path forward should reveal itself little by little and step by step.

I'm not trying to sell knight, by any means. I just happen to know their structure.

You're an employee before you start school.

450.00 per week in school, 3 weeks long. No meals, no lodging provided.

1 week top gun, you sleep in a truck on campus. 850.00 per week.

2 weeks OTR training, 850.00 per week.

No contract. You're free to leave at any point, if you choose to do so, you have a zero interest loan. If you stay a year, it's taken out at like 150 a month or something low. I honest can't remember.

If you read my diary and a great many others, we all found reasons (excuses) for not getting into this industry until at some point we simply made the choice to do it.

Hey all. I just wanted to say that I really do greatly appreciate all of you! So much advice and so many suggestions. It's incredible! I'm so glad I registered here!

I apologize in advance for not naming anyone here as I quickly wrote down all the advice and suggestions and I will quickly go through all of them to find the best direction for me.

I guess I'll bring up my cat; Chance; first. It's really tough to say this, but I really feel the best thing I can do is to find him a good, loving home. I know there are some trucking companies that will allow you to bring a pet after all training is done, but realistically I can't see me bringing him with me on a truck. He'd go insane and probably jump all over me while I'm trying to drive and if I left him in a cage, he's meow his head off and besides, I'd feel bad for keeping him in a cage while I'm driving. He needs to be free to roam in a home or apartment; preferably with another cat as a playmate. It's really the best option for both of us. I do greatly appreciate the idea of setting up a GoFundMe page. That's a great and very sweet suggestion, but I just feel it's best for both of us that I find a good home for him.

As far as who to go through for training I saw a couple of suggestions here: Knight and Schneider. I'm going to look into both of them and see what I believe is the best option for me.

As far as selling items, I have been doing that. I currently have 10 items on Facebook Marketplace and will be adding a ton more things to it. With the suggestion for Biolife, that's interesting. I didn't know you can sell your plasma and get money for it. I'll definitely look into that, but I'm not sure if they will accept plasma from someone that had a cancerous tumor 2 years ago. Besides, I'm not crazy about needles, but would definitely look the other way if I could sell my plasma to them. Something else I just thought about. Do trucking companies have some type of Covid mandate? I never got the Covid shot and I really don't trust it either. If anyone knows one way or the other, please let me know. Thanks!

Once again, a HUGE thanks to ALL of you for all of your advice, suggestions and help! I really do greatly appreciate it and although I really don't know any of you, you already feel like friends to me! Thanks!

James, once you solve the ca problem, you might want to check PAM Transport

I just read an ad that goes like this:

How to Get Your Class A CDL Training

You can get your CDL training onsite at PAM! PAM has partnered with Select CDL Driving School (SDS) to offer a new CDL school at PAM headquarters, to get your trucking career off on the right foot.

Apply now! As you train you’ll get to meet other drivers, check out the equipment, and learn the PAM culture to get yourself closer to a driving seat with PAM.

NEW! Get $100 a Week While in School

SDS is now offering a weekly $100 stipend for all new CDL students. You’ll get $100 each week for 3 weeks of school. That’s $300 you can use to help with living expenses during school.* NEW! Industry-Leading 6-Month Commitment

PAM just set a new industry standard by only requiring a 6-month driving commitment to have all your school tuition covered. Other trucking companies require you to drive at least one or two years before they pay for CDL school.

Here is the Trucking Truth PAM Transport Review (The details here are not up-to-date.)

PAM's web site

James, I’m glad to hear that a plan is starting to fall into place for you.

Just a couple of pet items:

Schneider has a total “no pet” policy, unless that has changed in the last few years, which I doubt.

It’s fairly common for companies to require a security deposit up front before allowing a pet. I know my company requires $350 deposit to get permission for a pet. Policies differ company to company.

Hi Errol. Thanks for that! I will check them out as well. One way or another, it appears I'll need money of my own no matter which trucking company I decide to go through. I'm just trying to push sales now on Facebook Marketplace and make more ads. I really don't need much in my apartment considering I'd probably be on the road most of the time anyways.

James, once you solve the ca problem, you might want to check PAM Transport

I just read an ad that goes like this:

How to Get Your Class A CDL Training

You can get your CDL training onsite at PAM! PAM has partnered with Select CDL Driving School (SDS) to offer a new CDL school at PAM headquarters, to get your trucking career off on the right foot.

Apply now! As you train you’ll get to meet other drivers, check out the equipment, and learn the PAM culture to get yourself closer to a driving seat with PAM.

NEW! Get $100 a Week While in School

SDS is now offering a weekly $100 stipend for all new CDL students. You’ll get $100 each week for 3 weeks of school. That’s $300 you can use to help with living expenses during school.* NEW! Industry-Leading 6-Month Commitment

PAM just set a new industry standard by only requiring a 6-month driving commitment to have all your school tuition covered. Other trucking companies require you to drive at least one or two years before they pay for CDL school.

Here is the Trucking Truth PAM Transport Review (The details here are not up-to-date.)

PAM's web site

I'm wondering why you even think you need the apartment. Why not make a fresh start? You could unload everything and just live a nomadic lifestyle in your truck. There's a lot of people doing that. Anytime you want a break from work you just tell your dispatcher where you'd like to take some home time, and if possible, they will route you in that area for a few days of relaxation.

Problem solved. No financial commitments but your cell phone.

Hi Old School. I haven't really thought about that one. I think it would take some getting use to and I probably could do that, but currently I am under lease here until September. But, you did give me something to chew on. I'll definitely give that some thought.

I'm wondering why you even think you need the apartment. Why not make a fresh start? You could unload everything and just live a nomadic lifestyle in your truck. There's a lot of people doing that. Anytime you want a break from work you just tell your dispatcher where you'd like to take some home time, and if possible, they will route you in that area for a few days of relaxation.

Problem solved. No financial commitments but your cell phone.

Hi BK. Thanks for the info, but I'm currently looking for a good home for Chance; my cat. I really think it's best for both of us. I can't see him wanting to travel in a truck with me and if anything, he's probably cause an accident. He needs someone; preferably; that already has another cat so he'd have someone to play with. The more I thought about trying to keep him and drag him along with me, the more I realized that it would be hard for both of us and if anything I was being selfish about that idea anyways. It's best to find him a good home. A stable environment. Thanks for the info, though.

James, I’m glad to hear that a plan is starting to fall into place for you.

Just a couple of pet items:

Schneider has a total “no pet” policy, unless that has changed in the last few years, which I doubt.

It’s fairly common for companies to require a security deposit up front before allowing a pet. I know my company requires $350 deposit to get permission for a pet. Policies differ company to company.