Hi All!

This is my first post. I'm looking for a career change, I've been sitting in front of a computer screen about 12-14 hrs a day, and I need a new change of scenery. I'm 43, married, kids, no cdl, no tickets, no criminal record and reside in Maine.

I have contacted Prime and Schneider, Prime says no problem but Schneider says no because Maine doesn't accept their training. Prime sounds good but I've read a lot of negative comments about them.

I'm also looking and Roehl and Central, however I think I need some help and finding the best fit. My major concern is Maine is about as far east as you can get and I want to find the best situation that affords me to be home every once in awhile.

Any recommendations for a training/work company please let me know!

Thanks!

Welcome to the Site! Of all the companies you listed I would say Roehl.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

If you just want to get a cdl to drive local pickups and deliveries then that would be considered a career change. Local drivers get good pay and believe it or not, getting local jobs can be accomplished without any experience. Consider LTL companies that start you out as driver/dock worker who let you work the dock, shuttle trailers in the yard, and then let you go out on short deliveries and so on.

If you want to drive over the road then you would be considering a lifestyle/career change. As a new driver OTR, you would be submitting yourself to the most challenging emotional test of your character and relationships. Most first timers can expect challenges to your emotional strength due to the distance and time away from a normal life. Your relationship with your wife will be tested. The boredom and loneliness of driving otr will make or break your life.

Most new drivers then quit after the first few months, and struggle with sense of freedom givin by the open road and being tied down to a 9-5 job.
Ultimately, the cost of true freedom is loneliness.

Now if you were single without kids, then a life otr would bring freedom, excitement, travel and good money. Its a choice we all have to make.

I started out with Schneider. I've worked for Schneider, Knight, Marten; then Overnite Transportation, Yellow Freight, Conway, FedEx freight, the US Postal Service, and now USF Reddaway. I suffer from the "grass is greener on the other side syndrome". However, It goes to show you that once you get cdl experience you can work anywhere even as a job hopper. The key to getting jobs is always timing and getting a feel for the business cycles and hiring practices of companies.

Anyway, good luck...

LOL You sound like me. I been a Microsoft network tech for 19 years Im marrerd with one boy. I start CDL school on March 5

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Dave

OU812

sounds like a lot of people are getting into driving...i am married for 18yrs, have 1 child that will be moving out of the house soon and wanted to "see" the country...I dont agree that freedom is lonliness, guess it just depends on ur prospective...i havnt started school, still trying to figure out how to make it work...I now work 12 hour days, 3 and 4 days a week, and havent found a school that will accomidate that type of work schedule. its all 4 weeks, m-f 7to 5...maybe just scared to take the "jump"

I spoke with Roehl and they sound good to me, but I am waiting to hear back from a job that I've applied for in Iraq. They tell me that they have a position for me but I'm still waiting. If I don't hear anything firm by April 1, I'm going to Roehl. I would rather be driving but the income I can make in Iraq is pretty big carrot.

I have an Uncle and a cousin over there and my brother is Maj. in the Army and flies chinooks.

But any career change is scary!

Truck driving can be extremely lonely at times! I also drive line for USF Reddaway, and have ran OTR in the past and even doing short line layovers can get lonely at times. Thank God for the Reddaway cell phone network! Uhhh there is no true freedom on the road. Its a myth. I have seen so many new guys come and go cause driving for a living is not what they expected. Its not Smokey and the Bandit, or BJ and the Bear, but its a good life.