Just in need of some advice.

You will need a refresher course. Some CDL schools and community colleges have refresher courses. There should be plenty of the schools in KY. Some trucking companies have this course such as Swift & Maverick, but the private school would be just as good and close to home.

You don't need the full CDL school, just a refresher.

 

About a family member riding with you. Some companies allow this and some don't. Some allow only during certain months of the year & certain ages of the family member. A tanker company I worked for allowed one family member and an insurance fee of $25 dollars per month.

Funny story. Several years ago I stopped in Berea for a meal; small pit stop, good food. The guy in the cafe said the truck stop owner was trying to expand his parking lot, but the city council stopped him. The council told him the town doesn't want to attract more truckers, because where truckers are there is an increase in armed robberies, rapes, kidnappings, drugs, murders and other unsavory behavior. I laughed so hard, my sides ached. He was upset with the city council, and said those clowns sure can't withstand close scrutiny on their moral character. Anyway, best wishes on your trucking career.

 

I got my CDL A but never used it, I drove B for over 14 years. When I wanted to go OTR last year, every company I contacted told me I needed to take the full course in order to get hired. They would not accept a refresher course. Check with the companies you are interested in to see what they want you to do.

 

Things change fast now in trucking. Better follow up with what Dagger posted and ask companies you're interested in about what they want.
There's some very good companies out there & some go the extra mile to hire veterans. Some may say require certain amount of experience, but sometime will waive that requirement.
Watkins & Shepard has a terminal in Richmond,KY
Marten Transport
Melton Truck Lines
TransAm
Maverick
TMC

Companies with veterans programs:
Crete Carrier
Quality Carriers
Schneider

 

Prime INC will accomodate cdl holders in your position. They will put u through the full program including the cdl tests, but you still keep your cdl. Prime allows riders in most instances, but company drivers do have an age limit.

 

I read on here the other day that Maverick will take you with no refresher coarse and put you with a trainer. It was a current Maverick trainer that posted it. You may want to check with them.

 

I was in a similar situation, I got my CDL, drove for Crete for awhile, then drove local for awhile, then I stopped driving, when things changed and I needed a job, I applied with a lot of different companies, some said they wanted a full year experience and others like Schneider, Werner, Swift to name a few, talked to me, Werner put me in with a trainer for a bit and I got a call from Andrus, they said that the time with a trainer with Werner was sufficient and got me rolling. You will hear a lot of negativity about these companies, but if they get you rolling again, why not go with a trainer for awhile, who knows, you just might find the perfect fit. Apply with all the companies out there, I am sure one will get you back on the road.

 

you might be able to find a O/O who will let you team with them for a while to get more recent driving history.thats what the foreign drivers do