I'm seeing a trend here...

Try contacting your local driving school, C.C. or Vocational training institute and see about loans or grants from the schools to get your CDL then go from there. If Maverick will train you but not pay for you to get your CDL then this might be your best bet. If you can get in with Maverick I would try that, I have heard all good things about them, the flatbed devision that is. The specialized has been given negative remarks on a few occasions.

 

Something NoTarps once said stuck with me, and I suspect it's true for most of the folks here who have diesel in their blood. "It's a job you love to hate..." LOL

 

Sorting through all these post about the differant companies, can be very depressing. There is a lot of negative on here. But, if you look closely at the post. You'll note there is a pattern....of abuse of employees at certian "top" companies in the trucking industry.

You must be very selective in your search. Even though you are just starting out, you still have that option. It will just take longer to find a company to work for. Especially, since you are wanting that company to train/pay for your CDL.

Your best bet, take out a student loan or check into a Community College Program. Some states are even offering "paid" training, through grants. You have to apply at your local job services office. Having your CDL before you apply, gives you leverage. A lot more than you have at the moment. And, it opens up a lot of other companies to the possibility of hiring you.

 

Does Wisconsin have a way of expunging the old DWI's off your record? In California if you know the right person to talk to you can ask for ones older than 13 years to be expunged. They look into it, and in my boyfriend's case, dropped it right off. It has to be done BEFORE the CDL permit is applied for. He had two old ones and was able to remove one of them this way. The other one was still 4 months away from the 13 year mark and since he had been out of work for 6 months, he decided one would be fine. But it all has to be done before the CDL. Once the CDL is opened, stuff can't be expunged for 55 years.

 

Hire an attorney

 

Well it looks like I might need to find another way to make a living. I am in a similar situation. I have two OWI convictions, 5 years old and 7 years old. I also have a public intoxication charge from 2004. I have been trying like hell to find a company that will hire me and pay for my CDL training. I have started school, but they told me to go home last week and fill out every application that they have. This is taking forever, and I am runnung out of time. If I start school again Monday, it takes three weeks minimum to complete. Then probably two weeks after that before I draw a check. I will just barely make my rent payment on time, and that is if I get a prehire from a company before I finish school. I did take the CDL permit test, but I have not taken the physical yet. I wonder if it is too late to get some of this expunged. If not I might just find another job and wait like a year or two before I try the trucking thing again. I realy want to drive and have been waiting for my last OWI to hit 5 years old. I would even consider driving for a horrible company for a year just to get my foot in the door. I dont know if there are any real options for me right now, but I do know that I am beyond frustrated.

 

Leannamarie , I'm in Sac, I've got a couple DUI's 30 years old. You say they can be expunged from your record. Who would i need to talk to at DMV to find out. "HELP" THANKS for any information

 

Get a lawyer, it'll be quicker as he will know what hoops to jump through. Probably cost $500 or so but its worth it if your serious about driving.