getting back into truck driving

greetings, im not exactly a new driver , first got my cdl back in the summer of 2013, drove for about a year and a half, but then decided i wanted to try something else for a while.. i quit back in november of 2014.. i wasnt really sure what i wanted to do with my life, originally got my license because me and my ex-girlfriend broke up(at 24), and later decided to quit because i wasnt sure if i wanted to be a driver either... the thing is, ive always been a driver, whether it was pizza delivery, or what ive been doing recently(driving a cargo van delivering stuff to supermarkets) ive only ever worked as a driver, except for 2 years at starbucks.. well im getting that urge to hit the road again, waking up in new and interesting places, being a modern day nomad, i have no wife no kids, and no reason not to get back out there.. looking at my options, im thinking ill probably have to get back with a mega carrier again and do a refresher course, but i do have another option. my grand father owns his own truck and does regional here in california. im wondering if i drive with him for a few months and then apply to another company, if my work history with my grandfather would count, like if he pays me under the table, i wont have any proof of my experience except for my word.. sorry about the long winded post but felt like some context might be important, or maybe its just therapeutic.. anyways, thanks for reading

 

Driving for your grandfather won't count if you're paid under the table.
KKW Trucking will hire you if your cdl is still good. They'll work with you to get you back up to speed.
Freymiller will hire you and put you through their refresher course.

 

Have grandpa pay you with 1099 that can be your legal proof.

 

thanks china town, good to see you still on this forum being as helpful as ever, way back when i was first looking to get my license, i used to frequent this forum a lot(under another username, that i cant remember now) and noticed that you were always very active/helpful... so what if i do a 1099 or something instead, hes not rich, and is the main breadwinner to a household of adult children that dont contribute, so making me a payed employee would be expensive right?(which is what id like to avoid)

 

thanks, and that wouldn't be too expensive would it? his english isnt so great, so im trying to do some research to see if id even want to put him in a situation like that(he makes good money, but supports my aunts uncles and their children)

 

Probably better off for you and grandfather to just go your own way.
KKW Trucking is dry van and Freymiller is refrigerated. Both companies have good reputations with drivers.

 

thats what i figured, his problem is, he wants to help everyone , but then gets taken advantage of.. so i felt aprehensive about joining up with him.. plus , mixing family with money can cause .. issues, ha! thanks for those suggestions by the way!

 

May Trucking Company will probably hire you also, but Freymiller has the nicest trucks set up for driver comfort.

 

If you are going to drive, then be paid properly.

Being paid under the table bites you decades later into the future when you are attempting to maximize your social security and other benefits should they come into play.

I was paid under the table now and then and winters with that employer meant that I go home on unemployment and stay healthy, fed and fit until spring time to get back to paving. It was the best time of my life because when it's winter you cannot produce quality pavement nor should you try. So it's unemployment time for 26 weeks or whatever and a chance to stay warm in addition to taking a few trips here and there that otherwise would be missed out when you are at work before sunrise and do not expect to stop work until after sunset and cannot see as it was in my time.

The fact you have a family member with a big truck is a HUGE advantage to you. No more grubby bus rides with 50 smelly friends to endure a orientation with a bunch of unwashed liars champing at the bit to be issued a truck and roll at the end of that week while taking classes you likely will not address again until your next orientiaton with someone else.

Do it properly. Take out your pay as you should be paid aboveboard, taxes and all each year. put aside some in savings.

Your word means nothing. To the Industry. You can say you were the best driver God has ever seen since Genesis and it wont matter to anyone who is hiring drivers. What you CAN do is limit yourself carefully to your family trucking company where your word DOES mean something and how.

I have some other thoughts. But leave it here for now.

 

thanks, do you know what the costs are for insurance and having to pay someone, my grandfather has a tendancy to lend out help, and shoot himself in the food, co-signing for cars for my aunts and uncles, letting them live there rent free, and i dont want to be another parasite off of him, but being able to get training with someone i trust, and who isnt a stranger is appealing, but after about five months, id still like to get my own truck again and go otr, he is just regional here in california.. i had a dream recently of the early morning, right at the dawn of sunrise, coming into wyoming.. i really miss the open road.. something else i was considering is maybe giving the lease to own at one of the megas a try... i know the consensus seems to be that it is a scam, but i have no big expenses, no house payment, no dependents, no loans.. i feel like i could stay out for a year and pay off a lot of the truck.. what do you think about that?