Getting company CDL training with a questionable driving record... advice?

I just got my operators license back after a 2 1/2 year suspension for no insurance in Kentucky. Times got hard, it was food or insurance.

According to my MVR, the only marks I have now are 2 charges of driving on suspended. Again, kept driving (foolishly) for a while to get to work to pay the bills. One will fall off 10/10 and the other in 02/11.

Currently I am unemployed and researching the companies that offer CDL training programs. Based on what I can find on websites, my choices are very slim.

I am looking for recommendations of companies that may work with my situation.

For now, Prime looks like a candidate, as they call for no more than 2 (3?) violations in 3 years and no suspensions for points (mine were not).

A few other companies looked good until I saw a requirment calling for 2 years of active license within the last 3 years. I just got my license back this month. This is the case with CR England, but I've been reading too many horror stories here anyway.

Maverick looks like an awesome company but I cant figure out if they have a CDL training program, or if their program is just for recent CDL school graduates. Maybe somebody can clear that up for me.

Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm new here, and this is an awesome place. I've been reading for about 2 days now and finnaly decided to speak up.

 

Thanks for the encouragement, I'm not going to give up. I just found out yesterday that we've got a little one on the way, so yet more motivation to keep trying.

Today I made my rounds through the unemployment office to fill out some job applications for local work and I found out that I might be able to get state sponsored CDL training at no cost to me. I've got a stack of paperwork to fill out and have to go take this TABE test on Monday, but it sounds kinda promising.

Wondering if I'm better off talking to trucking companies with a CDL in hand, or if I still need to pursue company training. Seems some companies are iffy about newbies already holding CDL's. We shall weigh the odds and see here.

 

No doubt and thanks... Just counted the stack, 11 pages of paperwork just to get on "The List". Girl down at the office said there were about 25 ppl ahead of me, but she figured maybe only 10 or so were serious about the program.

I realize the odds stacked against me here, but I do have to try. At least if I can pocket a CDL, it's one more skill I will have while on the hunt for a good job. If not with a big company, weve got alot of small outfits around here, gravel pits, logging companies, propane gas, etc.

I'm up for anything atm though. I've submitted to offshore companies looking for riggers and floormen, and I might even consider going back out to climb cell phone towers again. Having a CDL can help with the climbing job, as sometimes they have larger equipment that needs to be moved.

I'll tell ya guys, I'm not being picky but I'm deffinately shooting for better than minimum wages here. Were staying with the inlaws atm, baby on the way, car payment, the whole nine yards. This years been rough, as it has for a ton of people. If I could strip tobacco to make ends meet I would, but theres a whole slew of guys from down south doing that for next to nothing. Thanks for all the input though, this is an awesome place and its nice to find some level headed guys who shoot me straight.