Y'know, sometimes the little devil on your shoulder can be persuasive.

I'm still trolling the industry trying to find an outfit that'll take an experienced driver with no *recent* experience. There are a couple owners who have contacted me, but one is offering a seat on a straight truck, which doesn't help me in the tractor-trailer experience requirement, and the other barely speaks English.
A regional pneumatic bulk outfit is OK with my experience, and they REALLY need drivers, but don't have enough trucks to go around right now (hint to them... if the work's there, and there are drivers available, go buy some trucks... just sayin')

Then, the "easy" way to go... I just got a call from a CREngland recruiter this morning. They offer refresher training, and require the 90 day training period before putting you in a truck. He told me I'd have to drive on a team unless... (drum roll) I lease a truck. Even *with* the warnings I've seen on this forum and on others, I find myself half-tempted.

You know how when you're overweight, you'll stare at the incoming forkfull of cake, knowing you shouldn't eat it... but it keeps coming in.
Or, ya know ya oughta quit smoking, and it'd be so easy to just halt the hand holding the cigarette, but it keeps coming in.

*sigh*

That tanker outfit will hire O/O guys, would in fact jump at being able to cover the freight, but require that you have tractor, trailer, and blower. I don't think I'd be able to get all that financed right now.

again... *sigh*

Tempted to go the MM route and pick up a cheap rig, but I don't think I'm as mechanically inclined as MedicineMan.

 

Hmm... now I get a call from a FedEx expedited owner looking for a co-driver. Evidently they're ok with someone in my position, as I'd have 'co-driver' status for about six months. Hey, whatever works!

The o/o is going to come through Little Rock on Sunday evening, and I'll meet him at the truckstop, see if we get along ok. Probably be a heck of a lot better idea than CRE.

 

Nope, didn't work out, and the pneumatic tanker outfit recently switched insurance companies, and the new outfit requires experience in the last two years.
Oyp.
The terminal manager directed me toward some residual-waste outfits in the area. I guess I'll go diggin' around there.

 

I just talked to PAM today, and they seem to be ok with my situation. This may work out well enough. The pay ain't the greatest, but it's one of the 'starter' companies I hear the least grousing about.
Then, after a year, I can maybe to talk to the pneumo guys again, and the pay is decent, and I'd always be within a few hours of home.

 

I see yer point there, but I've been told the door's open at the pneumatic tanker outfit, as soon as I've gotten the amount of time I need. It's local, pays well, and I'll actually be home enough to fly every other week or so.
It's also what I spent my last 5 driving years doing, so it'd be a comfortable return to a familiar gig.
Just gotta get that "noob" time out of the way.... again.

 

Thanks for the lead, I'll go check on it. And, you're right about not wanting to go back to boxes. With blow tankers, usually the receivers would just show me where to hook up and leave me to my own devices. Just the way I like it... unless their vents are clogged or something. Then it can be a pain.