Soon to be rookie with questions.

much appreciated, Jeeps

 

I'm 55 and thinking hard in the direction of trucking (the rest of) my life away.
It's too long of a story but I'll try hard to make it short: I had 28 years in a job that only young people do now and I haven't been able to keep up with them. - Computer graphics. So with HS education and no other skills I see driving as the only option, and besides, if it weren't for affirmative action in the seventies I would have been on the railroad like my father, uncle and grandfather - 110 years total - so I see trucking as similar in a way.
My question: I'm unemployed. Unemployment says they will pay for me to get a CDL-A at a school. I imagine I'll be OTR for at least 6 months. After that I hope to be able to be home (most) nights and bring in at least $50,000 per yr. Please make it clear for me how you feel about this plan, especially about 65 hour school vs. another way.
Many thanks in advance,
Bill

 

You're probably gonna have to put in a year otr atleast, most local companies want atleast a year otr experience, some places want 2 years. Only other way is if you get a decent tech college for schooling, some of the tech schools have good in's at the local companies and help get you in the door.

 

Do a little reading in the "Report a Bad Company Here " forum and see the experiences others have had with various companies . Many new drivers are making well under $30,000 a year . You have to have a clean MVR and perfect health to have any kind of a chance . Some carrier doctors reject drivers with blood pressure readings that are within FMCSA standards . They reject you if you are on medication and require annual DOT physicals .