I've screwed up my life pretty bad - will I even be able to get hired if I pass CDL school?

I might suggest forgetting the Megas. Get the CDL, but for work concentrate on Aggregate or Agricultural haulage outfits. Or a farm or construction company even, if they have their own trucks. In that sector you’re more likely to find smaller, old school operators that are easier to deal with than Megas. You don’t want to work for a company that has 200 truck drivers and 1500 admin staff anyway. Small fleets are generally better any way you want to measure it. One of my guys pretty much fit your description of yourself when I met him. He was a mess, but trying. I’ll help anybody who is trying to help themselves. I hired him. That was 18 yrs ago and he’s still here. I guess what I’m trying to say is given your circumstances, you may have better luck at a place where the the guy doing the interview, hiring you and signing the paycheques are all the same person. My 2 cents.

 

You'll be fine man. I see your gumption in your post. I've been down your road myself. Honestly, I was fighting a drug problem when I first got my license, and I had been in some trouble. At the time, the only opportunities coming my way were Western Express, Covenant Transport, and the now defunct Willis Shaw Express. I went with Western and moved on to a better company a year later in Builders Transportation (also defunct). Drug problems and law issues did me in there and it took time to get right. The difference between us is that you're way ahead in your progress than I was when I started. I'm at a good spot now, life and work. After you get your license, and a year in, there are really good companies that hire drivers with even bigger issues than both of us had. At my company, it's multiple drivers with felonies, so you'll definitely do great. I went to Western to start and it's fine to get experience. If you can survive there, you'll make it anywhere in this industry. I'm not saying it all bad, because it wasn't, as I actually enjoyed my time there. On occasion, they can be on some BS, pretty much like any company. Good luck to you and your journey!

 

Worst driving job I've ever had was with a small 4 truck company owned by an owner-operator.
Don't look at the size of the trucking company; look at pay and benefits and paid with W-2.
Yes, even at your age, need to focus on retirement because you're only one DOT physical away from being unemployed.
I've known several drivers that didn't plan and now can no longer drive, are older and living on social security checks.
Plan so you're never in that situation.

 

Don’t sweat it. I just got my CDL but have been researching companies for almost a year. Download the Indeed jobs app, look at the jobs posted on this website, Craigslist, and AllTruckJobs. You can also just google “Cdl jobs + your city or state” exactly how I have it typed, including the parentheses. What you are looking for is company names and job requirements.

You’ll realize that there are tons of companies that will hire you in your situation, and also local/regional positions that will pay way more than OTR. Now truth be told, some may be 2nd chance companies so your starting pay could be low like 31 cents a mile. But it gets you in the door.

 

Don’t discount the larger companies. They have policies and procedures, but if you follow them and do a good job, nobody will bother you or micro mange you. They have better things to do. Yeah, some are better than others, but most if not all, appreciate and treat good employees well.