How to get started?

I’m a 49 year old male in Florida. I’m looking to get company sponsored CDL, but I’ve run into a few problems

Firstly, I’ve only had my license for 10 months after it was suspended for 5 years. In 2018, I sold my vehicle and didn’t report it with my insurance company. They reported me as actively driving, and Florida DOT suspended my license. The reason I sold my vehicle was because I moved to South Korea to teach English, and then to England with my British wife. I had no idea my US license was suspended.

I have never had any other issues with my license, no tickets or accidents. Several companies I applied to said I had to have my license for a year.

Secondly, I have a spotty work history and address. When 2020 and Covid hit, I lost my teaching job in South Korea and my wife and I moved to England where I wasn’t allowed to work because of my visa. When I finally got a couple of jobs they were just temp. So I kind of have no really work experience since 2020.

These things combined seem like I’m not going to be able to find a company to sponsor me.

Does anyone have any advice? Considering going to CDL school, but the cost is a bit prohibitive for me at the moment and I’m afraid I’ll still have the same problems, plus not having experience.

Thanks so much in advance. Ask me anything else which might be relevant.

 

Thanks for this reply. I was hoping that would be the case. Would bad credit be something that could hold me back? One carrier said to reapply in October, but then I got an email saying something about my consumer report making me ineligible. That’s one of the reasons I want to get into trucking. I could pay my debt off in a year’s time. I just honestly don’t want to go back into teaching. It was like a battle every day.

 

Thanks for your advice. That’s totally what I’m doing on Monday. I live in Tallahassee, Florida and the local community college has a two month program starting in the beginning of October. I filled out the application today, and the office sent me the application for the Rebuild Florida grant. I have an appointment on Monday to go in and receive help with the application. Fingers crossed.

I definitely don’t make enough money. Only working one day a week at the moment. On food stamps as well. Just feel a little dismayed as to whether or not I actually have a chance to take on this new career. I dreamed about it for almost a year and was on my way to doing it in England. Then got divorced, lost my visa, and now back in Florida barely making ends meet. Becoming a truck driver seems like the perfect job match for my personality and long-term goals. If I did it for 20 years, I might be able to actually save for retirement.

 

Thanks to everyone who’s replied so far. I really, really appreciate it!

 

You’re absolutely right. But they probably never taught middle school English at some of the “worst” schools in North Florida. Doesn’t suit my personality. Teaching in South Korea compared to teaching here is apples to oranges. I love teaching, but I hate classroom management. I’m just not cut out for it unfortunately.