Shut Out of Trucking - Where to Turn?

Due to both personal desire and financial need, I am trying to break into trucking at age 57. I have applied with all of the usual starter company suspects that hire CDL school grads from my area (Las Vegas). So far, I have been turned down by all of them except Swift, from whom I have a pre-hire letter.

I will need state grant funding to attend CDL school because I suffered a total financial wipeout two years ago from a Ponzi scheme similar to Bernie Madoff. The state agency here that provides grant funding for CDL schools requires a pre-hire letter from any OTR company other than Swift. Why not Swift? The agency told me that they have had too many problems with Swift issuing pre-hire letters, then not hiring the CDL school grads.

Right now, I have applications with Stevens Transport and Werner Enterprises under review.

I have no criminal record whatsoever. My driving record is spotless except for one DUI in early 1996. The first thing that I mention to every company that I apply with is the DUI. They all say no problem, it's long enough ago, go ahead and submit your application.

I have pretty much been retired for the last 6-1/2 years and scratching by on a small pension from my last employer (the information technology field as a computer programmer) for the last two years since the financial wipeout. I tell every company this right up front and tell them that I can supply all of the documentation that they might want to prove what I have been doing for the last 6-1/2 years.

Look, folks. I'm an intelligent, honest, hard-working guy who suffered a financial disaster two years ago at the hands of a thief. I'm looking for a company that will give me a break and a pre-hire letter so that I can attend CDL school.

If Stevens and Werner turn me down, any suggestions as to where could I turn to break into this industry?

Before you tell me to relocate, financially, I cannot. I am stuck owning and living in a property for which there is no market here in depressed southern Nevada. The CC&Rs here prevent me from renting it out. I simply cannot bear the cost of maintaining two homes.

And before you tell me to try to find a job in the IT field or related field, I have been trying since the financial wipeout, to no avail.

I have even applied for jobs at the local fast food joints. No luck there, either. Seems like nobody wants to hire a 57-year-old.

And one more word about Swift. While talking with the instructor at the CDL school I wish to attend (a local community college; a thorough 240-hour course), he said that I probably wouldn't want to drive for Swift because many of his recent graduates who are driving for Swift are reporting paychecks of only about $200/week.

Swift drivers: What have you to say about those reports of $200/week paychecks?

TIA, all, for your forthcoming replies and input.

 

Thank you, all, for your replies. Keep them coming.

I did receive a pre-hire from Werner Enterprises today (second try; first try two weeks ago resulted in a rejection -- WTF??). But with all of the horribly negative stuff that I have read about Werner here and on other truck driver message boards, I am going to proceed with caution.