Looking for advice on my situation

good! determination for a better future will always bring u good luck!

understand this is a career with a big responsibility as a driver, if ur ok with it then good
u say family support for ur wife and child while u go OTR? i don't need the details but its basically gonna need to be money, like the previous guy had said, some weeks u wont be able to send any money home.
not trying to scare you, just understand that trucking is a hard "due" to pay when u have a family.

and never be ashamed of who u are or how much u make. by coming on this forum telling all of us ur situation, ur goal, and the steps uve taken to build a secure and better life for your family shows the IMMENSE honor and integrity u have.
i salute u in this choice of yours to find something higher and not stick with what u have now. ur doing something about it, and thats noble.

 

Perhaps I can.

Going with winer or england is a shot to the head, stay away from them.

Schneider isn't bad because you have a lot of dedicated opportunities, the pay isn't great but the home time with a new family is good. They also have a program that you work two weeks and are off for one, might not be available in your are though.

US express has ok training, better then most.

If you have to move to get a local job it might be worth it.

What you want eventually is a local or semi local job that gets you home a lot. I don't know the Alabama market, but what you want to do is get training in doubles of tanker. That's what is going to get you home a lot and that's what pays. Dry box drivers are a dime a dozen.

As far as training, is there a farm you can work for? Farm drivers don't need a cdl and they need drivers all the time. It's a good way to get experience and stay out of debt. After that you can get your cdl on their equipment and after the summer you might have enough experience to get on with a small local company. If you don't like them look for something better.

It's not a big step working for a farm and then driving milk tanker.... you will have the references.

If you have to grind it out a year or two, (and you probably don't) with a mega carrier pick one with a specialized division, tanks, flat bed, something. Learn something more then the other guy.

Go to the phone book, look up the local companies and talk to them. Find out what they want or need for a driver. Some of them will hire you as soon as your insurable, usually one year of experience sometimes less. Most of them will take some time with you and give you the direction so many people need starting out in this business.

Most of all keep you CDL clean.

 

Living in Mobile is a prime location if you want to look into Schneider.

Can't tell you anything about the training.

But you definitely would be looking at some excellent opportunities in the future. Freight is good in that area for drivers seeking regional or their home run program.

 

come on boys play nice. To the question there is good and bad to everything in life if you can hang in long enough to get a good job go for it your first 2-3 months might be worse then the $400 a week you make now Some companies are terrible some arent companies that train with there own schools have the worst reputation. First check your local community school see if they have a cdl course and whether you could get a grant or assitance In NJ even my local unemployment office helps those underemployed doesnt hurt to ask. After you get your cdl some companies will reimburse your cost for cdl. RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH

 

Hoss

Do you have any government aid available?

 

Look into a w.i.a. grant, they are sometimes available for lower income jobs. Thats how I got my schooling paid for. As far as company schooling goes I did a lot of research before I started and Rohle seemed to be the best that I would pick. And from thier drivers I talk to they seem to be decent to work for. You can make trucking and family work, I have. No it's not easy, but I knew in my situation that I had to make more money and so far iy is working. I would suggest that you work very hard to find a job that gets you home weekly( not that hard to find ) Thats why you should look into a workforce grant( try your local employment office) as that lets you pick and choose who you work for. Just remember to keep your eye on the prize and check every avenue available before signing up for the "company sponsered " school route. One other suggestion, A good friend of mine did go through Millis and he is doing real well, makes good money, is home every weekend, but I don't know if they hire in your area. Good luck.
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I'm with Moosetek! Going to be extremely hard on you and the whole family! Especially with a new little one! Best advice is to find something else to do. This is going to be quite a commitment and very costly and time consuming only to find out you aren't really going to make what they are promising you and you have to spend long periods of time away from your family to make it worth it.

As an experienced driver I personally wouldn't do it. I know exactly what all is involved.

Good luck man!

 

This mightbe a stretch, but have you considered joining the military? Crap pay at first, but your dependents would be fully provided for. As long as you are physically capable, have a clean record, and can pass the ASVAB entrance exam, you should be able to choose your future.

 

Walk past the school and go see Todd at Pitts and Sons Towing.
Won't be a big truck driving job, its a wrecker company, you will make a decent living and get to be home some.