Newb, looking in CT.

Hello, my name is Shane, before I start, I would like to give a quick background:

I went to New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS) in 2004, graduated, but went into the Army before taking my CDL test.

I am currently an 88M (Truckdriver) in the US Army Reserves and have 2 year-long tours under my belt.

My first tour was Iraq hauling flatbed everywhere in country (M915 - freightliner day-cab).

My second tour was also in Iraq, hauling fuel all over the greater Baghdad area (Oshkosh up-armored cab-overs hauling 5K tankers).

I have experience stateside driving, but it doesn't qualify because of the lack of mileage and/or not enough continuous driving time for employers to consider me as a viable applicant.

I do have my CDL-A (CT) and recently got the TSA determination that I am allowed to haul hazmat (even though I have been hauling hazmat for the Army for the past five years).


My issue is that my wife refuses to allow my to do OTR due to my family situation (split 50/50 custody of my first son with no child support paid out to my ex-wife, and an 8-month old son with my current wife), but I can't seem to find anyone willing to hire in the area without me having at least 2yrs OTR experience. Nobody considers my Army driving as "experience" or my time at NETTTS as proper training since it was so long ago.

I was wondering if anyone on this site might have some insight as to how I could find gainful employment with a max of 3days on, on day off (although my wife wants me to find simply "home every night" work).


Is there any advice, or openings that people around here might know of that I might be able to take advantage of since MY "limited" OTR experience doesn't seem to count, nor does my military drivers training, hazmat classes, miles driven in combat, etc..... ?


Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Shane

 

I understand that experience is a lot like credit, you need it before you can get it. I also understand the many OTR companies will train and get you driving to gain the experience needed to go other places, but I can't do OTR (I wouldn't be able to afford child support to my ex-wife AND my current wife, something I don't have currently since I have joint custody of my first son, and I'm still with the mother of my second.... Till I pick up an OTR job).
This is not a plea asking y'all to find me a job. I have been looking in the jobs section as well as continuously filling out online applications, dropping off applications, and doing the résumé thing as well. I'm ground pounding on my own.
I was hoping that there might be some advice, or something I'm doing wrong about this whole thing that I could be cued in on.