Retired Military, Advice for Starting as a New CDL in N.C.

So I am recently retired and ready to start a new career. I have been reading and researching for the past four weeks and every time I think I have a company picked out I end up finding horror stories or it isn't what it was advertised to be. I am learning to accept all companies lie in some fashion to get you in the door.

While I don't have any experience and know I need to pay my dues, I think that I bring some advantages to the table when trying to find an employer. Nothing in my background, criminal or driving, already passed the TSA screening for HAZMAT if needed, just need to test. I'm 39, so the Company isn't getting a young guy who may not be committed to seeing things through, and I'm not there to tear up their equipment etc. I hated the past 20 years, but I did it because it was the job and the family depended on it.

I guess I also have disadvantages when trying to find a Company. First, if they don't qualify for military apprentice programs that's like giving up $12,000 the first year. Second, being in NC can be a little harder to find a Company to get you home regularly. I have a house, wife's career, kids in High School, relocating isn't in the cards. Third, I like routine, I don't like to change jobs, but it seems everything that looks good requires the experience

I've tried the upfront approach with recruiters, as-in, don't lie to me, just tell me it's going to suck up front, I'm good with that, and don't promise the world if you can't deliver any of it.

So if anyone has advice as to companies they work for now, or have in the past, points of contact they may have, please pass them along, if things work out with one it would be good to get someone some referral money. I take my skills test Monday, Nov 2nd, and Active Duty pay stops Nov 30th. Looking to get things moving.

Thanks.

Updates:
- TMC... Not hiring in my area
- Superior... 18 Mon OTR Req (per website)
- Abilene... App just submitted
- Magnum... Previously talked to, sounds good with NC as a primary destination of allot of their freight, but no apprentice program, I did give Paul the info to get approved through the North Dakota VA, but it is a 1-2 month process, if they take it seriously.
- CTL... sent them an email, their closest "remote" terminal is Charlotte, still 5 hours away
- Epes... Emailed
- KLLM... Emailed Sarah
- Watkins-Shepard I am too far out of their hiring area, they caked as soon as I put an app in last night.
- Maverick I am outside their hiring area, they called this morning.
- Jim Palmer is West Coast and Midwest
- Wil-Trans, .40 cpm plus bonus after you are through the 40k mile training program, and do VA, but they are straight OTR, was looking for something home more than every three weeks, but if need be I'll go there

 

Yes. Night driving tonight then just my skills test on Monday, they have their own 3rd party testers

 

- TMC... Not hiring in my area
- Superior... 18 Mon OTR Req
- Abilene... App just submitted
- Magnum... Previously talked to, sounds good with NC as a primary destination of allot of their freight, but no apprentice program, I did give Paul the info to get approved through the North Dakota VA, but it is a 1-2 month process, if they take it seriously.
- CTL... sent them an email, their closest "remote" terminal is Charlotte, still 5 hours away.

HAZMAT, Tanker, and Doubles all planned for next week.
TWIC... I didn't see too many companies requiring it, since HAZMAT is already paid TWIC is discounted.

I'll look at the others, thanks.

I did just find Cypress last night, they have a terminal about an hour away, not too many comments on here about them.

 

Epes... Emailed
KLLM... Emailed Sarah