Advice for noobie

Most companies want their new drivers to have attended a cdl school. It's an insurance thing.
Millis Transfer runs solo drivers and you need $500.00 up front to start their training. Sometimes they hire felons. They only run eastern states & Texas.
I'd try those that are posted; CRST and Carolina Logistics. You may both need an original birth certificate and original social security card that's not laminated. Do the online applications then follow with a phone call and ask about what you need to bring.

 

Some driving schools can arrange for a trucking company to pick up the tab.
Werner owns Roadmaster cdl school.
You can get on the road quicker though if a trucking company school accepts you. I think Carolina Logistics school is about $1300.00 which is waived if you stay a year.
CRST fee is waived if you stay 10 months.

 

If money is tight and you need to do something fast, then just take a trucking company school and get it over with. It's just a few months commitment then you can move on.

 

Good Luck with a Grand Theft Conviction. Most companies are leery about sending loads worth 10s of Thousands of dollars down the road with a person who has been convicted of theft.

That may be a hard one to overcome.

 

Carolina Cargo and Florida Beauty Express might give your friend a pre-hire letter if he needs one. There's a 40 hr. cdl school in Miami, but most companies won't hire from it. I'm pretty sure Carolina Cargo and Florida Beauty Express do. Google for that school and also contact those two companies and ask if they will hire you as a team from that school.
CRST has hired from that school and then gives further training OJT.

 

Like I said, Good Luck, 2 year old felony grand theft conviction, not usually high on a companies wish list for hauling freight. Thats going to be difficult to overcome. Shippers and Receivers frown on theft, so most Truck Companies do also, since they are their customers.

 

Maybe I am missing something. But I am not sure why you are "hitching your wagon" to someone that is basically tying your hands on your opportunities in this industry.

You said he is 30. So basically at FULL ADULT age, he committed a felony. Two short years ago.... He was stealing something of high value and in such an egregious way that he spent 30 days in jail.

Now you, a mere adult, want to spend everyday at a SUB PAR company instead of going straight to the absolute best option for you.

Hmmmmm.... #HardPass

 

The more I read the more I realize your friend is more than a friend... How did you get him out of jail ? Were you working at the time? I can't see myself at 20 ponying up to get a 30 year old guy out of jail.

Any way, good luck to both of you and don't let him hold you back