Advice for cdl holder thats been off the road a long time

You'll probably have to go through a refresher course somewhere. There are a few members that have been going through what you are looking at, so they will probably be in at some point to share info and their stories.

 

Since you drove for a year your probably going to have to go out with a trainer for two to six weeks.

 

I went through the same thing as you. What I did was call a few of the large companies. I think called Heartland, USF Glenmore, and JB Hunt. I was told by all of them I needed 160 hours of schooling before they would consider me. This freaked me out. After calming down I called the schools in my area and was lucky enough to find a private school where I could talk to the owner. He gave me a big discount and I went. It was worthwhile. The only negative is you have to swallow your pride and just accept you are going to be considered a student driver by these companies. I got over it. Now it is about getting a job and working.

Good luck.

PS; You should figure out what companies you want to work for and call them. Some of them might want 320 hours of schooling.

 

If you are unemployed you might be able to get some money. I live in Delaware but there were guys in the school from PA. The PA Unemployment office paid for them to go. There also might be some grants you could look into for displaced workers or something of that nature.

One thing I learned in my 42 years of life, where there is a will there is a way.

Keep looking. The thing you don't want to do is go and have a company pay for the school. Search this board and you will read the horror stories.

 

Good point. Most of my friends that r truck drivers had the state pay their tuition for driving school. My aunts husband just got his paid for, and now hes going to drive for swift. lol i spent about 4 hrs trying to get him not to go there but he doesnt believe me about n e thing i tell him about swift. He thinks he is going to be home every 14 days on the dot and he gonna make great pay Oh well he will have to learn the hard way.

Say ya to da UP eh!!

 

I know Ga. pretty well and I don't think any school there offers a refresher course however, Their are companies that will sign you into a contract to send you to one of their schools for their 10 day refresher course. The contracts are anywhere from 8 months to 1-2years........
The tech schools there in Ga. a resident can go for free with the grant program, HHhmmm don't remember the name though, but you mentioned you already have your CDL. The driving schools can't get the grant progams only colleges, universities and tech. schools.

Experience will help even if not recent, less money for the company to invest/risk than an inexperienced driver.

Will take a couple of dozen phone calls to find the company that will work for you. Alot of companies hire and have terminals/yards in the Atlanta area.

 

I"m in the same boat. My OTR time was with Schneider for 6 months about 4 years ago. I left due to multiple military deployments (I'm in Army Reserves). I have found I have 2 options at this point. Go back to school (I'm lucky and can do it on weekends and use the GI bill) or sign on and drive for Werner for a few months and then move up to my first choice company. Werner wants me to go with a trainer for 2-3 weeks before going solo......but being paid the measely $300wk for that time is better than spending money and not getting paid at a school. I"m still not sure what I'm going to do either, but those are the options I'm considering.