A few questions / Need advice.

Looking for advice / options. Please excuse me for my typing tonight, I’ve been dealing with a headache and loads of chemistry homework. My. Brain. Is. Fried.

I am graduating college with an excellent degree, however, the industry in my location isn’t doing well and outside of my state they require most process operators to have a CDL. Although, some do not require such as the beer industry and a few select others.

As-much-as I want to find a job in my area (I am trying!), I do not have the funds to continue working for such a small paycheck after graduation. I need something to fall back on until industry turns around in my location, or I need to move to the lower 48 next summer.

I am debating selling my vehicle to afford CDL training next February to make myself more employable. The problem is how much it costs for CDL training in Alaska, and not many companies are willing to take you with no experience.

Anyways, I have a few questions.

1. I have a speeding ticket from earlier this year for driving 6mph over. I was actually passing someone driving under the speed limit and just as I lifted off the throttle a Trooper crested the upcoming hill (still within a safe distance). Never had a ticket before and decided to accept my fate rather than argue with him.


2. Does having bad credit effect training / employment in this industry? Wife was in an auto accident and lots of surgeries have been required. The hospital messed a few records up which hurt our credit. Our lawyer is trying to resolve this issues, but this could take a couple years.


3. Would it be better to pay for my own CDL training and hope to find a local job, or should I research a good company that will provide training?


Basically a CDL is probably needed for anything outside of my state AND would like to have something to fall back on until a prospect comes along that pays well enough to support my family while also paying down my massive student loan debt. Plus, as a bonus it looks good on my resume!

PS. My father drove for a few years after retiring from the military, I did have the opportunity to tag along a couple times and really enjoyed my time on the road with him.

Thanks!

 

Thanks for the reply, very much appreciated. I am also researching Schneider and their Jet-Set OTR option, which seems interesting and would allow ample experience while being able to stay in Alaska.

 

Wouldn't have been bad if my wife had not got into an accident (not her fault). She is still recovering two years later and we have both come to terms she will always have problems now. The accident has cost near $500k in medical already and she will have many operations throughout the remainder of her life. I had to quit my job to care for her and my instructors were willing to work with me so I can remain in school. They recorded everything for the bad days and allowed me to make my own testing scedule - I am truly blessed.

Basically the program would've been free with grants, etc. However, we needed to keep a roof over our head and food on the table until she was stable enough to care for herself and the kiddos. I took out the maximum loans and applied for as many scholarships and grants as possible. I technically should've graduated a year ago, but got offset from having to withdraw a couple classes right after the accident, I feel way behind and needed to help her through her operations. Family first.

Did what had to be done to insure my family was taken cared for. We did not qualify for anything and the insurance company has been a nightmare to deal with.

Edit: Just encase people are wondering. No my job did not work with me and was better to leave on my own terms before being terminated. I had initially exhausted all FMLA in the beginning. With her memory loss, seizures and having a major spinal operation, plus two knee operations there was no way any job was willing to work with my erratic scedule. Even now it takes her hours to get out of bed on some days. On other days her seizures are bad and she is unable to function properly.

 

Due to my last post and further research perhaps someone with experience can help out with one more concern.

Most companies appear to require one to have held a job for at least a year before applying; understandable. However, I am curious if there are circumstances that a company would look past? I am currently working and really happy to have returned, but as explained before I did have to leave my job that I was at for 2.5 years. My current job is in the same industry with a different company. So my total experience (unrelated to trucking) is 6-7 years with three different companies. I am also a college student and focused on family / college while my wife recovered for the last two years - so I hope being determined, committed, and "educated" (meaning proof of where I have been for a couple years without work), coupled with my excuse for not working would speak for itself and allow a recruiter to look past the 1-year requirement.

Thanks

 

Yes, was working until everything explained above. However, I am working again and currently in my last semester of college. I was / still a caregiver to my wife, but that is unofficial (not paid).

Thanks for replying! Starting to feel more encouraged.