How y'all doin'? The name's Tim, I'm 47 and working on working again. I know, kinda cryptic, but there's a tale behind it all. In March 2004, I got my Class A and was well on my way to a lucrative, exiting career in the bulk goods transportation industry. Well, as luck would have it, while driving my daughter's loser boyfriend (at the time) to work (not my choice, I would've let the turd walk) I was side swiped by a less than conscientious truck driver running produce for Lankford-Sysco 3 weeks after passing my CDL test...this guy already had three at fault accidents on his record within 6 months of running me down, and while we were filling out his company accident report, he actually ADMITTED to me that he was too busy messing with his radio and didn't pay attention when he made his lane change! Well, I'm not gonna bore you all with the petty details...long story short, my career was put on an indefinite hold due to injuries and lawyers. And here I am, 7 years later, barely making it on my gubbament stipend, and I've finally had enough! I'm fighting my way back into the work force, I plan on finally using this Class A license I've had for almost a decade...it's time for this American working man to reclaim his place in the machine! Glad to be part of the forum, I look forward to learning a lot about this industry and getting myself a job soon...time for this trucker to find his place behind the wheel!
I can feel that we have a lot in common although Im a newbie please keep me afloat on how it is going Im starting school after being out of it for almost 11 years finding a compationite compant to realize injurys are far from a choice we make rather our determination for a come back. P.S. by the way did your little girls boy friend survive it and is he still her boy friend lol J/K
re: wolfkeepers...the apple of my eye's bf was lucky enough to be dropped off 5 minutes prior to the accident, so yes he was fine, and no he is no longer in my daughter's life...she met a great guy who truly loves and takes care of her instead of the other way around, the now-ex got an ex-patriate Russian stripper pregnant and gained 200lbs in sympathy pregnant weight...I guess both got their due! Good luck with your CDL and subsequant job search! ps: guess I should add the fact that I would have never been on that road at that time had I NOT been driving Mr. Fantastic to work that morning!
As long as you can get a medical card clearance,you should be able to get hired by one of the training companies. Both of my 23 year old twin son's got the CDL A from Smith Solomon,like you.One is currently training with Swift 48 states. His trainer a former Marine was injured in the Gulf war.He has a knee and elbow replacement,and they used a mesh to hold his guts in. He was able to recover enough to get a Medical card and is an owner operator,with one year left of payments, then the truck belongs to him. You must have been banged up pretty bad to be out for 7 years.Will you lose that disability check going back to work? My son's trainer gets that check every month;that's how he can afford to be an Owner Operator. I think Smith Solomon will give you a refresher course for $1000,and get the med clearance etc. Or you can apply to Swift or Werner and see what they say. My twin training with Swift got his CDL 2 years ago,then tried beer delivery for 4 months but ruptured a disc.After getting that repaired he worked as a substitute custodian,before he decided to use the CDL again. He calls every day to let us know where he is;today it's Ontario California.His twin brother was with Werner for 3.5 months but they decided to terminate him for BS.That's why he didn't go to Werner even though he keeps getting postcards from them for the past 2 years. Have you applied anywhere yet? You're not too far from Harrisberg PA (swift) or Allentown PA (werner) ,also Watkins Sherperd in Sayerville (but they might require a refresher)since it's been 7 years since you last drove;that definately limits your choices.Best of luck and keep posting your progress. We're up north from you in Fair Lawn NJ.
