Allow me to introduce myself.

Hello all! I have been on this forum and reading as much as possible for quite some time but have never introduced myself or posted anything for that matter. I am currently a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army and I fly an HH-60 in a MEDEVAC Unit. I will be retiring soon and am looking to go into a new career driving a truck. Have mostly narrowed it down to tanks or flatbed. I still have several months before leaving the military so I'm still researching. I've had a CDL A for 10 years already but never used it for driving a tractor trailer. Married with kids and I live in Cullman, AL about 10 miles from I65. If anyone has any suggestions as to what companies I should start looking at based on this info, it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance and God Bless!

 

Regional or local would be ideal, that's why I was looking at tank and flatbed. Seems like there's more opportunity to be closer to home in those two areas of the industry. Based on what I've read here so far. And better pay as well. Although that isn't at the top of my list for starting out in this career, I would be lying to say that it isn't an important consideration. Thanks!

 

Being that I already have a CDL, would I only need to take a refresher course for the driving or would I need to go ahead and take the full course? Again, I've had it for 10 years but never used it. No tractor trailer experience.

 

I just renewed my CDL this summer at the Cullman county courthouse and they didn't mention anything about the medical. I intend to get the DOT physical done about a month before I leave the army so its done and out of the way. Do they also go over logs and things like that in a refresher course or is that something I can really just learn myself with study guides and such? Just don't want to learn only how to drive a tractor trailer for a refresher and find that I needed a lot more info to be successful. Not trying to set myself up for failure by doing the minimum or below just to technically make myself legal or meet minimum quals for a job. I have my G.I. Bill so paying for one or the other is not an issue but I also don't want to waste time on more than what is necessary. Sorry, I know its a lot of questions but I'm kinda just typing my thoughts as they come.