Am I wasting my time?

Yeah, you don't want to be looking over your shoulder. Worst case, make up the time and then go for it. There will always be a need for drivers.... with any luck, maybe another career will come across for you.

 

You were unemployed in Canada because you didn't have to work there while living with your girlfriend.
The last year and a half you've cared for your grandparents and that can be verified with a notorized letter.
Pretty simple really.

 

Tell them is was more a hobby than work.
Several drivers on here worked in Asia and couldn't verify it, but still found decent jobs. I remember one went with TransAm.

 

Sounds to me like you're not really interested in putting in the effort to make this your career. Like Chinatown has said, there are many people who have been in your situation who are now driving trucks. It's just gonna take more effort than filling out an online app then getting a bus ticket to orientation.

GenericUserName gave you an option that worked for him as well. If you really want to make a career out of this, buckle down and do what you have to do. If you don't, then quit whining and go cook some fries at Burger King. You keep expecting someone to give you a magic phrase that will make mega carriers hire you. That's not gonna happen.

 

If you have a valid CDL from a decent school, you will find a job. You already said you don't mind if it is a crappy starter job.

I sort of have similar issues in that I have been living and working overseas for the past 12+ years. I also have the disadvantage of not being a recent CDL school graduate, but what I don't have is any doubts about finding truck driving work.

I think the gist of all the replies on this thread is that you most likely won't get job offers before you have that license, you simply don't meet the criteria of the companies that do that. A guarantee of employment before you even start school is pretty rare anyway. Just ask all those out of work people with 4 year college degrees in their hands. I know a few who do work, but not in the field they spent years and tens of thousands of dollars on.

Is there no chance that your ex or her Dad will confirm that you even lived in Canada?. Do you have anything at all in your name/address while in Canada?. Cell phone contract?, car insurance?, gym membership? snail mail/cards from US family?. Did you make any friends there who may not be as hostile towards you as your ex?. It seems that all you need is a letter ( probably write it yourself), and someone in Canada wiling to confirm who you are and that you lived there.