At a crossroads.

I've tried. They require 2 years.

 

I totally agree, and leaving home even for a regional position is NOT something I want to do. I haven't been at the Landscaping place since the 15th of February. I was lucky to put in 2 or 3 solid days of work there per week. I left after a week and a half of not working at all. I was supposed to be "full time" but it never worked out that way. I don't want to jump around by any means, but the only companies that have taken me with my lack of experience are the less than desirable and sketchy companies around here. I have yet to come across that phantom LTL or equivalent employer that is willing to take someone with less than a year and train them like I keep reading about. None the less, I keep plugging away, with my savings about drained hoping something local will pop up. But I have been applying to some regional outfits even thought I know it will without a doubt strain things. My wife and I have never been apart more than a couple of days in the last going on 12 years. But at some point, I've got to make some money and take care of us somehow. I've even thought about just looking locally for work that isn't CDL related, but at the same time that will have me kicking myself, becasue that 5 grand I spent to start this as a "career" will have been a waste. On top of that, none of the jobs that don't require a CDL around here even come close in terms of pay per hour, that I got with my ####tiest local driving job, unless you have a degree and that, I certainly do not have.

Dave

 

Applied at all 3, followed up with calls to touch base but nothing ever materialized.

Dave

 

You are correct about the LTL scenario. Speaking of that I've even gone as far as applying for part-time dock positions 45 miles away just to get my foot in the door. Unfortunately nothing has come of it yet. I'm certainly not a lazy person, and my work ethic is strong. Maybe my appearance could use some adjusting. I stay on top of personal hygiene and I dress appropriately, because I'm slightly OCD about that but I think maybe my appearance puts some employers off a bit when I walk in and ask to fill out an application.

Even if I go in with a smile and project confidence and positive vibes I always get a defensive, almost timid look from the office staff and hiring managers, and an even more surprised look when I state I have no criminal record, as if my appearance makes me look like an ex con. It's a little deflating how judgmental some can be but I accept it and move on. That's mainly why I stick to applying online and touching base through phone calls. But that's all on me, I chose to look like this and in fact I'll probably go get a haircut this afternoon in an attempt to look more "professional."

At this point whoever will hire me whether it's OTR or regional will probably get me. When you go a certain amount of time without work, it's such a strange feeling. Especially when you have people depending on you, not to mention an infant. I wake up every morning with a positive mindset, and think "today things are going to change" or "today I'm going to catch a break" but it never happens. Just today I've spent 9 hours on the computer just looking for jobs within reasonable distance. I've made it my job, to find a job and I treat it as such. I'm certainly not being picky but after a while you can't help but feel hopeless. I'm not the type to get down and throw a pity party but it's mentally draining. It's the same thing every day, wake up try your hardest to get a job, do it for 9 hours or longer, nothing happens, you get defeated feeling, start kicking yourself in the ###, muster up enough courage to put on a smile as to not worry the misses, go to bed and repeat. It's vicious.

Dave