Beginning to get desperate, could use help/advice.

Best of Luck on your Journey and keep us informed of your progress !

 

ELDT just means you have to go to SOMEBODY'S CDL school to get your CDL. You can search the FMCSA's site for any CDL school or trucking company school to make sure you aren't getting a bogus school.
Training Provider Registry

Also, in your case, I would get the HazMat at time of your original CDL. You've already paid for the expensive parts and having HazMat never hurts you ability to get hired.

 

You can run 30,000 miles in a truck with student and trainer in 6-8 weeks. The time you share a truck with a trainer is going to feel like the longest period of your life, anyway.

The space in a truck is about the same as a small apartment's bathroom. Having 2 people in it for about 20 hours per day, everyday is harder than solo trucking. But you learn alot, if your trainer has experience. BTW, ask how much experience your trainer has soon as you are assigned one. Have your trainer call/text/email you before you meet so you and him can talk about the next few weeks and what stuff to bring and not bring with you. There is a higher percentage of truck drivers that smoke than the public, but at many companies you can request a non-smoker. I did. My mom smoked when I was a kid, I don't have some imaginary allergy to smoking it just gives me headaches and makes me mad so I avoid smokers, when possible. It's not always possible.

 

If we can't help the next fellow what's the point of being here? Truck drivers almost always will help if you ask.

 

Everybody is waiting on the govt. You can't get your HazMat until you have your CDL. All ANY student can do is complete their tasks and wait on the govt. Companies that want new0hire to have HazMat or TWIC understand the govt is the roadblock. If you can afford it, get your TWIC at the same time, you save a little money. I got my TWIC for HazMat tanker and have shown it to one company TWICE in 5 years. It's good for ports, rail yards, maybe refineries. I think TWIC is just an application and fingerprints from Identigo. Maybe covid has that process bogged down also.

 

Apply online at YRC/Yellow and see what happens.
The local terminals don't make the decision on hiring; that goes through the corporate office.
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I've seen that happen before. Drivers wanted to work for Old Dominion, but said the local terminal told them they don't need any drivers. We told them to apply online anyway, because the local terminal doesn't make the final decision. They did that and were hired.
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Apply here and maybe luck out:
Tuition-free CDL Driving Academy - Dock Worker Jobs …

 

Prime is a good place to get started. Hires in 48 states, so if you and your girlfriend decide to move to a warmer climate, you won't have to change companies, unless you want to.