Get your CDL. And apply to EVERYWHERE. There's hope. One thing not to do is give up. The past is the past. Just start today with a following the rules and you'll be good. It won't be easy. I been getting turned down left and right but there's still hope.
You're charge is recent when it comes to this industry what you should do before spending your money on schooling is call companies and see if they'll accept you.Chinatown gave you a list of companies call them first before attending school.
With friends like that, who needs enemies? When I was in college (many moons ago...before I had my CDL...statute of limitations has long since expired), I made the 6 hour drive to school in under 3 hours on more than one occasion on my motorcycle. One such time, I blew past one of my friends in his car...and he made the mistake of trying to keep up with my pace. About the time he gave up and backed out of it, we met a cop going the other way. Pulled my friend over for 95 in a 65, and asked if that was his friend on the motorcycle. When he answered affirmatively, the cop offered to let him off with a warning if he gave me up...clocked me at 135, but couldn't get it locked in. He's a friend, though, and didn't rat me out. Cop respected that and only wrote him for 75. Moral of the story, you need better friends.
Not unless they piss him off. Yep. "Best friends" will give you up in a heartbeat if you screw their wife, AND their girlfriends!