Evenin' Driver!

Hello all, My name is Nate, and I'm from Nova Scotia. I worked in construction for quite a few years, carpentry apprenticeship, Drywall, Renovations, HVAC, etc. I've always wanted to drive a rig, and now with our local economy in the toilet, it's either pick up and move away from my wife's great paying job in healthcare, or retrain.

So, I looked in to CDL training here, and while it sounds great, I just don't have the $10,000 for the 12 week program, and for some assinine reasons I don't qualify for any sort of re-training allowances from our oh so helpful gubberment.

My Buddy drives for a local company here, specializing in 5-7 day turnarounds, paying 38 a mile. They don't have any trucks older than 3 years either, as they are firm believers that old trucks don't make money. good folks, and good ideals = happy drivers.

So, (this is all legal in my neck of the woods), I have my airbrakes endorsement, and I can drive with my bud as long as he's in the pass seat and awake - he's technically on duty not driving though. So I'm an unpaid intern, getting on the job training. a couple more trips to toronto and back, and i'll be ready to take on the road test myself, and the company will provide me with a 2008 volvo with a 13 and a 53' tridem for the road test. upon passing my class1, I'll have a job. they are kind of hard up for drivers...at least ones that want to work anyway... plus I get to do all of this while saving $10,000!!!!

So i will ask some questions, and try to help anyone else in my position looking to do what I'm doing.

Gripppy side down!