Get Trucking Again - Getting a CDL ... again, and Rejoining the Gearjammers

Well, now, here's a development that has the potential to make a big difference in trucking for me.

My wife has decided that I'm not a priority for her anymore and wants to split. This isn't a shock, but has the potential to change a lot of things.

We're parting friends, but I'm thinking of moving back out west. Cape Cod is nice, but I don't think I could handle seeing her around town with another guy.

 

We were served by the Sheriff, and were told to leave in that order.

*** NEW BUSINESS ***

Ok, now that I'm going to be completely on my own does anyone have a suggestion as to a town or area of the country where a single ... older ... truck driver (again soon) could hang his hat for short money and call it home? I've been looking into rents and I have to say that things aren't looking good for the kid (me).

My idea is simple, gather what cash I can here and move to wherever I'm going to be. Then apply to a training company to get the CDL back once I've established residency in the new location. Suggestions?

Thanks for all the help and support so far guys and ladies. It's going to be a great help in the long run ... also, thanks for keeping this as positive as possible.

 

Don't have any "stuff" on my record. Having been an Aircraft Mechanic for years, working in Washington DC literally across the river from the Pentagon, I don't think I qualify as someone that has to worry about that sort of thing, but thanks.

The Passport is in the works as we speak.

 

Wow, I just reread my last post and even to me it sounded a bit arrogant. I apologize for that. To qualify that last statement, I have been through six separate FBI / Homeland Security background and threat assessment checks since 9-11. The last one came back in 30 minutes ... I just meant to say that I am the worlds most legally boring person. Even my hazmat finger print paperwork came back in 13 days rather than the 30 for most.

Sorry if I sounded a bit full of myself. I'm not usually like that.

Getting things rolling again, especially after surrendering my CDL, is a complicated process. I've found that I've gotten nestled in to life off the road, and have the typical infliction of the Lackawanna-No-Motivationosis disorder. So, daily I have to kick it in the ribs to get moving again. It's probably a touch of depression ... but what's going on with me is a lot like being set up in baseball. See, when you get breaking ball after breaking ball, it's easy to not see the fastball between the eyes coming.

Well, that sounded better in my head ... but it is what it is.

I have a few things left on my prep list to take care of. Things that were added by my decision to end my marriage. This isn't the typical split-up. See, I don't want to leave her s*c*r*e*w*e*d. So I have a few things to set up for her before I disappear.

For instance, she's still staying at the house, which is awkward. She's not dating anyone (never cheated on me) thankfully. And we've agreed not to until I've moved on and the paperwork is finalized. So, she needs to find a place of her own ... a difficult thing out here with rents for a one bedroom place over a grand a month for the most part. That and she's taking a course to become a CNA for the second time in her life ... it's only a few weeks long, and since her family has turn their back on her (her brother that lives near by told her to go pound sand when she asked to stay with him ... what a bastage) she's going to stay until that's completed.

So, my trucking adventure should resume shortly after the first of the year. I still am not sure who I'm going to end up with, but the "not a chance" list is growing.

So far I am NOT interested in working for:

C.R. England
Werner
CRST
Knight
and
FFE

My shortlist:

Crete - depends on how I get my CDL back
Swift - If I can't get into a Crete approved program
Central - Worked for a refer carrier and liked it before.
Schneider - They do have a good rep.
Stevens - Not sure if they'll have me back ... but they didn't ding my DAC

Any suggestions are welcome ... I am looking at the NETTTS program in N. Andover, MA if I can get funded for retraining after getting laid off in about ten days. If that's a no go, I will look into a training company after relocating to a different state with even a slightly more sane book of laws.

For those keeping score: Romney Care has cost me $968 over the last couple of years in fines ... simply because I can't afford to pay for health insurance and I make too much to qualify for any of the public plans.

That and the two years of consecutive logs, plus a letter from your former employers, required to transfer a CDL in Massachusetts is the whole reason behind my needing to get it back. So much Fun!

 

Wow, how time flies. And as usual, just when I've made solid plans, life had other ideas.

Let's see, update time, my wife had an eye-opening experience back in the beginning of November. Apparently she went out with a bunch of girls ... two married (not counting her). Both married girls ended up bringing complete strangers back to the hotel room my wife was sharing. I got a call in the middle of the night to come get her.

To make a long story short ... we're still together with a simple proviso. Should this happen again ... in our lifetime ... she will simply be served papers a few days after I walk out the door. I'm not going to be put through that twice.

So, as to training and getting my CDL back ... it's still in the works. I'm committed to another season here at Hyannis Harbor / Bismore Park, but after that I'm going to get trained once again and head off into the world of OTR trucking ... again. I am looking into going to NETTTS in N. Andover, MA still ... but will need to find funding. It seems that I can only apply for retraining ... in Massachusetts ... after being laid off for greater than 6 mos. At least that's what I've been told. Frustrating. So, I need to find funding.

Other wise ... it's an amazingly hot morning here in Hyannis. 84F at 0830. For Cape Cod, that's extreme. Be careful out there everyone.