Learner permit & help gettin in a truck

I read in our local rag that the city was hiring for snow plow/ street sweeper etc. position.

It said that you must have a "CDL A with tank endorsment"
No drugs, no smoking (City is a smoke free employer)
GED
Clean crimanial background.
Clean driving record.


I told my wife that I was 90% of the way there all I needed was to get my CDL A w/tank
As I have a perfect driving record, no tickets ever! Not bad for 38 yo.

No drugs...ever
No smoke (quit last Jan 1)
Ged last winter as I was bored.
Not a criminal

So I got the CDL book last week studied it for 3 or 4 days took all the tests (cept passenger and haz mat) and got 100%

Now This week Im getting my DOT physical out the way, will not be a problem.

NOW, I need to spend some time in a truck and I dont know anybody who drives.
Been asking around and nobody seems to have an answer.
Most of the people I have talked to got their license or started driving so long ago that that they basicly just hired on and started driving back when.

I cant (nor do I want to attempt too) do that.
I really need to find someone that will let me tag along with them and let me drive during slow traffic times and such.

I have been putting this off for a couple years because I KNEW this part would be a challenge but it just seems like a waste for me to not get it.

Most everybody I know either has back due child support, or a old dwi or something that would prevent them from doing this.
Being only 50 miles from Canada. there are several jobs here that you need to be able to cross (not the one with the city, but who knows how long that will be open?) the border and thats no problem for me either, where again, most of the people I know cant for some stupid little reason or another.

Maybe I just hang with a bunch of bad people? Lol


Anyway, Im not looking to get into long haul (who is? lol)
But I gotta get my CDL to work for the city, or even just working for a construction company driving a dump truck which is an option also.

Any ideas on who or how I might make the needed connection to get in a truck?
This a small town of about 5000 so it sucks a little bit harder than if I was in spokane or something.

Any help/ thoughts, are greatly appreciated!

CoolRide

BTW Im in Colville Wa if this helps, thanks all

 

Bump.
Did I post this in the wrong place?
If so I apologize

CR

 

Good Lord. 73 views and Im still talking to myself.

Im not contagious (jus got my DOT card, and doc says Im great)

I been reading everything I can on this great site since I joind and it doesnt look to me like I asked either the wrong question or asked in the wrong place, but then again, Im new.

I suppose it could be that nobody has an answer? But I have seen LOTS of great answers to what seem to me anyway a lot trickier questions.

Is there a secret handshake?

I can be a bit "wordy" maybe I should rephrase?

I have a brand new learners permit for a class "A" with tank endorsment / airbrake. I have no money to rent a truck (this is a tiny town and I doubt I could rent one anyway)

I have six months before it expires and I really want to learn to drive.

I have / am checking with the local employees that might hire me to do other things AND get some time in their trucks, most want a minimum of one year driving experience though.

What would you do in my boots? Please.


CR

 

Thanks all for the responses.

Washington state just changed the law to where after the first of the year, you HAVE to go to an accredited school.

Which I think is groovy and I would love to if I could afford too, but I had to borrow the $67 for my D.O.T. physical, how embarrassing. I have not been able to work in 4 years because of shoulder injuries. This will not be a D.O.T. problem.

Anyway I have my D.O.T. and permit now, before the Jan 1 deadline which is what I wanted.

A friend of mine who has driven long haul for a few years jus blew into town and found an ad for local job.Hauling lumber on a flat bed back and forth between two towns here about 50 miles apart.

The boss said if you are working it, you can do three trips a day, at $50 a trip.
Im assuming that this is not very good pay, but its a great chance for me and if I get it, $50 a trip MORE than Im making now lol.

So my friend asked him if he took this job could he bring me along and train me for a month or whatever it takes me to be able to pass the test (with bosses truck) then friend would move on to long haul again , with same boss, he has many positions, and I could take over this 50 mile back and forth job between the lumber yard and mill.

Boss said he wanted to meet with both of us this week and talk about it!

So Heres at least one possibility.

It is very tough finding any work in this little town. Even the employment office told me to forget about finding anything between about Sep. and Jan.

Now that was just looking for general labor. Which is why Im determined to get my CDL because it seems even when there is nothing else out there, there is usually a cdl "A" job.

I dont know why. As I said in a previous post I think so many people have a hit against their drivers license or some small thing in their background check that wont alow them to get a job maybe?

Dunno.

Anyway, thanks again for the help and information and I will keep ya updated if anybody cares.

CR