Moving from out-of-state

Here's my dilemma:

I'm thinking of moving to California for schooling and eventually, a driving job. There are a few places I'm looking at.

The problem is, I need to find some housing when I get there, but it won't be easy without employment.

I'm wondering if my only option is to stay housed at the company's facility until I'm hired, then have my stuff shipped over when I finally am able to rent. That seems like it could take several months.

Is this normal for a newbie moving from state-to-state for training? How likely is it that the company would house me until I can find my own apartment, or will I be homeless the day I graduate?

 

You will be homeless the day you graduate.

Why move to Cali for schooling? There are hundreds of schools that you can attend. I bet there are a few in your current state as well.

Why not attend a local school to you right now. Get a driving job. Then move to Cali when you have yourself established with employment & money?

 

I forgot to mention I live in Hawaii, so not much OTR opportunity here. LOL.

Also, if I understand correctly, if you want to drive for a living in California, you need a California CDL. So I figured I can school there and start a new career in SoCal.

Though I haven't checked, I'm pretty sure the schools here in Hawaii don't have as many relationships with mainland companies that would allow me to find a job right away, as opposed to being on the continent. My thinking is, it could take me a lot longer to find work in a smaller job pool than if I moved.

 

Save up a bunch of money. What I would do is get my personal supplies down to the minimum. Drive my car to the place and tow a uhaul. Then look for a apartment. You can find apartments that are livable for around $1000 to $2000 a month. Don't forget you'll have to have down payments for utilities and that cleaning deposit you'll lose. I perfer to live alone when in school so that's why the high price for a apt. Just don't get a apartment that wants a lease. You'll have to go month to month. There's other options but that's what I would do.

 

Part of the problem is that nearly all apartment rentals require a current job (they want pay stubs, proof of steady income, etc.), which I won't have until I'm actually hired.

I could tell them I'll PROBABLY be hired after I graduate, but a promise doesn't equal steady income.

It seems as though I can't get a Cali CDL if I'm not a resident, but I can't become a resident unless I'm employed, and I can't be employed until I get my CDL.

I hope it's not an impossible situation for me.

I was thinking maybe somebody's been through something similar.

 

Now wouldn't the Hawaii CDL fall under the same laws as the CDL laws here in the 48?

 

For a Ca. CDL, don't you need a Cali DL first?

In which case, I'm told I need proof of residency just for a regular driver's license. I'm thinking I need more than just a friend's address. They probably won't let me slide without a utility bill or rental agreement in my name.

So although a Cali CDL doesn't require employment, it requires Calfornia residency (because you need a regular California DL first, and a regular California DL requires residency), which I can't get until I'm actually employed.

 

I'm thinking if I got one in Hawaii, it would be from a company that doesn't have the same contacts (and employment opportunities) as the ones on the mainland, so I decided on a California school as my best option.

 

But here....

You can transfer a current CDL from one state to another state by only taking the eye exam & hazmat test if required.

I believe Cali is exempt from that as well though.

I haven't taken a written or driving test in the past 10 years & I've lived in & have been lisenced in 4 different states