My Story and Plan for re-entry into trucking

Im posting this here because advice is always welcomed from those who have been there and done that.


I went to a driving academy when I first got my CDL, I of course got the CDL and I started working for Covenant Transport. I worked for them about a year until I was fired after a heated discussion with my dispatcher. My quallcom was malfunctioing and causing a 30 minute delay and the dispatcher thought I was ignoring him and yeah, I probably wasn't as civil about it as I could have been either.


So I got into computer repair and i have done that for the past 6 years or so. I recently lost my job with the local government because I was an "at will" employee and the new commissioner chairman that came in decided that I wasn't needed so I was let go. Jobs around where I live are scarce. We live in extreme northern Georgia and there is nothing in the papers for here or in surrounding cities. Even McDonalds isn't in there!


So I haven't driven for 6 years. I have a clean MVR. I do have a pety shoplifting charge against me back in 2001 but no jail time or anything. It was a very small deal.

I have a wife of 9 years and 2 children at home. My son is 4 and my daughter is 8. It sucks to leave them but as a husband, father, man, and provider my wife and I agree that I gotta do whatever I have to. I intend to eventually get a laptop with an aircard so I can video converence with my wife and kids every other night or something when I stop. Anything like that to keep us in touch will help deal with the pain.

The only carriers around me are in chattanooga and that is Covenant Transport and US Xpress. US Xpress is only hiring experienced drivers at the moment. I have not contacted covenant simply because of the horror stories I read about here. My experience with them wasn't too bad but its been a while ago.

I am looking into Transport America and the Driver Solutions company that does training and puts you with a couple companies upon completion of your training (USA Truck and PAM Transport). I do not mind signing a contract for a year if they are going to pay for my training... I cant really afford to pay for it myself.

Hometime is kind of a big deal since I have a family but I am fine with the 1 day off for 1 week out scenario. However if there isn't a terminal near atlanta or chattanooga, then my wife wouldn't be able to drive to pick me up for my home time. I do not have any secure location to park a truck other than a church parking lot which does not have a locked gate around it. I am not sure what the requirments are for that. Either way, I KNOW I wouldnt be able to find a place big enough to bring a trailer home with me either.

I really dont mind being someone's slave at this point. I am expecting the first year to be that way but I know that once I prove myself that I can get better jobs or loads that get me what I want more often. I understand that I will probably be gone for 2-3 weeks at a time and that I will only get a couple days off before returning to the road.


So given my scenario, can anyone offer any advice? Preferably which carrier I should try to get on with considering I live in extreme north GA that has a terminal that is in driving distance for my wife to pick me up. I may have to go with Covenant. Even if they treat me like utter ####, its more money than I am making sitting my ### at home jobless and I would just have to keep telling myself its only temporary until I get some good experience under my belt and a good reputation going.