new to industry, will need to decide who to go with soon...advice?

Hello and thanks for the opportunity to join your forum here. I have spent some time cruising through the various threads and posts and have already pulled a lot of useful information from it.

My background. I'm 44 and from Michigan. I wrapped up a 26yr local govt career this past march. Spent the next months cleaning up our family estate (mini farm) and getting mom and sister moved into a condo. Now it's time to go back to work. I have a small but healthy pension that is deferred to age 60, not many get that anymore, even in government, they've all moved to 401k now. I feel very fortunate for that and my health. I am divorced after 14 yrs married, about 6 years ago now and do not have much to keep me home. Sold the family house in the divorce and have been living very minimalistic since.

So I'm sick of the always cold and crazy weather of Michigan (all the time), really not much interested in calling this state my home any longer, and want to get out on the road. Not really interested in selling cars or some other office type job for the next 15 years, want to go back out and see some sights, do something productive, and get myself to 60. I was security police in the air force when I was 19, enlisted straight national guard. Outside of Lackland in Texas and McDill in Fla, I saw battle creek on weekends and alpena for a week in the summer. Just about killed me seeing my counterparts head out to various places...lol and I wanted to be home. I'm in a very good position, home wise, to hit the road. I have a ton of friends and good family but am rather connected via facebook, email, etc... I don't need to be there on a daily basis. I have a ton of great girls who are friends, just not really interest in another "relationship" going south so I avoid that in love thing like the plague.

I am looking for the CDL school/company driver route, seems best for me. I have a nearly perfect driving record. One fail to yield/accident when I was 16 yo and an improper passing ticket (BS) back in 1985-86, lol 30 years ago..no tickets, nothing. No criminal history, etc..

My driving experience has included the normal car, I have also pulled a lot of trailers with my truck and I twice rented a straight truck (Ryder) and drove it from Grand Rapids to Fort Wayne...lol, I know..not much experience, however, am confident that I will do fine with good training. I really do respect the truck drivers, that is a lot of responsibility on the road, and not easy.

I have applied to Roehl, Swift, Knight, and Prime. I have a line of communication started with Roehl, Swift, and Prime, not sure why but have not heard from Knight yet. It looks like I'm pretty much good to go with Roehl, Swift, or Prime. I know that Prime has contacted my prior employer and that Swift has my Driving Record back...all three are talking about start dates as early as the first of the year for their school/training. Any advice on which one to go with or any questions I should be raising with the recruiters before making my decision? I intend to go with Van and want to see the country. I understand that I need to run at least 1 or 2 years before possibly upgrading to a carrier that requires "experience". I tend to be a company type man so I'm not necessarily out looking to get a year or two and jump ship. Should I apply to more than just those four companies? Any advice, comments would be appreciated.

 

thanks Chinatown and bcfr125, i checked out the online information from both, will give them a call after Christmas.

I really appreciate the suggestion on relocating warmer. I have done some research into that too and most likely will hold off with the entire change of address at this point. I don't want to be "homeless" so to speak, but if one is doing OTR and not in a need to be concerned with "home time", why even have a traditional home during this period? From speaking with the recruiters/companies I think the best would to get my CDL in Michigan or for Roehl you get your CDL in Wisconsin and then transfer it to Michigan. After some experience and the adustment to solo, then I would think of moving my "physical address". For those who complain about the money starting out, I think living in the truck for an extended period really has to make that wage better than it is. This was true in the military as well. The pay was not that good, however, I never paid a dime for my housing in the Air Force. I can understand some of the problems for those still keeping a full home with dependents. The price for that never goes down. I'm curious if anyone out there has done a "virtual address" residence? I can't image I'm the only person out there who has older siblings and family and no immediate dependents that require regular home time. After cleaning up my parents/family mini farm of 60yrs, having "stuff" is really overrated, especially when you get stuck being the one to dispose of it.

 

Thanks Chinatown,

I know it's really strange to think no physical address, that is nothing like I was raised, my immediate family here was brought up very solid, i.e. church, home, hometown, married forever. Truth is none of that has particularly been my experience in my adult life. Law Enforcement, although a well paying career, did require the crazy hours and working on holidays, birthdays, etc... most likely the ultimate path to destruction of my marriage. I have a strong work ethic and have that military/law enforcement training to be available for those weird hours and strange periods of work and rest or being on the road.

I'm not particularly convinced that it makes that huge of a difference as to which startup/school one attends. I think I may be leaning towards Swift. The experience stage is what it is. If you can't make it with one you probably won't make it with the other. At this point I'm not really looking to get into refer, or flatbed, or hazmat. I just want to get the hang of driving and living as a professional trucker. Swift is big and I have confidence in myself. Seems that they have good equipment and go to all 48. I can only assume that if I am delivering for the company they will keep me supplied with runs. Sure they make money, thats their business. As a new driver, one can only expect to make the lower end of the per mile scale. Haha like going back to Basic Training. It's time to tighten up and get it done. Seems like just about all end up leaving their starting company within a year or two, just the way it is. I asked Roehl about turnover and they have the same thing, big turnover. I suppose that some of that is washout, going back to a less mobile career and others move to a company that requires experience.

So are you mobile right now Chinatown? Have you made all your moves yet? I have not been overseas, was straight Air Guard, even during gulf one we were activated and sat in Michigan for 6 months as the war went so fast. True that it is a good time to buy real estate...I just don't see maintaining a significant property if you're not going to spend time there and enjoy it.

 

Thanks for all the generous and wise advice that I received from the people on this forum. I applied at three companies and received conditional offers from all three. I really do have a good employment history, clean driving record and no criminal history. I have carefully looked at the big picture and chosen the one I think will be the best start for me. I do know from my previous employer that at least one has done an employment background check and I was also told that my driving record came back clear from one of the companies.

I never in a million years thought that I would be pursuing this as a career at this point in my life, however, I did not expect to get divorced, etc...lol either. I'm looking forward to learning a new skill/trade, and it is one that does make a difference. I am also at a point in my life that I can actually look forward to the experience.

I have a physical scheduled for next week. I went to the Soc. Security office yesterday and ordered up a replacement SS card, omg haven't used that in 20 plus years, have no idea where it went. I already had an enhanced Michigan Drivers license (chauffeur) and that should be sufficient to get me to Canada. I need to get my Michigan CDL trainee permit, have taken the free online tests, etc.., videos. I should be fine on getting that. If all goes well, CDL school through the company will start end of January, 1st part of February.

Really looking forward to this change of pace in my life and the adventure..

 

thanks 91B20H8, no cats, no dog, no real house anymore, i have some property but plan to dispense of that..lol lights will be off.

starting over again too...actually looking forward to the experience. When I went Air Force I went straight MI Air Guard so after Basic I was back at my home unit. Other than a few TDY's I really did not travel out of Michigan. When I graduated Tech School in the Military all the others were off to new places to see and I was back to the Mitten, I often over the years look back and wish I had went active to see some of those places. Work is work...if you're doing it in Michigan or Florida or California. Michigan is a real drag lately, not what it used to be, I think auto industry killed the old Michigan. LOL, and now the Unions are out here...never expected that.

As far as go Green...I will say that I AM NOT GOING TO COLUMBUS OH and I think I'm just going to convert myself to being a Big Ten Fan. I am contemplating the purchase of some new red sweatshirts to be more training center friendly .