Non-recent CDL grad, inexperienced

It sounded as thou your misdemeanors might have been recent. My mistake. It doesn't much matter because if you want a future you're going to have to start all over again. I don't believe any company would send you to a refresher course due to you not having any experience to begin with. You having an CDL is to your advantage and it saves time to where you do not need to go through that part of training. There have been many drivers that held an CDL and attended school. It may not be right but you need to show you've been through recent training. Once you get to a company that's where you might have an advantage over someone new. Good luck.

 

KKW Trucking in Pomona,CA hires drivers with a cdl and no experience. They stay in the western states.

 

You're fine, just focus on companies that offer a refresher course or pay for one yourself. They're usually only a few days.

I had a 15 month gap between graduation and starting and Schneider sent me to a third party refresher course. I didn't have to pay for anything but they did require a 90 day contract.

Also, Western Express offered me a refresher course but wanted me to pay for my own transportation from NV to TN, which I declined and then they basically said screw it, just come to orientation in CA. Swift offered me a job straight out but I wasn't sure if I'd pass the orientation road test because of how long it'd been.

 

That CDL will send you back into refresher school to find the rust and break it off. Then polish and update you with current information, laws, etc. Things have changed and not for the better in some ways and in others you best be prepared. For me? I look at the food side in meals on the road. Just about all the stops Ive haunted in the past have now become fast food serve your own take out bag food. Which I know enough to avoid.

I don't think I want to be a part of the industry in which you cannot sit down and eat a proper meal served to your table anymore out there.

 

Sorry to hear about your experience. I am in the same position. Got my CDL two years ago and haven't used it yet but SNI offered me the same thing. Refresher, contract then orientation. Western Express offered me a job. Swift. Werner even. I'm currently deciding between SNI or Western. There are some truck schools where it only costs 500 bucks for a refresher. That would then allow you to go to places like JBS Carriers, Navajo or wherever without any contracts. Could try Britton Transport. They do a contract.

That's weird because they wanted me to fly (on my dime but only 170 dollars.. that's for a coast to coast flight) all the way to Nashville and do the refresher there haha. Yet, they told you just to go to CA orientation?
what the hell

 

Swift will take you in your situation. They'll send you to orientation and give you the road test and have you back a trailer. If you fail either they will send you to school where you will be required to pass their tests, pre trip, backing range and road tests, at which time most students test for their cdl... you will be going back to orientation. Swift school students don't have to take a road test at Swift orientation.

 

Watkins to us where I come from = candy. Bulk Candy by the case.

now whatever they are today I have no idea.

 

I got hired y Abilene after 14 years of not using my CDL. Went out with trainers for a month before getting my own truck.

You can reenter the industry without paying for a refresher or entering into contract with a company.

 

I encourage a refresher if you can get it. It wont take too long. Technology, trucking and everything has created a dinosaur of me and what I knew once. It's changed alot and also did not change very much.