Return to OTR: My Journey Back

I don’t mind the quick derail — that’s what these forums are for, discussion. And hey, some of the recommendations you get might help me too.
But let’s keep the thread from wandering too far off into the weeds. I’ve already got enough chaos trying to get back into a truck, and I’d like to keep this one focused so the info doesn’t get buried.
And yeah… I never looked forward to driving in Pennsylvania in ’09, 2020, or now. But you gotta do whatca gotta do.

 

So after digging into the companies y’all recommended, here’s the ugly truth I’ve run into:
Every outfit I’m actually interested in wants recent OTR or recent school.

Doesn’t matter that I’ve held my CDL since ’09, ran OTR from 2020–2022, kept my med card current, and haven’t had so much as a bumper tap. If I haven’t been sleeping in the truck within the last 36 months, the insurance companies basically treat me like I’ve never touched a clutch.

Right now it’s looking like I might have to bite the bullet and go back to CDL school just to get “recent training” on paper again.
I really don’t want to mess with contracted company training — back when I first got my CDL, the whole thing cost me about $900, and the company-sponsored mills were already charging close to $6k. I don’t even want to know what those contracts look like now.
Closest place to me with a public price is Metro Tech, and they want about $4,500 for tuition. Not thrilled about paying for a class I already passed years ago… but if that’s the only way to get rolling again, I may not have a choice.

Silver lining:
If I do end up going, I’ll at least knock out some endorsements while I’m there — doubles/triples, tanker, maybe hazmat.
So the bad news comes with a little good news.
Plus i heard that unemployment has some programs for paying for training… going check that out too.
i just know i dont want to owe a company for providing or paying for me to get back in a truck.
I’ll keep updating as I figure out my next step.

 

Oklahoma City.

Thank you.


Today’s update…
Tried hitting up the tech schools, apparently there’s a holiday this week, has everything shut down.
But here’s the good news: I finally got a call back from a contact a family member passed my way about a month and a half ago. Got an interview lined up this week. The job sounds right up my alley, and it’d be something new at the same time.

And if it works out… I’ll be coloring the comic strips again. Might even have to dig the old John Wayne three-ply out of storage just to remember what the hell to do with it.

Not counting my eggs yet. I’m gonna wait until after the interview before letting myself get too excited. But hey… finally feels like something is moving.

 

I looked at them, but I’m trying to stay out of the reefer world this time around. Nothing against the company reefer guys CAN make good money and end up in some #### nice trucks eventually… and there is no better sleep in a truck stop than a negative temp constant run reefer sleep…

But grocery warehouses…. I’m not a hothead or a snapper mouth, but those places can test a saint.

I appreciate the suggestion, though. I’ve looked at and applied to several of the outfits you and others recommended.

The interview I’ve got this week is with the very first place I applied when all this started. They didn’t have a spot back then, but now they’re looking for another driver. So we’ll see where it goes.