Returning to trucking industry after 10 year absence

I started with a chauffeurs license in Nov 1986 as well. Not sure where in Indiana you live but you could check with Carter Express or JRAYL.

 

Well let me tell you, don't do the driving school, you already qualify. you made little mistake, put all behind you. 19 years I would hire you instantly. your not going to wreck their equipment. If there is any one out there that reads these boards on here, hire this guy, I have a real good feeling you wont regret it. With the so called driver shortage, Here is a driver that has 19 years driving almost everything, has the age that knows what he is going to do in life, Has Life`s experience. Get a hold of China Town, he is great. and if China Town read s this, bud, find this guy a company, you wont regret it, Good Luck and stay in touch, Sure hope China Towns jump s in.

I usually don't do this, but I have a real good feeling some company will benefit from you.

 

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I too got out of trucking for almost 10 years, didn't have the issues you had with your CDL, but nonetheless I had the same issues with getting hired on at a company because I had no RECENT experience. I did finally find 2 mid size family owned carriers willing to give me a shot, One was reefer, the other was dry van, mostly drop & hook. I went with the dry van company and haven't looked back since. They do run out to Indiana & have drivers out there. They are really flexible with the drivers. The have good insurance (had to use it recently for a serious illness and didn't have to pay a dime). The company was very understanding about my illness and kept my truck waiting for me, even though I was out for weeks. They have decent equipment, although they always start the new drivers off in the old trucks, if you do good & take care of it and don't bang it up, you'll get a new one in no time. The home time is good too, Its mainly Midwest regional routes and a strong customer base. We just got a pay increase this week on our coil loads, which is good. The cpm is not the best in the industry, but the overall company experience is good. If you can find a company like this that is willing to give you a shot, just grin & bare it for 6 months to a year to get the recent experience and then you can go almost any where you want. The 2 companies I found were both based out of Iowa; Ennis in Clarion Iowa (reefer company, but they had some vans) and Oberg Freight Company in Fort Dodge, I went with Oberg. I started in March of this year and I'm still there, no complaints so far. Ennis seemed like a good company too, I just don't like reefer freight.

 

no , missed it, the oblivious distraction wandered off

 

your dad put 47 years of his life into trucking, that's a life time of driving, sorry to hear he passed. I have 4 more years to catch up to him. Hope I make it.

 

WOW, wonder what it would be like to miss 10 years of driving. you think I would be able to get back into it?

 

Pre-CDLguy, your a good driver, I know lots of companies in Chicago land that would love to have you driver for them. Sometimes , its location that lowers the chance of finding something great. Im ready to retire at anytime, I put 43 years of my life driving in Chicago land area. It has been a long road, my wife is 70 years young and says, retire anytime you want.