Starting Late in Life

I really appreciate everyones help and advice in this thread, more than I can express.

I have talked with a bunch of companies. Doors seem to open with six months of OTR. After weighing all of them, I think TMC makes the most sense for me right now.

Key factors:

• Training is somewhat local (Columbia, SC), will be home on the weekends.
• Being offered a regional flatbed position, home every weekend.
• 1-Year commitment.
• My fiancé's military retirement has been approved for 1 Jun 2026.

Plan is to report to school on 23 June. My service obligation with them should expire approx Sept 2026. At this point my Fiancé should be retired from the military and have completed her CDL school (Paid by Military). Hopefully TMC will allow her to drive with me as a team. When she has accumulated six months OTR we will begin looking at companies that do DoD loads.

As for our clearances, mine is currently being held by my last employer. Even if they were to release it the clearance is still active for two years. My fiancé's clearance is in the same boat, she will have two years after retiring to have another company pull her clearance in.

 

Update 4 June 2025:

I passed the CLP exam this morning. The DL offices have been crazy with all the Real ID stuff. Appointments are booked out through the next four months. I had to do a walkie. Was advised to be in line by 5am. I arrived at 4:15 and ended up being third in line. Crazy. The air brake test was pretty serious.

Anyways, got that out of the way. Sent my DOT health card and CLP to TMC. Waiting on an official class date, probably the 23rd of June in Columbia, SC.

I plan to spend a lot of time between now and then watching pre-trip inspections on you tube. I was a static line and HALO jump master in the Army for 17 of 20 years. Both courses have similar tests that require the test to call out what they are inspecting. They even require a working hand and a 'pointing hand'. So I am familiar with the process of being tested for inspecting equipment. I know it is not the same but there appear to be lots of synergy between the two processes.

I also need to start thinking about my packing list for the four weeks or so of class and what I will take on the road with my trainer. I assume the school will provide some sort of packing list. At the top of my list is a straw cowboy hat and some mirrored sunglasses. hahaha

 

I registered with the drug clearing house, totally clear. Have also applied for a TWIC card and have an interview scheduled for tomorrow morning. Moving right along.

Hopefully I can actually drive one of these beasts.