Surrendering the CDL

Here is some advise for some of you new drivers out there. DONT EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER have a failed relationship to where you would get custody of your kids, then after 4 years, want to go back to trucking if you dont plan on being with a driver trainer for 8 weeks. i have contacted more than 20 companies today, they ALL have informed me that I will need 8 weeks with a trainer even though I drove for almost 5 years and took 4 off to raise the kids when the sycho decided to leave. You will have to go to school again, then , when you are done, you need to be with a trainer for 8 weeks.

I was told that a trainer may release me after only 2 weeks, but comeon now, the trainer can sleep while I drive, i do all the work, he sleeps and makes more money. And at 300 to 400 a week for training when you are use to making over 600 a week, then it is double standards.

here is my plan, when my CDL runs out, I am just going to surrender it. I know most of you will say , hey , thats life, but trucking was my life, as were my kids. Now that I know I am stuck, I would never trade 1 day with them kids watching them grow up for the past 4 years.

just a warning for al of you who love trucking and love the kids, make sure you dont take more than a year or 2 tops off. any longer, you will hit this problem and there is no way out of it .

MIND YOU NOW, IT COULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR ME TO HAVE A FREIND OF MINE WHO OWNS HIS OWN SMALL COMPANY TO LIE AND SAID I DROVE FOR THE LAST 9 MONTHS FOR HIM, BUT THAT IS NOT FAIR TO THE REST OF YOU OUT THERE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO COULD HAVE USED A TRAINER FOR A WEEK TO SHARPEN THINGS BE OUT THERE. I WOULDN'T TAKE THE CHANCE ON RISKING ANYONES LIFE FOR THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED SINCE I WAS DRIVING 4 YRS AGO.

 

Thank you for all the advise. I told myself when I first got my CDL in 1996 I would never ever let it go. It does hurt thinking about letting it go. My grandfather, my father, brother, all 3 uncles, my future father-inlaw, future step father in law, and future brother in law all drive. Its a way of life for my family and my fiancee's family. Everyone who is male drove and retired or still drives today.

I would love to do the training, i think it would benefit me, the kids, and the other drivers out there knowing i am safer by taking it. I just can't get over the fact that the bank won't care that for 2 months I will not be making the mortgage payment. I will miss 2 and the house will be going bye bye, then with no address, the truck will be home and the license board won't let me put the license plate number down for a home address HAHAHAHAHAA.

Being away from home then when I was driving and now is not hard for me. I was out 7 to 9 weeks at a time without any care. It was just when the sycho nut decided to leave and realized being a mother was not for her was when i got off the road. I lived and learned with that, but that was my fault, i never asked her when we got together if she was a demon from hell. But that was the first thing I asked the one I am with now.

My daughter just turned 20 and said she has a few more years and she is driving, my son is now 13 and wants to drive, so I did something right. HAHAHA

But thank you all for the advise, I really would like to know where the one guy went that they cut him loose after 5 days. I can understand, if I don't have the skill, keep me training, but if I do have what it takes yet, cut me loose. I beieve in fair is fair. Just an honest trainer, who will let me know where I lack, I can care less what company it is, just as long as I am driving.

 

Here is the latest. I got a call from a big carrier who i wont say on here out in the open, seems they just told me that, 2 1/2 days orientation, then maybe 8 days with a trainer and if I am good with it all, 8 days i can be cut loose. i dont know what company to trust and what ones to not to, if anyone wants they can help me out by sending me a letter to ######### . i would greatly appreciate it.

For the 2 who asked me in a private message, yes, you can make good money driving a limo, BUT that is only if you are in a huge city market. and the stress level is high in that industry. But there is nothing like traveling in the rigs. I missed it and hope I can get back to it.

I will keep you all informed.