Where to start.

Contact Crete and ask them if they recognize whatever school you got your CDL. They'd be your best bet if they approve of the school you attended.

 

After 2 years of non-use your CDL is not worth the paper it's written on.
At the very least you need a refresher course, if not the whole thing.

 

I see the "refresher course thing mentioned". I don't know why. Anyone that hires you will give you a road test. You will not be very good as you do not have any experience. You will be sent out with a trainer. The first companies you start with will not pay you the same they would pay someone with 2 years experience. I am sure you understand why. You will be starting at the bottom of the TOTEM Pole (that is a native american reference). You will have to work your way up.

As to the bad experience stories you have to remember that it is much easier to say bad things about people then to praise them. Most of the folks who have time to post online are not working right now. I myself am waiting on the delivery of two trucks. I am free until late July. So those unemployed have a "hatchet to grind" ( native american reference two). You are going to find challenges with all companies. The paid at first isn't very good but you can still make $50,000 your first year. That is plenty of wampum (native american number 3). Stick it out and you will learn to love this job.

Oh, I am of the Mississippi Choctaw Tribe. Welcome to trucking.

 

Where is your location? Need to know the hiring area you live in.

Contact Schneider Bulk; that's the hazmat/tanker division of Schneider. If you're in their hiring area they might run you through their refresher course then put you on with their tanker division.

Maverick will probably hire you since you have a CDL; if you're in their hiring area.
Millis Transfer is good if you live in Eastern half of USA.

 

Thinking USX might be an option also! Not Western express!

 

I retired in 2004 after 20 Golden Years behind the wheel with well over 2 million safe and accident free miles. I was Grandfathered-in because of my spotless driving record when the CDL first came out. My roles in trucking went from owning a small fleet of ten trucks to being a leased owner/driver of 2 nice OTR units to being a company driver for many years. I retired from trucking during my junior year of college and received my Master degree in business, in 2010. I work from home as an outside accountant for a trucking company and always kept abreast of the latest news in the trucking industry. I can literally teach at any trucking school because of my prior experience and academic record, but very sadly, I'm in the same boat as you as a commercial driver. This experience rule has a zero tolerance rate. ..........No kidding why this industry is facing a major driver shortage.

 

Some companies have a team,and train hire policy."If" you aren't against teaming,
and can find a driver with experience,you could go that route.
Best case will be to take a refresher,and get a couple of weeks with a trainer.
Averitt offers refresher course,and has terminals as far west as Texas.
Good luck,and hope you have a smooth learning period with a good trainer.
Some Ltl companies will let you yard drive,and move on from there

 

Watkins and Shepard has a terminal in Missoula, MT. They have a mentor program that might work great for you! I'm a newbie there and they have treated me good.