Profile For Matthew L.

This is the type of info I was looking for. I was in the position of caring for a family member during invasive cancer treatments for a little over of 2 years.

As some may know, cancer treatments aren't cheep and I/my family was financially devastated after the treatments stopped from all the piling medical bills, insurance costs, medications, etc. I know that's a long time to be out of work, but that along with the Covid-19 pandemic, it left me in dire straights.

I've done "under the table jobs" for contractors and landscaper, and had trucking companies contact them to varify, but alas, they want W2 work for recently years and unfortunately, I can't provide that.

I have tried the school route, having received the WorkForce grant here in Indiana only to realize a few days before going to the school(TDI as OP stated) that I was on the hook for all the extra costs and the School could not put in writing that job placement was guaranteed at the completion of the course.

I know trucking companies show up towards the end of the course to "Find the best candidate", but they are only looking for the best of the best with the best history. Which is understandable.

So as many other people, I tried the 'company sponsored' training route. TMC, ROELH, Keller, KLLM(whom I'm currently dealing with), Prime, Knight, Maverick, Swift, etc. I would out in a app, a recruiter would call me, I'd explain my situation and they'd assure me that would NOT be an issue, just for communication with the recruiter to abruptly end and things go silent on their end. If i had a dollar for every time this has happened, I wouldn't need to go trucking.(Only kidding but you get the point)

In my area, which as been devastated by Covid-19 and the opioid epidemic, you have to drive 1-2 hrs away to get a job and the travel for gas(almost $4/gal here as of writing this) your basically working so you can get to work($15-18/hr) and pay your taxes.

Local places say they are hiring, but no new positions are being filled. I wanted to get into trucking so bad. I really did, but i don't think that is an option for me anymore.

I have always loved trucks. My dad's family owned the Nation's Largest Truck Salvage in the 60s, 70s, 80s. So i grew up around them. I can't count the number of weekends I'd spend in one of their yards climbing all over old Pete's, Kenworhts, etc.

Trucking was a common topic around our family dinner table and at family events get-togethers. All my uncles drove. One being a million safe mile driver for Schneider, having a plaque in there Green Bay, WI HQ and having retired as a regional training manager, and the other being a Owner OP would hauled coils of steel on a flatbed from Pittsburg to customers all over the country.

Even though, with my circumstance, I believe this is my last try to get into the industry. If this doesn't work, I'm going to go back to the warehouse/factory work and beg for a job and live in my car for a few months while i save money to relocate closer to where the job is. That is to say, I haven't only been applying for trucking jobs. On Indeed, SnagAJob, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter I've summited hundreds of apps this year alone with only a few call backs, then silence.

As far as work history, for Schneider I just wrote out the essential story of how I had to take care of my dad for 5 years until he died a year ago from Parkinson's; then my too-briefly successful forays into the job market since, until I went to private CDL school. The recruiter was fine with that. No affidavits needed, no death certificate, no copy of my POA or anything. I didn't know it's a federal requirement to ask, nor the reason stated above. Makes more sense now though, as it does seem a strangely ubiquitous fixation. Covenant informed me (after giving me a pre-hire letter upon my request to help me get accepted to the private school) that my lack of employment dis-qualified me from working for them... But on the other hand, after school I told them that this seemed an absurd reason to turn someone down, to keep me out, and the recruiter said, no problem, they'd since changed their policy. So there's some serious "wiggle room" there, obviously, and also the fact that we need to heed the sage preparedness advice given here on TT.

To get into school I got a full grant, which either had to do with my advanced age re-entering the workforce, or the pandemic (extra difficulty getting work and/or extra need for truckers as essential workers) or both, through the state work program. I accept the logic against the private route vs, company-sponsored, but would just add-- Either way, beware until you're actually at the company terminal, housed, well enough into training to have cleared ALL the hoops. I've come across ample examples of getting sent home on your own dime once you've already bused or driven a thousand miles to the training terminal, whether to school or orientation. (Some of the companies even savvily warn you in their orientation instructions that this might happen if you're not careful enough.) Stuff can turn up even after "last minute", so seems to me the best thing, as well as for what you need to know in advance (atlas knowledge or whatever, cuz they really vary in their emphases) is to find out how they do differ from other programs and clear everything possible ahead of time.

I’ll definitely look into those. I’m in Indiana. So I was trying to find something here in the Midwest I could drive to for training. If I can’t, will definitely be in touch.

If you or anyone else had any suggestions, please let me know. I’m starting to get desperate lol

Try Big M Transportation, Magnum Logistics, and Cypress Truck Lines.

Big M & Magnum will pay tuition to go to a school near them, if I recall correctly. I think they'll give you a hotel room too.

TMC, Maverick, Roehl, Carter, Keller, Crum, CFI, Millis, StevensTransport, Prime, Knight, etc.

What companies have you applied to?

TMC, Maverick, Roehl, Carter, Keller, Crum, CFI, Millis, StevensTransport, Prime, Knight, etc.

What companies have you applied to?

I applied via that link before. I haven’t had any luck. No one has even reached out to me unfortunately.

I’ll be off Metformin before the year is over. So I didn’t think that would be an issue. My doctor thought it was an issue for a long while, even though I showed her the regulations.

I’ve been going through today and individually applying since I can’t apply to that link It’s definitely taking me some time lol

I have a strong desire to join the trucking industry, but there are some obstacles I must overcome. At 32 years old, living in Indiana, my work experience spans various fields, including construction, factory, foundry, warehouse, the medical sector, and even owning my own small business for a few years. My goal is to pursue a Midwest Regional Dedicated role initially, focusing on driving and safety.

One hurdle I face is having Type-2 Diabetes, with a well-controlled A1C of 5.1 managed through diet and Metformin. Fortunately, my doctor has approved me to attend CDL school, as the September 2018 revision of the FMCSA's Diabetes Regulation changes supports this. (A1C under 10.0, controlled blood sugar with supporting documentation, etc)

Another challenge is my current financial situation, which has left me with nonexistent recent work history. This can be attributed to my role as the full-time primary caregiver for a close immediate family member during their lengthy battle with cancer, spanning nearly three years.

Earlier this year, I received a workforce grant to attend a private CDL school (TDI), covering approximately 40% of the tuition. However, this grant resulted in an automatic transmission restriction. Despite the school lowering the tuition considerably to accommodate my circumstances, I still needed to gather several more thousands to cover remaining costs, including room/board, food, and travel expenses due to the school's distance from my home. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend, and the WorkForce grant can only be issued once in my state, leaving me ineligible for further grants.

I've applied for company-sponsored CDL Training, and during the application process, I explain my situation in detail, including the financial impact it had on my family. Unfortunately, some companies initially express understanding on the phone, but later, I receive short emails stating they cannot accommodate me. I recognize it's not an ideal situation, but I prioritized my family's well-being at that time.

After thorough the reflection process, I am determined to make a positive change and pursue a career in trucking. I have spent extensive hours researching companies(the ones that have turned me down), talking to truckers, and exploring various options to ensure this is the right path for me.

Despite my passion and dedication, it seems challenging to find opportunities beyond CDL schools, which require payment I currently cannot afford. I'm seeking any insight or information that might make it easier for me to enter the industry.

Thank you for your consideration and support.