Old Dog New Tricks Or Been Out Of The Truck A Long Time.

Charles....you are still a sought after commodity in the trucking industry....don't let history ruin your dreams. I've known of a few drivers who got burned with a dirty UA...it took them some time, but they cleaned up, and continued with their trucking. For you, its just gonna be time consuming...finding the company that will allow you a chance. Now...lets talk about what you have to offer them... In the cab, behind the wheel EXPERIENCE..that will count for something, you won't be tearing up equipment like a rookie sometimes does. ( in the seat knowledge is like riding a bike, get on get going.)HONESTY. theres a chance that that UA all those years ago may not even pop up. but you want to be honest with your prospective employer. "WANT TO"...You have already been OTR , so it won't be a surprise to you, yet you still want to do it. Now...what you will need form them: Training. I'm sure you could climb in a truck and head out...you will pick up the "truck" part really easily. BUT the HOS have changed drastically in 13 years. The DOT rules have also changed regarding pre trip inspections. SO I'd suggest you go thru the High Road Training Program. That will teach you most of what you will need to get your cdl permit, your endorsements, and prep you for whatever schooling the company that accepts you will have you d. But if you can offer them your cdl permit, AND every endorsement known to man..you will look pretty darned good. You will have to do some chlassroom time, to learn their way of doing things. But then you will head out with a trainer, who will assess your driving skills, teach you in any areas you need, and take you back and tell the company you are ready for your own truck. This is my take on what will entail your re-education into trucking. All you have to do is find a company who will give you that chance. So apply with them all. If their applicaion asks about drugs, be honest, but be sure and let them know that its been 13 years ago, and you weren't even a steady user back then...I'm positive there is a company out there that will give you a chance, its your job to find them, and convince them. If you can offer them everything they need but a little schooling and a chance...they will think long and hard on that offer.

Thank you guyjax and Starcar. I'm going to continue to press forward with the applications. I did one that'd go to various trucking companies and alert the recruiters. I think. Anyway it does ask about any failed drug test in the last 3 years to which I can honestly reply no. I am prepared however to divulge the bad or bad UA from 7+ years ago. I don't beat around the bush and I'll certainly not lie or otherwise try to cover up any negatives from my past. This gets people nowhere and quickly I might add. I don't want to get caught up in a situation where everything was going fine, but now I'm sitting in a TS 800 miles from home. Been there when I had the bad UA. Luckily for me I was only 120 miles from home. But over the years I heard countless stories of these sorts of things happening. That 120 miles was bad enough trust me. But an OO out of the kindness of his heart brung me to a TS in Des Moines. I was a very lucky man. And bless that driver. Anyway I already have my permit and am ready to go in that regard. Now it's a matter of who, so on and so forth will be willing to take me and hopefully it'll be a decent company and at a minimum have a tolerable working relationship. Again I want to thank everyone that's replied as all have helped greatly. Be safe out there and God bless.

Charles, if you don't stick around here, and help us with these rookies, I'll be hurt...But if you get a driving gig, and don't come on here and brag about it, and let us know...I'll be bum Hurt...and there IS a difference !!

Lol. I will be here either way. Determined as I am to drive again. It may not be until I get stopped for the night or during a live load/unload. But I'll be here. Thanks much