10 Years Of Disability

Well I am 54 years old and about 10 years ago I became disabled due to a back injury to my lower back. Two surgeries later, I suffer from foot drop on my left foot because of damage to the nerves in my left leg. My wife was able to land a great job making 3 times what I made, so I took over raising our boys and being a stay at home Dad.I have managed to lose about 150 lbs, get off all my diabetes medicine and strengthen my lower back to the point I am wanting to try to go back to work. I will always walk with a limp but I have no problem using a clutch with my bad leg. My question is will my time on disability kill any chance of being hired as a driver? I'm hoping I could at least find a part time or day driving job. I have saved up enough to pay for my CDL School through DMACC. I really need some advice!

Well I am 54 years old and about 10 years ago I became disabled due to a back injury to my lower back. Two surgeries later, I suffer from foot drop on my left foot because of damage to the nerves in my left leg. My wife was able to land a great job making 3 times what I made, so I took over raising our boys and being a stay at home Dad.I have managed to lose about 150 lbs, get off all my diabetes medicine and strengthen my lower back to the point I am wanting to try to go back to work. I will always walk with a limp but I have no problem using a clutch with my bad leg. My question is will my time on disability kill any chance of being hired as a driver? I'm hoping I could at least find a part time or day driving job. I have saved up enough to pay for my CDL School through DMACC. I really need some advice!

Sorry no one answered your post! Hopefully someone more experienced in this area will respond as well, but if it were me I would start sending in applications and talk to their recruiters. I remember reading similar posts on here, and from what I can remember the general advice was that you're fine as long as you have some sort of documentation proving you were doing what you said you were doing. That said, ten years is quite a while so I'm not sure how much that would impact things.

Thanks Paul W. They told me I would probably be on Disability the rest of my life. The last few years I have been swimming and working out everyday. Im looking into the Ticket to work Program and I will go back to work. If I have to start out hauling grain or gravel I will, whatever it takes to get my work history started again. I have plenty of references and a good driving record. My police record is also good so I should pass a background check easily. I just want to feel Im pulling my own weight again!

Jeff, also make sure you are very clear on your leg issues, bring all required documentation from your doctor stating that you are fully recovered and able to work, when I came in to my company 2 gentleman arrived with repaired needs or ankles don't quite remember but one got hired the other one needed a doctors note stating he was fully recovered and clear for work, don't really know what happen to him, but not having Doctor documentation can be a show stopper......out

Thanks Paul W. They told me I would probably be on Disability the rest of my life. The last few years I have been swimming and working out everyday. Im looking into the Ticket to work Program and I will go back to work. If I have to start out hauling grain or gravel I will, whatever it takes to get my work history started again. I have plenty of references and a good driving record. My police record is also good so I should pass a background check easily. I just want to feel Im pulling my own weight again!