Trying To Get Hired

Hi all, just jumping on to say I'm trying to start a career as a driver in my old age, lol! Retired from law enforcement at 44 years old in 2011, and I've been playing househusband and trying to fix up our house. Living on investments and my pension for the last 6 years. That didn't impress the powers that be at Roehl, so they cancelled my conditional offer. ☹️ I examined my options for a couple of days, and I was figuring I'd forget about it, but then I decided to try again. I applied at Prime this time because it seems like a good company. I'm still bummed because I was going to be regional from the door at Roehl with weekly home time. This time though, I remembered when I applied that I'd been working as a volunteer editor on several novels for a few years. Hopefully, that combined with my decades long career, preceded by military service will convince them to give me a shot. I mean they give felons a second chance, why not me? Well, I'll find out Monday, so wish me luck!

Howdy

So you say that Roehl didn't offer you employment because you have not been working for 6 years or what it that you wanted regional? That's interesting....I would apply at all the places you can, because as you see, there are many jobs...

Best of Luck

Welcome to the forum Robert.

Like Retired Army said apply to multiple companies, especially since Prime is one of the most selective when it comes to job history.

Paid CDL Training Programs

Apply For Paid CDL Training

It's highly suggested to review and study the content found in The Trucking Truth starter kit, as follows:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Good luck!

Welcome Robert, first of all thank you for your service SIR👍👍 You beat me out of the business by 1 yr and alot younger. Like you I did nothing for a year except remodeling a house for myself. Rode my motorcycle way too much and drank too much beer. Anyway I started at Roehl. All I needed was the confirmation of my retirement date and 3 notirized letters of people that knew me stating I was enjoying my retirement during the period of non working. Your 1099’s showing your retirement should work also as proof. What exactly did Roehl tell you??? I don’t know who you spoke with but if you want to dig a little deeper call Kim Calhoun there. She is amazing

My recruiter was Abigail Besler. She seemed really nice, but I knew something was wrong after two days of her not answering my messages or texts. I knew it was bad news because she was in a big hurry at first until we went over job history. I kept calling and she finally called back and said we couldn’t proceed. She told me they didn’t have a lot of success with people like me, and they didn’t know if I was ready to return to the work force. She also said that if I got a job for three to six months, I could reapply. I didn’t know that you should apply to a bunch of places, I’ve been doing one at a time. I figured if one turned me down, they all would. Thanks for the info guys, I will certainly try that if this one doesn’t work out. I’m actually kind of hopeful about Prime though. The guy there, John, thinks he can get me in. I don’t think I’ll get the situation I’d have got at Roehl though. Home every week is what I’d like. Roehl initially offered me the northeast regional. I know people don’t like that, and believe me, I’m nervous about the tight spaces myself, but I live in New Jersey (if I can sell my house I’m heading south!) so northeast would be my best choice. I know Prime has a tanker fleet, but I’m not sure it would work for me. I’m not scared of heights, but it seems pretty narrow on top. I’m not exactly athletic and I’m overweight, lol! What should starting pay be? Some info I’ve read doesn’t seem accurate. Roehl wouldn’t have even paid for me to go out to Wisconsin, and they offered me $.35 a mile. Doesn’t seem to match up with what I’ve read.

Robert you definitely should apply to many companies. Not all have the same hiring standards, areas they will hire from or what you are looking for. And even that can change as the needs of the business change.

Prime is unlikely to have you home every week, especially while you are training. The only way this might be possible/probable is to find a company with a Dedicated Account somewhat close to where you live.

Please read the links I sent you, the starter kit.

Good luck.

Thanks so much. I've been reading all of the links. I feel bad not waiting for a response from John at Prime, but I think I may apply for Maverick too. I don't think I want their flatbed division though, maybe after I get in better shape. Backstory: I moved up the ranks in my department, going to different locations each time in the state. I became a desk Sergeant in my early thirties and started putting on weight from being sedentary. Unfortunately, my department didn't have weight standards which would have kept me in check. After making lieutenant, I was now quite overweight and near forty. I was further promoted to captain, and by the end of my career at 44, I was over 400 lbs, in terrible shape with pain everywhere, a CPAP machine, the beginnings of diabetes, and completely sedentary. It took a few years, but I'm down to 280, no diabetes, and my doctor told me I may not need my CPAP much longer. I'm also exercising every day. I'm still not super strong, but I think I can pass any of the physical requirements. My biggest goal is losing weight right now. I'd like to lose another hundred pounds. He'll, maybe I should go flatbed, lol! This got a little more personal than I wanted, but I want to be transparent so that you guys can make more accurate suggestions based on fact. Thanks again for your help!

Robert if you go to prime please go reefer first not tanker. I have done both. Tankers are a different world in driving and not something else on your plate in the early stages. Tanks are very unforgiving.

I've been reading the links about some of the other companies offering CDL training. Which would be my best bet for more frequent home time? I've been considering Maverick and Swift as well based on what I just read. Tell you the truth, it's starting to blur because I've been reading this kind of thing for a month or so, lol!

Robert

Congrats on your weight loss and improved health.

Keep us posted