Restarting Driving Career

It's a long story, but I'll try to shorten it as much as I can. In early 2016, I went to the Celadon academy to get my CDL. Went through their orientation, started training, and due to my marriage falling apart during all of this, I left. After about 7 months, all of the drama had fizzled and I decided to try again. Ended up going to Werner and headed out with a trainer. Was on the trainers truck about 3 weeks when I got a phone call I never thought I'd hear, a family member had had a massive stroke, and they let me get off of the truck to be with them. I don't want to put too many details into that, but I felt the road wasn't for me after both of these incidents happening.

Fast forward to now. I'm officially divorced, and to be honest, hate the normal 9-5 job. I still have my cdl and an updated physical, so I thought maybe I could try again, since I now have nothing back home to worry about and to have to come back to.

My problem is, will any company even touch me with practically zero experience even though I have my Class-A?

I would suggest just apply everywhere and be honest about everything. Worst they can do is say no. You'll probably get better advice in the general section because that's where the more knowledgeable folks are.

I am sure you’ll find a new home. Best of luck to you.

western express will most likely hire you. in fact, i highly recommend them. i have had an incredible experience with them so far. i left the trucking game in 2006. prior to that, i drove for werner for about 17 months during 2004-2006. they hired me fresh out of school so long as i completed a specific amount of hours with a trainer in a team driving situation.

i considered making a comeback in 2013 and, after calling a few recruiters at a few companies (werner, schneider, swift, us express, western express to name a few), the only bite i got was from western express. i did not take the offer, but i did keep in touch with them over the course of the next 5 years, periodically checking in, making sure that i could get back in the game if i wanted to. at the time, i took more comfort in knowing i could get back to it than actually getting back to it because i wasn't quite ready yet. being ready for it is a huge factor...quite possibly the biggest factor in determining your success in the game.

ultimately, in june 2018, after having not touched a truck in 12 years, the offer was still standing, as well as one from schneider who also seems to have begun a refresher program for drivers that have a cdl but no recent experience (5 years or more). i decided to go with western because they were the first that offered me an opportunity when nobody else would. they are constantly hiring. every week at every one of their main terminals, they are beginning new orientation sessions on mondays and wednesdays. give them a try, they will likely hire you and have you at one of their training terminals (nashville, bethlehem, bloomington) for orientation as soon as monday morning...yes, this upcoming monday.

when i arrived in bethlehem, pa, i went through orientation and training much akin to that at werner (and probably most other companies, i would imagine). it was 3 days, consisting of meet and greet, classroom sessions, urine test and a few moments behind the wheel to knock off the rust. then it was 2 days of load securement training, which they paid at $75 per day. they gave no pay for orientation though, only load securement. then it was 240 hours with a trainer in a team driving situation. the total time for me to go from bus ride to solo driver was from june 6-july 5 i have been with them for almost 14 months now. i have driven flatbed for them and van and, in april, i began training. i realize i am at a point where i could likely "move on to greener pastures" but the truth of the matter is that western is not a bad company at all to work for and i am quite content with my situation for the time being. hope this helps. be safe and god bless!