Please Help Advise Me ! Good Trucker People Please Read My Message….

My twenty year old son had a friend in high school who was homeless and he has been homeless for years in and out of people's homes taking care of his disabled mother and his mom and sisters many kids etc. No dads- all transient. He is now 22 with a child of his own. His girlfriend has a new boyfriend but all of them are homeless too. He is pretty desperate but we know him and want to help out if we can. If he is in a good school he can stay with us and I can find a way to help him get to school

If he is going to go anyplace he needs to get some type of education to help him make more money. burger king does not pay rent. He is a good driver and has his driving license. I don't know about his record but I think it is good. He really wants to go to school and drive trucks. Can you advise me?

He is smart but profoundly discouraged. I think if he could have a chance he could do really really well in this field. I wonder if you have any kind advice for me in helping him out. Know any nice people who might take this kid under their wing? Honestly I suppose this is the only way young people can get a break is if someone tries to help them and intervene. Helping him will help a whole family!

We live in Western Massachusetts. I read about the program in Somers CT. I feel he needs a structured program.

How long do these programs last? Any more ideas?

I have already checked out social programs and they only offer shelter- far away from his child- no transportation

THanks

tessie

Hi Tessie.

First things first - if he has any felonies or DUI's it will be nearly impossible for him to find work in trucking. Felonies and DUI's have to be at least 7-10 years old before most places will consider him. Also, if he has any speeding tickets for more than 15 mph above the limit that will disqualify him for a few years. So before you do much in the way of legwork, make sure his driving and criminal record will at least allow him to qualify for a job in the trucking industry.

The programs that are perfect for him are referred to as Company-Sponsored Training Programs. Essentially they're truck driving schools that are owned and operated by trucking companies. They put you through their schooling with almost no money out of pocket and you pay them back in weekly payments most of the time. Every company has its own setup.

But that's what he's going to want. He should simply apply to all of those programs and call them back relentlessly until he gets an answer from each one. It can be very difficult getting trucking recruiters on the phone.

You should go through our Truck Driver's Career Guide if you'd like to help him make good decisions about getting his trucking career underway. That covers about every topic imaginable that pertains to becoming a truck driving.

Hopefully that will give you a start! We're here anytime you have any questions. Let us know how things progress.

Thank you that was extremely helpful. I will pass this on to him and really do appreciate your time and response. Have a great day!

Brett said it best. But I would like to add something.

What really struck me about your post is that you say he is profoundly discouraged.

I think this will be a huge personal obstacle for him in trucking. Trucking, and especially trucking schools, are very difficult. They push you to your edge. Often times they completely discourage you and make you lose all your confidence. A person needs to come into trucking with a boatload of confidence because they will be shacked, but they need to remain confident in themselves that they can do it.

When I was in school I was so excited. I bragged about how I was the best in the class and I was confident with my every move. But one day we were driving and I started up a hill very wrong. The truck shook violently just like you would shake a bee inside a jar. A few people from my class actually got hurt and couldn't make it to class for a few days - because of me. I can't begin to comprehend how much that effected me. All my confidence, gone, I felt like I didn't belong in the class anymore and I questioned if this is really the job for me. I mean, I didn't even get my license and I already injured people!

That's an example of just how tough school is. It's a bootcamp. If you can't make it then you're out. They will test you and push you to your limits to see how week you handle it.

So if he doesn't have any confidence right now (which is understandable) Then it will definitely be an obstacle in his path.

Gosh I know what you mean. But when life is so discouraging from pretty much an early age it makes life just that harder. I don't know what happens to people like him who fall through the cracks for years and the discouragement they feel is a huge obstacle because you do need to hang in there and keep going. Your experience is normal though. It is normal in the world to get knocked down like that and sometimes when we are young we don't know this is true- we think this experience is unique to us. I think every field of work has moments where you can get discouraged enough to quit. I imagine if you talked more about this experience you would tell me you hung on and got your CDL and now you are a trucker. This is what matters.

You know what they call a Doctor at the bottom of his graduating class?

answer: Doctor

lol one of my favorite jokes

Thank you for your advice as well.

Good afternoon, I just want to say that I am still "new" to the industry, I can say that I agree with everyone here when they say your sons friend will need a boatload of confidence, and have the stamina to keep up that confidence through school, as well as up to several weeks after he gets hired with a company while he is with their trainer(s)... Then, can he handle.being away from "home", wherever that might be, for 4-6 weeks, since that seems to be the point where a driver can enjoy there hometime. any less than 4 weeks off, then there isn't enough time to do anything then sleep, a few chores, laundry, kiss the "family" and your on the road again...lol

As far as NETTTS, and I'm only guessing since that's where I went, they have different programs, ranging from 4-6 weeks for those that are fast learners or have exe, thenthey have a 22 week course where the first 12 weeks your doing your drug test and DOT physical and classwork than you go out and actually start learning the maneuvers for the state you will be vetting your license in, I think you mentioned something about Massachusetts, and they bring the students up to the test site when the student is ready to test, but no earlier than week 20.

now there are more options for paying for the classes. for the short courses, you have to come up with the ball of wax before you start ence the class is so short, but for the 22 week class, even though it is more expensive, your sons friend can apply for financial aid and grants to pay.for most, if not all of it. Another option is the WIA grant available from the department of labor, I'm not familiar with that to much, but from what I understand its a good program...

I hope this helps and good luck to your sons friend in his endeavors....

Gosh I know what you mean. But when life is so discouraging from pretty much an early age it makes life just that harder. I don't know what happens to people like him who fall through the cracks for years and the discouragement they feel is a huge obstacle because you do need to hang in there and keep going. Your experience is normal though. It is normal in the world to get knocked down like that and sometimes when we are young we don't know this is true- we think this experience is unique to us. I think every field of work has moments where you can get discouraged enough to quit. I imagine if you talked more about this experience you would tell me you hung on and got your CDL and now you are a trucker. This is what matters.

You know what they call a Doctor at the bottom of his graduating class?

answer: Doctor

lol one of my favorite jokes

Thank you for your advice as well.

People have bad things happen too them! Many people have had very bad things happen to them. If you go off this train of thought, I should be in a gutter drinking and homeless. It takes DRIVE for a person to succeed! Be careful, it sounds like to me you are be told a story that sounds horrible. Sometimes, other parts of these stories have been intentionally skipped over. If he really wants to drive a truck then he is going to have to work hard to do it. Nothing in life comes easy. By seeing you here asking the questions and not him tells me a lot. It is his life, he can make excuses about all the bad things that have happened to him or he can buckle down, man up and get a good job. You can not do it for him!

The only thing that will hold him back is DUI's or felonies. His work history is an obstacle but that can be overcome. Hope it works out and he finds some purpose in life.

If you want so more information on what I mean, send me a PM and I can tell you my story which is private. It has never been easy for me but I made it. No matter the situation, I have always found a solution. That is what it takes to live. It is also takes having that can do attitude to be a trucker.