FNG In MD Looking For Driving Info

Hows it going everyone? Came across this forum looking for trucking info online.

I am getting back to the workforce after a few years sidetracked due to a flu vaccine. I'm not a spring chicken anymore and can't see myself going back to school for years to maybe land a job and not be stuck with school debt and no career.

In a previous life I was a firefighter and paramedic. Many years driving fire trucks but we didn't need to have a cdl in the state I worked in.

I am scheduled to take my written exam for my learners permit towards the end of the month as I have figured whether I go to an employer for training or to school I will need this.

I have a few questions and wouldn't mind picking the brains of those more experienced than myself. No criminal record no issue with my personal DL and just looking for a solid career to get back on my feet. Currently working as lube tech at a local garage until I get something figured out. Pay sucks but grateful to be employed.

Trying to get some information so I can make informed decisions on getting into trucking.

Thanks for letting me into your little slice of the internet here.

Hi, Gabriel and welcome! You will find a lot of us here that won't fit the spring chicken label. Check out these links, to get a good well-rounded overview of what you'll need to do and will likely experience. I started this job after 28 years in public safety, no spring chicken, and have completely fallen down the rabbit hole of enjoying driving a truck.

If you ask the group questions, you will get a variety of answers. You can guarantee that the answers won't be sugarcoated, and we'll be factual based on the responder's experiences. And experience is what this group is loaded with. Good luck to you, keep us posted!

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

High Road CDL Training ProgramPaid CDL Training Programs

Thank you sir. I am replying to your post but welcome answers from anyone willing to share their time enough to reply.

I just realized I left my questions out of my original post.

So here goes.......

As i stated previously I have picked up the study manual for my state and am set with an appointment to test on the 20th for the written to get my cdl learners permit.

I am a little confused on how to go about the endorsements I may want. Is this something I should do off the bat now or do I come back later as needed?

Ie: doubles , hazmat , tanker, etc.

A concern I have is that I've been out of the work force for 7 years due to disability that has finally self corrected (neurological) . Not concerned with the physical concerned about getting hired with such a huge gap in employment history. This makes me think it might be better to go through a paid training program and suck it up for a year otr vs going to school and trying to find work after?

I will post more questions as I think of them but I'm already at work and typing in between working on cars.

Thanks for the help.

Hi, Gabriel and welcome! You will find a lot of us here that won't fit the spring chicken label. Check out these links, to get a good well-rounded overview of what you'll need to do and will likely experience. I started this job after 28 years in public safety, no spring chicken, and have completely fallen down the rabbit hole of enjoying driving a truck.

If you ask the group questions, you will get a variety of answers. You can guarantee that the answers won't be sugarcoated, and we'll be factual based on the responder's experiences. And experience is what this group is loaded with. Good luck to you, keep us posted!

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

High Road CDL Training ProgramPaid CDL Training Programs

Get your endorsements at the same time as your permit....it's just easier to do it at that time.

You don't need to "suck it up" for a year. Those companies may have a "bad" reputation but it isn't warranted. You may find that you want to stay with them longer than a year. That being said, it is the better route to go. I went the private route and then was hired by a small company. It was a mistake and delayed my learning by two years or so. When you are taught to fudge/alter paper logs, you aren't learning properly. With ELDS now, that won't happen, but I could have been better earlier. If I had a choice to do over, I would go thru a company school.

My husband was Traumatic Brain Injured for 18 years...so I didn't work for those years, except for a couple small, short-term jobs.. For the last 6 years he was paid by Workers Comp to have domicilary care (me). So I took his 1099s that showed the pay and the Domicilary Letter stating I was his caregiver and used that. If you were on SSDI, you can use those forms you get yearly showing what you were drawing. Hope the above helps.

Laura

Thank you for chiming in. Yes I've been on SSDI for a while now. I started working again with their knowledge I'm not doing anything I'm not suppose to. I was told in Jan I have 10 months to work consecutive or otherwise where my check is not affected by how much I am making and that then after that period of time they will re asses what is going on.

Spoke to 2 companies today one told me they need me to have verified emoyment for 2 years before they will hire me despite me having the paperwork from SSDI.

The other company told me if I pass my written and the physical the will fly me out to their school for training and guarantees me home time because they need people near my area for a new hub they're working.

Trying to focus now on studying and gon a use the guides on here to help. The main focus bow is passing this test on the 20th. I just got the book yesterday so let's see how this goes. If I pass the test I should be starting school beginning of next month.

There's another company wanting to offer me a position as well if I pass the test but they don't seem to have their ish together I have been hung up.on several times when I have called and spoken to some rude reps so not really feeling the vibe.

The gentleman today was extremely professional and knowledgeable and was not in a rush to answer my questions. They said if I stay with them for 10 months after training school cost is on them. Right now that's what I am leaning towards.

Get your endorsements at the same time as your permit....it's just easier to do it at that time.

You don't need to "suck it up" for a year. Those companies may have a "bad" reputation but it isn't warranted. You may find that you want to stay with them longer than a year. That being said, it is the better route to go. I went the private route and then was hired by a small company. It was a mistake and delayed my learning by two years or so. When you are taught to fudge/alter paper logs, you aren't learning properly. With ELDS now, that won't happen, but I could have been better earlier. If I had a choice to do over, I would go thru a company school.

My husband was Traumatic Brain Injured for 18 years...so I didn't work for those years, except for a couple small, short-term jobs.. For the last 6 years he was paid by Workers Comp to have domicilary care (me). So I took his 1099s that showed the pay and the Domicilary Letter stating I was his caregiver and used that. If you were on SSDI, you can use those forms you get yearly showing what you were drawing. Hope the above helps.

Laura

Thank you for chiming in. Yes I've been on SSDI for a while now. I started working again with their knowledge I'm not doing anything I'm not suppose to. I was told in Jan I have 10 months to work consecutive or otherwise where my check is not affected by how much I am making and that then after that period of time they will re asses what is going on.

Yes, I know Social Security will still pay you while earning an income. My brother came off all his meds 25 yrs after being in a car wreck. His doctor followed him for a year and then let him get his CDL in 2014. Social Security paid him for 5 mths, then he had a physical issue that required surgery and a month recovery time. His 6 mths started over. He did 6 mths and it stopped. Now he's on old age Social Security ;-)

Laura

Can anyone tell me anything about CRST?

I spoke with a representative from Prime today and they would not bother with me because the gap in emoyment from being disabled.

I still need to contact Wilson as I couldn't answer the phone when they called.

I spoke to someone at CRST and they gentleman was great. I submitted my application and my documents and he sent me some study guides to help with my test. They are in need of drivers in a big city near me and he offered me guaranteed home time going in which he said is rare for them. I am excited about the opportunity but just would like some feedback from folks who may know more about them. I would go to Iowa for my driver training if I pass my permit exam and the background. The background is the least of my worries as it's clean.

Thanks to those who have replied and for the forum and the information contained here.

Can anyone tell me anything about CRST?

I spoke with a representative from Prime today and they would not bother with me because the gap in emoyment from being disabled.

I still need to contact Wilson as I couldn't answer the phone when they called.

I spoke to someone at CRST and they gentleman was great. I submitted my application and my documents and he sent me some study guides to help with my test. They are in need of drivers in a big city near me and he offered me guaranteed home time going in which he said is rare for them. I am excited about the opportunity but just would like some feedback from folks who may know more about them. I would go to Iowa for my driver training if I pass my permit exam and the background. The background is the least of my worries as it's clean.

Thanks to those who have replied and for the forum and the information contained here.

Millionmiler24 started with them almost 3 years ago (or more?) and has EXCELLENT diaries, and posts referencing this company.

Best wishes! Look him up; read away. Here's one:

Millionmiler24 re: CRST

~ Anne ~

Gabriel, CRST is almost exclusively team operations. The drivers I have talked with are professional.

Thanks for your input. I submitted the second part of my.application yesterday evening and my documents, SS card, birth certificate, and DL.

My recruiter said background would take 7-10 days. I got a xall.on my way home today that he was done lol. Said easiest background he's ran.

Anyways they have enrolled me in online classes to help me with my written exam on the 20th. And if I pass I will be in IA on April 5th to begin driving school.

I want to take a minute here and say I'm still trying to process all of this and I'm very excited. I filled out the form on this forum yesterday to find an employer who provides training and today I have a job offer. There's a lot of emotion for me because in 2014 I was told I would never walk again.

I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. And I hope I can pull off passing the written in such a short time.

I definitely have my work cut out for me.

Gabriel, CRST is almost exclusively team operations. The drivers I have talked with are professional.