Begining The Process Of Becoming A Truck Driver.

I am an old dude 63, I have been reading a bunch of different things on this forum for over a month now, and I like how well the life style is talked about. I have been a Welder/Millwright all my adult life, but the only thing I really like doing is driving. the last 10 years I have put on 300,000 miles as a construction worker and that was what was the best part, the long drives from one place to another. I have always thought about trucking but I have a checkered past 15 year sentence for Manslaughter did 10 straight, I also have a few other light weight felonies from back then, and two DWIs one in 85 and one in 96, nothing since, other than a few speeding tickets but none in last 5 or 6 years. My sentence expired in 2011 though I got out of prison in 2006. I have gotten serious about the process I applied for a TWIC card today and I will be getting a passport started in the next week or so since those seem to be necessary items for the bigger trucking companies, such as TMC Roehl and Prime. Yes I am looking at OJT CDL companies but if I have to I will go to a Trucking school. I have a very good working record going back just over 10 years so that part is covered for background check stuff. When I decide to do something I take it seriously and part of what I am doing is trying to document as well as get input as I go along here sort of a personal record as well as a way to help anyone who might read what I have to go through in the process. I really suck at all things computer related, including using this forum, I had to do the profile page twice which was irksome. So I might not do things properly. I take critical in put really well, and prefer the blunt truth to sugar coated ****. Oh I also cuss a lot without thinking. I have read a few diaries and some were very insightful Solo did a good job of it I have to say.

I will leave off at this point, if anyone knows how hard it will be to get on with a Company that has a CDL program with my back ground leave a post or what ever it is called here. I am not the idiot my background seems to indicate, but I was at times very stupid, and very volatile. I have not drank for almost 30 years. I was incredibly stupid when I did.

Oh my research indicates that I wont have much of a chance of getting hired out of Wyoming so I will be getting a CLP out of Minnesota. My interest is mostly in TMC and Prime at this point. As I am no spring chicken I have even begun getting my self in better shape should I get a chance at TMC, I like an organization that has a military heavy influence. I have a lot of prep work to do as well as a hernia surgery to get done, that part is in 2 weeks. So what I am looking at is October or November before I can actually take an opportunity if it arrives.

Question: how long after an application is placed does it take to find out if they will give me a chance, the background check is what I am concerned with since Manslaughter is often equated with Murder because someone is dead. I was never charged with Murder and there is a reason for that, but reasons are often over looked I have discovered.

Welcome Michael!

You certainly have a colorful background, so to speak. I thought your posting was well written and interesting.

You are probably going to get a lot of feedback in response. I think we have at least one member here who did time. With the right amount of patience and determination you can accomplish your goal. A number of us started out at your age and older, so the industry is age friendly.

Have you started the High Road Training Program here?

High Road CDL Training Program

Also, you may have your sights set on a few companies but apply to as many as you can. Sometimes you can’t choose a company, you have to go with a company that will accept you at first. Then try to do a year with that company to get a good grip on what driving and the industry are like.

Apply For Paid CDL Training

Keep posting with your questions and you will get sound advice to get you started.

You have your sights set on 2 of the pickiest companies out here. TMC does not accept candidates with a DUI. I think prime has a 1 in lifetime policy.

Applications are typically only good for 30 days. Wait until you're ready to go before putting them in.

Thanks for answering I have started the High Road program and I finally got a copy of MN CDL Manuel printed took me 4 tries( I suck with computer stuff). I live in Wyoming but only Prime hires from there, so I been researching every company that has a CDL School. I am working out a "residence" in Minnesota with a friend of mine so I can get the CLP and have that as residence of record. part of my plan is to NOT have home time or having to rent a place. Also from what I have seen Minnesota seems to be the cut off point for new hires and not much west of there.

Welcome Michael!

You certainly have a colorful background, so to speak. I thought your posting was well written and interesting.

You are probably going to get a lot of feedback in response. I think we have at least one member here who did time. With the right amount of patience and determination you can accomplish your goal. A number of us started out at your age and older, so the industry is age friendly.

Have you started the High Road Training Program here?

High Road CDL Training Program

Also, you may have your sights set on a few companies but apply to as many as you can. Sometimes you can’t choose a company, you have to go with a company that will accept you at first. Then try to do a year with that company to get a good grip on what driving and the industry are like.

Apply For Paid CDL Training

Keep posting with your questions and you will get sound advice to get you started.

After I retired from trucking I went to work for my State DOC in a re-entry facility. Over my 3 years there I learned how difficult it is for ex-felons to get a “foothold” and escape their past. Congratulations on your efforts. Almost 70% of released felons find their way back to incarceration so your first hurdle is over.

Don’t focus on TWIC cards or Passports. You likely will not get a TWIC (murder is a disqualifier) and, even with a Passport, Canada will likely not let you enter. Don’t worry about that, there’s enough freight to move in the lower 48 to keep you busy.

Do focus on your health. If you have issues you need to address do that now before you enter the industry. This job can be very hard on you physically. You wouldn’t think so but trust me, it is. Besides that, you’ve got time.

Freight is slow right now and many companies are being particularly choosy. Wait till late spring or early summer when the freight starts to move and “bodies” become a hotter commodity. I concur with BK. When you are set to move cast a wide net. Eventually some outfit will give you a start. Look into companies that train (although, even though accepted, there is no guarantee of hire). Private schools cost about 5k or more and also provide no guarantee of work. If you’re not in a hurry (and you shouldn’t be) look into your local Community Colleges. Many have CDL training programs that are more in-depth and cost a lot less.

Many folks will look at you and only see the person you used to be. You’re not that man anymore and someone out there will see that too. Good luck to you.

Welcome,

We are the same age. I do flatbed but I don’t do tarp loads. I can, but slow at it. TMC pulls alot of tarped loads.

Companies are all different when it comes to your particular issues. All you can do is apply everywhere and see who is willing to give you a shot. You can do it now and see what the results are.

When you find a company willing to accept you be upfront on your time frame. The feds require the application to be within 30 days of hire, so they can put you in a tickler file and update it when the time comes.

You will get alot of no’s, but it only takes 1 yes and you will be good. TMC, Prime and Roehl are all pretty picky so I would open my mind to a different company. They all do the same job so it really won’t matter that much.

Hiring has been slow because the industry has been hit hard the past couple of years, so your time frame may actually work better in your favor.

Congrats on turning your life around, that is a hard thing to do.

Michael, if you are going to change your residency, now is the time to consider using a state with no income tax. That may or may not matter to you. I recently changed from Wisconsin to South Dakota for that reason. My case is different in that I was already employed when I did it. My company doesn’t go to SD, but it didn’t matter because I don’t need to take home time there. I live in my truck and don’t need to get routed to a particular location on a regular basis. If you want more details on this or anything else, go to my profile page and my email address is listed. Shoot me an email with your phone number and I can explain the process to you. I picked SD because that state makes it quick, easy and cheap to establish residency in. Plus, you might want to discuss the idea of living in a truck, a space smaller than a jail cell, lol.

As I said I figure with my past it is going to be a tough row to hoe. I am not sure if the 84 DUI is on my record or not though but I am going with the blunt honesty thing regardless. While I do not expect any slack, its one of the highlights of my life I get no slack as a rule. My past being a direct reflection of that. It took me a long time to learn to accept that everything was my fault if it made me look bad, that's part of how I learned to stay sober. I will be applying to everybody once I have gotten to the point where I can do it, though that will be closer to fall. I have a good paying job but no longer want to make machines or fix stuff that other people break.

You have your sights set on 2 of the pickiest companies out here. TMC does not accept candidates with a DUI. I think prime has a 1 in lifetime policy.

Applications are typically only good for 30 days. Wait until you're ready to go before putting them in.

I already applied for TWIC card and the question for murder I answered no because Murder is a different crime than Manslaughter, BUT I recognize that to those people it might not matter. Legally it does but then I would have to fight them over it and well that is to much work as far as I am concerned. Only time will tell on that part. As for CDL School I already found one I went to college after I got out of prison and it also has a good CDL course up in Duluth so that is on the radar as part of a plan should no one want to train me.

After I retired from trucking I went to work for my State DOC in a re-entry facility. Over my 3 years there I learned how difficult it is for ex-felons to get a “foothold” and escape their past. Congratulations on your efforts. Almost 70% of released felons find their way back to incarceration so your first hurdle is over.

Don’t focus on TWIC cards or Passports. You likely will not get a TWIC (murder is a disqualifier) and, even with a Passport, Canada will likely not let you enter. Don’t worry about that, there’s enough freight to move in the lower 48 to keep you busy.

Do focus on your health. If you have issues you need to address do that now before you enter the industry. This job can be very hard on you physically. You wouldn’t think so but trust me, it is. Besides that, you’ve got time.

Freight is slow right now and many companies are being particularly choosy. Wait till late spring or early summer when the freight starts to move and “bodies” become a hotter commodity. I concur with BK. When you are set to move cast a wide net. Eventually some outfit will give you a start. Look into companies that train (although, even though accepted, there is no guarantee of hire). Private schools cost about 5k or more and also provide no guarantee of work. If you’re not in a hurry (and you shouldn’t be) look into your local Community Colleges. Many have CDL training programs that are more in-depth and cost a lot less.

Many folks will look at you and only see the person you used to be. You’re not that man anymore and someone out there will see that too. Good luck to you.

You have hit one of the nails on the head lol. I am only using Minnesota for residency to be in hire zones, Wyoming has no State tax and if I could I would stay here, but no one other than Prime and CR England hire out of Wyoming, more or less. Thank you for your offer to help and once I figure out how to work this place (as I have said I suck with all things computer) I will take you up on your offer.

Michael, if you are going to change your residency, now is the time to consider using a state with no income tax. That may or may not matter to you. I recently changed from Wisconsin to South Dakota for that reason. My case is different in that I was already employed when I did it. My company doesn’t go to SD, but it didn’t matter because I don’t need to take home time there. I live in my truck and don’t need to get routed to a particular location on a regular basis. If you want more details on this or anything else, go to my profile page and my email address is listed. Shoot me an email with your phone number and I can explain the process to you. I picked SD because that state makes it quick, easy and cheap to establish residency in. Plus, you might want to discuss the idea of living in a truck, a space smaller than a jail cell, lol.