Just Retired From One Career, Looking To Start My Second Career As An Over The Road Driver.

Good afternoon. First I would like to thank TruckingTruth for providing a lot of information for someone who looking to become a career driver. Thank you. Second, After spending three years in The United States Navy, I took a career as a law enforcement officer. 21 years I worked as a police officer. Now at 45 years young, single and the desire to travel, I want to get involved as an over the road driver. I have applied to several schools that offers company sponsor CDL training. I started emailing my applications to these companies on Friday. My question is, do these recruiters usually take the weekend off and conduct business during the weekdays and does all applicants receives a phone call from recruiters? Also any information that you can provide would be appreciated, Thank you all for this information. Keith

Hey Keith, good to meet you here! I recently went through the same experience your having -- all three companies contacted me, and while I'm not sure if tjeir work schedules covered evenings or weekends, I definitely heard back from all three. I ultimately went with the most responsive one, and will be heading out this afternoon to attend company-sponsored classes tomorrow.

Thanks for your service, both here and abroad. Best of luck to you with the career change!

May I ask, did you do the online application for those trucking companies and if so, how long was it before they called. Also how long is the process before you are sent to school? I just getting an idea of how things work. thank you for your response.

Hey Keith, good to meet you here! I recently went through the same experience your having -- all three companies contacted me, and while I'm not sure if tjeir work schedules covered evenings or weekends, I definitely heard back from all three. I ultimately went with the most responsive one, and will be heading out this afternoon to attend company-sponsored classes tomorrow.

Thanks for your service, both here and abroad. Best of luck to you with the career change!

Hi Keith.

Hi Keith. Yes, I applied online for all three, it took most of them a day or two to respond. It didn't take long. All three inquired about my driving record, which was pretty clean except for a few accidents where the other driver was found at fault. Other than that, I'm sure the process varies from company to company, but it is mostly signing a bunch of forms and getting a date lined up to begin training.

I just got in a few minutes ago; the atmosphere seems very college dorm-like, and I really haven't met anyone yet. I'm looking forward to getting started tomorrow. :)

Welcome Keith. Thank you for your service sir. We have very similiar backgrounds . I was a BT1 when I got out of the navy and retired after 28 yrs in LE in Ca. I started at 53 yrs young. You will have companies knocking your door down. You are in the drivers seat, no pun intended. Several companies have sponsored schools and several are in our other forum. Happy reading. Hollar if you have any specific questions. Be safe

Thank you Boiler Tech shipmate

Welcome Keith. Thank you for your service sir. We have very similiar backgrounds . I was a BT1 when I got out of the navy and retired after 28 yrs in LE in Ca. I started at 53 yrs young. You will have companies knocking your door down. You are in the drivers seat, no pun intended. Several companies have sponsored schools and several are in our other forum. Happy reading. Hollar if you have any specific questions. Be safe

Sorry Keith I neglected to answer your primary question. Schneider is the only company I know of that have extended hours over the weekend. Most work bankers hours m- f 8-5.

Keith, you should go ahead and contact the companies that you might be interested in if they haven't contacted you in just a few days. It's very typical applications to get buried. You're not going to appear as a pest, quite the contrary, they are going to be glad you called. Just tell them you filled out an application and you'd like to check on the status of it. Be careful that you don't judge a company by their quick response or even their lack of a response. Recruiting departments, are basically sales departments, and they love to have a customer call who is interested. They are also sometimes overwhelmed by their work load, and because of that you may not get a timely response. Being pro-active in this way will only help you.

I'm going to be in the same boat, I'm a Firefighter and getting ready to retire (51 yrs old.) and I want to get into driving. The question I have is these companies that train you do you get paid while doing it, what kind of money can I expect to start off?