kinda long and stupid but...
About 7 years or so ago I went thru driver training at SNI. After getting my CDL, I had to wait almost a week before a trainer could make it to GB to get me. While waiting -- my brother blew out his knee as a ski instructor and was in a wheelchair 1500 miles from family. I did the RIGHT thing and left SNI (they weren't happy but I doubt I was the first or last) to help my brother. After that was taken care of - I went and drove intermodal (container boxes) for a local guy. Was supposed to be home daily (I had a day cab) and I was from midnight to 3 am or so. Yep I HAD to run illegal with this guy. Girlfriend gets preggers and I decide to not be so illegal or gone for only 9 bucks an hour (usually had my 40 hours by the mid afternoon on Wed. I got out of trucking and did some other things. 9/11 hit and I joined the Navy, did my hitch and got out. I now work in trucking but not driving. Got to say the bug has bit me bad to be in a truck. (part of it has to do with the woman serving me with divorce papers 9 months ago) So with a huge child support bill coming (I want to support my kid thats why I am considering getting back in the truck for better pay than I have now - some of you truckers need to stop complaining bout only making 30k a year or 500 a week - there are a lot of us making less and would LOVE to make that kind of money 0- I realize the hours are long but at least you have a job) I am looking at getting behind the wheel again.
I still have my cdl but would have to take the haz-mat part again. Flat bed interests me because of the physicality of it.
So where do I fit - I would say I have expirence driving but it's old (7 years or so) and I am comfortable in a truck -- I have driven here and there since to help friends out - dump truck for example. To be honest the actual driving of the truck was never a problem for me, it's the other BS - you guys know what I mean.
So as a Green Bay (pumpkin central) located driver (kinda) where do I fit? Noob, expirenced, what??
Should I pony up the $$ and re-do a CDL course independantly from a company so I can apply as a recent graduate? Should I machine gun apps to companies hoping they will take a chance? What?
Whom should I be looking at?
TMC interests me but I have heard both sides of the coin on them so it's a "wait and see" and Maverick - heard good bout them.
Like I said -- I am interested in flatbed but would drive van. I want to run LEGAL and be LEGAL at all times. I understand sometimes "things" happen and a risk might have to be taken but it should never be SOP.
My long term future goals were I to get behing the wheel again would be O/O. Yes I know the diff between cash flow and profit. I want to do it to own my own business and to maybe if the stars align and things work get my own authority and maybe go small fleet. Who knows - thats all wayyyyyyy down the line, the first question is most important - get behind the wheel again and if so where do I fit in the industry?