Went to Truck driver training School 5 years ago (Help) I need as many people to reply to this as possible?

Question

I need to prove to my VR counselor that I need to go back to truck driving school for a refresher. I went to a (non PTDI) Truck driving school in 2003 and then went on to find a local driving position with no luck no one at the time told me that I needed to drive long haul first to get the experience. It is now 2008 and I would like to drive long haul to get the experience. But I have been told by many long haul companies that I needed to go back to school either through them or an independent school. Can others here in Yahoo answers agree with what I just said. I need as many people to reply to this as possible.

respectful answers only

I paid into the system for a long time and now disabled

I also looked for work just the wrong type of work

respectful answers only

Please stick to the question I asked

Answer 1

google"truckers forum" big site with lots of cdl drivers--go now!

Answer 2

Yes....you do need to go back for a refresher course.  When I went to driving school, there was a guy there with 7 years OTR who had been off the road for just 2 years due to getting cancer.  He was cancer-free and healthy, but no one would hire him since he'd been out of the truck for so long.  

A two-week refresher course at the school was all that was needed, though, to get him hired on to a really high paying tanker job.  

If your driving experience is limited, you'll especially need that refresher course because trucking companies have NOTHING to go on.  Much has changed since 2003, including logging rules, and the major OTR companies who are willing to hire "rookies" are willing to do so ONLY when you've got fresh schooling immediately before getting hired.  They'll still expect you to ride with one of their trainers for a month, but you'll be getting paid.  

Hope this helps.  Feel free to message me if you need more info.