Advice From Truckers
Topic 20041 | Page 1
How do people make it in truckers school and from what I understand you make go 4 weeks to 6 weeks before receiving a check ? I read some schools want you to have $ 400 dollars of your money to start a school . I am a single grandma and don't have many bills I have a car payment and a cell phone payment .. any advice ? Thanks
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
That would all depend on whether you go to a private CDL school or some company sponsored schools. Obviously if you attended a private CDL school (not company sponsored) you wouldn't get paid as you aren't employed while in CDL school, but you could potentially work for any company that hires new CDL grads.
If you choose to go to a company sponsored school, one I know considers you an employee from day 1 (there may be more than 1) and others will advance you a little money to help cover food/expenses while you are attending their school and that would be payroll deducted once you have passed your CDL exams and they officially hire you.
To get started at a company sponsored school, simply apply and put on the application that you do not have a cdl-A.
These links will help you get started.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I can only tell you about prime. They do things two ways, it depends on if you go to their school or not
School: week 1 you pay $155 for your permit and processing. Hotel and food are free. All drugs tests and physicals are done, you get the written exam and permit, and work on the SIMs.
After that, you go out with a trainer for a couple weeks delivering loads and driving the country. You can get up to a $200 cash advance per week which gets paid back as once you get your CDL. Once you past the CDL test, you are immediately placed on the employment rolls and get paid the next Friday. You then get paid $700 per week and must team with a trainer for 30,000 TRUCK miles.
You sign a contract stating you will work for Prime for one year and pay nothing for school. If you leave before then, your school is prorated. So leave in six months and pay half of the initial amount. It is recommended you stay at your first company a year anyway.
If you come to Prime with a CDL, you get paid from the start and do not have a contract. You get paid $600 per week for the first five weeks then $700 until you drive 40,000 team miles with a trainer teaming.
I never made any payments towards schooling. Just paid back the advance I took. There were other charges...the TWIC cad was $125 which they took in two payments...the sleep apnea test was like $50 per week.
I hope this helps
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
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I am a 48 year old single grandma with no commentments so I will need very little home time . I am in good health and have a good driving record ( knock on wood ) what advice would you have for me getting into trucking ? Thanks
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.