Thinking About Getting Out Of Mechanics And Starting A New Career In Trucking. Any Advice Or Suggestions?
Topic 20294 | Page 1
Welcome Steven!
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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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
With your auto tech background I'd think about truck mechanics - desperate need for those as well.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
With your auto tech background I'd think about truck mechanics - desperate need for those as well.
Some people just don't want to get dirty, work in a hot environment, etc.
My first real job at 16, was for a volkswagen shop. Loved the work, until they found out how old I was, and that insurance wouldn't cover me if I got hurt.
I've done it as an "extreme hobby" - mostly for my own cars and motorcycles. Do my "heavy work" at a friends shop - sweaty, dirty - don't genuinely know that I'd wanna put 40 hours a week in there (I can barely make it through an oil change before hitting the A/C).
His mechanical aptitude will serve him well in a trucking career - even if he never twists a wrench, bangs up his knuckles, or spends 20 minutes with a scrub brush and GoJo getting the embedded grease of his hands.
Rick
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
PLUS - if he got into heavy diesel mechanics - his SnapOn guy would own his firstborn (if he doesn't already). You think the 3/8th & 1/2 stuff is expensive - wait'll you get into the heavy stuff.
Rick
3/4 and 1" drives are insane in price. I know from considering at one point using my permissions to test for my FAA A&P licensure. That and from being an Aircraft mechanic for 13 years. The Snap On truck used to make its rounds to each hangar once a week. I have priced tools. TQ Wrenches are insane. Especially once you get into the foot lbs ones. The 0-30 in lb dial indicating, the 40-200 in lb and the 150-750 in lb aren't really all that bad. A few hundred a piece.
3/4 and 1" drives are insane in price. I know from considering at one point using my permissions to test for my FAA A&P licensure. That and from being an Aircraft mechanic for 13 years. The Snap On truck used to make its rounds to each hangar once a week. I have priced tools. TQ Wrenches are insane. Especially once you get into the foot lbs ones. The 0-30 in lb dial indicating, the 40-200 in lb and the 150-750 in lb aren't really all that bad. A few hundred a piece.
Try the friggin digital torque wrenches. A buddy of mine down here is a snap on distributor, he is a very wealthy man.
Rick
The analog versions are bad enough. I would hate to see the price tag and calibration fee for a digital version. Besides the 'click' is so easy a chimp can do it. Or at least a primate with 98% matching DNA, lol
If you take any narcotic prescription medication get off them now. Most companies will not hire you even if you have a script for it. And they hair test back 6 months. I didn't find this out until it was too late.
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Well I have been an auto mechanic for 10 years now and I have seen the good and bad of being a dealership tech. I have always loved driving and seeing new places. The allure of the trucking life has been on my mind for a while now and I need some advice on what to do or a yay or nay on this idea. I am 28 years old and if there would be a time to make a career change its while I'm still young. What is the process of getting a CDL? How do I go about picking a good school? How quickly should I expect to get started? Realistically that is. Does it take long to become an OTR? Please help.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.