Comments By

I know this won't be the case in every state, but a cautionary tale from here in PA.

When the Fed made the decision to allow local law enforcement to perform enforcement of D.O.T. regulations related to trucking, many municipalities here in PA saw an opportunity to make some much needed income. With a little training, and a minimum of equipment, local police began setting up check points and generating income from D.O.T. inspections. As part of this expanded enforcement, some departments began questioning the definitions of "commercial" trucks. As a result, the idea of what is and isn't commercial, and what does and doesn't require a CDL, has been broadly expanded here in the Keystone State.

For example:

Around here many landscapers have taken to using large enclosed trailers for mowers and equipment. Keeps everything together, secure, and out of the weather. Unfortunately many of the larger trailers have GVWs over 10,000lbs. So all of a sudden guys driving F350-550's need a CDL.

Hobby racers got it even worse. Those nice roomy car trailers with toolboxes and work space along with a car are almost always over 10,000lbs. To make matters worse, many hobby racers buy racing fuel at the track, and store it in the trailer. According to the interpretation of the commercial laws in PA, hobby racing is a for profit commercial enterprise. How? Well, if you win you get a check don't you? That's income derived from the activity, making it a commercial enterprise. There have been many cases of guys having trucks, trailers, and race cars impounded for not only not having a CDL, but not having a HazMat endorsement for hauling the fuel . . .

At one point I had a 22,000lb gooseneck equipment trailer I towed with an F350. After about a dozen phone calls and emails to a variety of people at PennDOT, it was determined that I needed a combination registration for the F350.

And there are others. My point is that with the capabilities of today's "light duty" trucks its very easy to surpass the weight requirements for CDL licencing. And depending on your location, the local law enforcement may be well aware of that fact, and more than happy to remind you of it.

Gregg

New to the forum, and sad this is my first post.

My heartfelt condolences. We all have to face this - it's the price we pay for the gift we give them of going before us.

Don't worry - while the pain may get less sharp over time, your memories and feelings of her will never fade. She will always be there.

Everyone here who has lost a parent is thinking of you, and sending you their support in one way or another.

Gregg

Greetings to everyone - new member, new post, probably an old question.

Currently an automotive tech - hate my job. Been watching the Indeed job postings for CDL drivers for a while now, and I keep seeing "home every night" jobs hauling specialized loads in m y general area with incomes of $90k and up . . .

So I'm thinking maybe I should use the CDL I got 25 years ago. Finally.

Of course those jobs all require experience - 1 to 2 years minimum. And truthfully I haven't drive a tractor trailer since school. So I'm thinking maybe sign on with someone like England or Swift, get some refresher training, put a couple of years on the road (see the country and have the experience of the job), and then go after one of these local specialized jobs.

Is that a reasonable plan. A reasonable expectation? Or am I fooling myself - are those well paid local jobs so desirable I'll never get one? Or worse are they deceptive ads and no such jobs exist?

Thanks for any input you care to offer - about my nebulous plan, or anything in general. At this point any input, or even questions, will be appreciated.

Gregg