Comments By Soulin H.

I am still in Truck Driving School. My school is emphasizing pre-trip, air brake, and skills to pass the California DMV Class A CDL for Combination vehicles.

My question is about the 'exception' [HOS] (regarding FEDERAL (Interstate commerce):

In the handbook it says:

"After driving for 11 hours or being on duty for 14 hours, you may not drive again until you have had 10 consecutive hours off duty."

OK, so far that seems straight forward enough to me and is totally understandable. The following is confusing and seems riddled with possible inadvertent HOS violations in the making just waiting to bite an inexperienced driver in the hind quarter if not well enough informed and able to decipher just how to stay 'legal' and still use the 'exception' (correctly to be 'legal').

Exception: If the truck is equipped with a sleeper berth, these 10 hours may be broken up into 2 periods provided one is not less than 8 hours."

What does it mean? The way the rule is stated seems vague to me and does not make sense or have any explanation or examples in the handbook how to use it. How does it effect the next day of on duty?

What is the 'next day' of 'on duty', where/when can it start legally'? What can one do (to stay 'legal') when near either the end of the 7/60 or 8/70 HOS near the end of the 'work week'?

IOW, how can this 'Exception' be utilized?

Could some of the seasoned drivers please explain some ways to use it and show examples of what the HOS log would actually look like when that 'exception' is used in different circumstances?

Thanks Old School.

RE:

Soulin, are you aware of the Paid CDL Training Programs?

These are a great way to get yourself started in this career.

Most of them will provide your training, transportation, meals, and housing while at their program. You then agree to work for them for one year. These are some of the best ways to get started in my opinion. There's no reason you couldn't earn 40,000 dollars or more during your rookie year.

Yes, I am aware of 'paid' company training.

My situation is somewhat unique. I don't want to get into the fine details about why here on this forum. I have been investigating my options for about a year and came to the conclusion that my only reasonable chance to successfully get a Class A CDL and a good shot at being hired is me utilizing DOR sponsorship and a private school who has years long experience working with DOR that also has a good success record of their graduates from the DOR sponsorship land actual god Class A and other CDL driving jobs through their recommendations to companies who give consideration to new Class A CDL licensees directly out of that particular school to drivers who the same companies would never consider investing in for their companies' Class A CDL training in the first place.

It is a foot-in-the-door for me.

Albeit I may be mistaken with this line of thinking, but it seems to me that In the companies' eyes, someone else already made the CDL schooling investment so they did not have to make that investment. The 'graduate' already has Class A CDL in-hand and the 'graduate' has been recommended by the already known school.

There is no reason the company could not have the new driver sign a minimal time working contract anyway so the company could justify it's investment in the company specific training. I would be good with something like that; a 1 year contract with a well established company would be really good.

I am sure I will land a good Class A CDL driver job. I won't stop trying until I land that Class A CDL OTR position.

Soulin H.

Jason R., thanks for your answer.

Most freight is no touch, I would recommend staying away from tanker because there is lifting and climbing in some of those positions. I would suggest van/Reefer because 99% of the companies are no touch due to the work comp liability.

That is what I was expecting. The video I mentioned with the "horizontal pull" test and several others from shipping companies and some rehabilitation testing videos for job placement have made me a little concerned about my prospects of actually getting hired.

What you have said makes sense.

I just don't have any actual knowledge of how many Shippers that hire new Class A CDL drivers will unequivocally require driver to pass a "horizontal pull" test like the one I mentioned. I suspect many will test for that. I just don't know exactly what to anticipate.

I would suggest van/Reefer because 99% of the companies are no touch due to the work comp liability.

Makes sense to me... ...That was and still is my thinking...

...Anyway, there has to be a reason a company has for a requirement for new CDL drivers to pass the "horizontal pull" test.

I am guessing here:

After pondering the previous answers on this website and thinking about it; It occurs to me that Schnider owns many if not all the trailers they haul (at least the dry/van ones that are mentioned on their website); I suspect it is like that for many of the large-scale shipping companies, (I really do not know)... ...Whereas they have to get cargo unloaded ASAP to minimize the turnaround time and not having to wait for a 'lumper' to get the cargo unloaded from their dry/van trailers if there is no way other than a hand truck or manual pallet jack and their driver available at the time.... ...So, I guess that some companies may require their drivers to be able to do at least some of the loading/unloading in some (hopefully) infrequent situations which could require the company driver to use a hand pallet jack to manage the cargo in some way.

Soulin H.

Thanks for your answers Dustin J. And old school. Absolutely no criminal record whatsoever.

I don't even have any moving violations. I was, for over 30 years, a shade-tree mobile auto mechanic and also did miscellaneous odd-jobs and processed firewood (hence the spine injuries and lifting limitations).

Between the spine injuries and resulting arthritis pain, etc., I had to stop auto mechanic and other physical work that involved particular body positions and lifting. It just got to the point that getting up and down on the ground so many times a day (Had no car lift) and leaning over in the engine compartment and the heavy labor intensive work I was doing when I was not doing mechanic work just got to my back and my state of mind.

Anyway, after all the professional medical help, therapy, etc. and of course perhaps most importantly self retrospect, I am ready to get CDL and on the road. I will be very glad and grateful to have the opportunity to meet the challenges ahead that being Class A CDL OTR will invariably dish-out.

I am more confident than ever and am older and wiser too. I am certain that I am ready, willing, and able to, at a bare minimum, become a very good and safe Class A Truck Driver, and, more likely become excellent at OTR truck Driving. I am willingly motivated.

Anyway, please excuse my 'blather'. Thanks once again for your input.

Soulin H.

Hello to all. This is my 1st time posting here. I have been exploring this website for over a year now and I do really appreciate the information that is shared here.

After looking into a career change and examining the options that are now available to me I decided that Truck Driving would be the best for me. After I pass the DOT physical and vision, (I know I will pass those), I will be going to a private CDL school in Southern California for Class A within the next month.

I am physically a small framed man in my late 50s.

I have been licensed to drive since I was 18 and have an excellent driving record, although never had any CDL licenses of any kind, no kids, spouse, pets or dependents either.

I intend to start Truck Driving as OTR. I will not be trying for flatbed because lifting the heavy tarps is obviously more than I can handle by myself.

I am considering limiting my OTR job considerations mostly towards either Dry Van or refer.

I would consider non-hazmat tanker; IE: water, food-grade or maybe something else that does not need to be placarded as a hazmat if I get 'desperate' for temporary work. If I get really 'desperate' for work, I would also consider double dump truck for regional road construction for aggregate or other non-hazmat loads. Not into livestock, manure or 'honey wagon'.

I know there are Truck Driving jobs that do not require the driver to load and/or unload the cargo with their back.

As a 'rookie', I know that I cannot be too picky and be successful. I just want to avoid biting-off more than I can chew, so to speak... ... I have operated forklifts and can easily learn whatever is required to be certified for anything like that which is directly related to a Truck Driving job, (I am not getting the class A CDL to become a forklift operator!).

I do have some concerns about my 'employability' in the Truck Driving trade:

1st some background: I am being sponsored to go to CDL school by the California state Department of rehabilitation (DOR); (I passed the preliminary physical and psychological examinations required by DOR which I had to pass before DOR would sponsor me to go on to the next step; the DOT examinations.

I did not pass the heavy lifting/sliding 100 pound load across the floor (also; for example: called a "horizontal pull" test by Schnider in their "Pre-work Screen for Truck Drivers at Schnider" YouTube video)... ...But that is just a physical limitation that has to be factored-in and does not preclude me from DOR sponsorship or going to CDL school and getting my Class A CDL.

My most immediate concern after getting the Class A CDL is: ...Even though I may be able to do everything else, I will not likely ever pass a "horizontal pull" test like the one I previously mentioned.

I can load/unload a limited quantity of cargo within the 50lb test limit that the DOR test I passed had required me to do, and I can do what it takes to mount snow chains on tractor-trailer size wheels etc.. The chains on an 18 wheeler would be right at my maximum physical ability level.

Anyway, those are the physical limitations I do have to work with that I am most concerned about. I can do some gym to increase my stamina so I could load/unload more quantity at a faster rate, but not to increase the working weight-limit load beyond what I have already established.

Does anyone have any good advise on what to do and say to a perspective employer?... ...Also, any advice on choosing Truck Driving job descriptions for specific things to look for to pinpoint a good job prospect?... ...Also, specifically, what to avoid so as not to waste anybody's time?... ...or, should I just try all companies I would otherwise consider trying without considering my 'physical limitations' and just go from there?.. ...Or?