Comments By Nacho B.

I'm just saying that as the question (statement) is written, there are three correct answers. Do with it what you will.

Although while we're at it, there's definitely one that is incorrect:

The operator of a commercial motor vehicle can be criminally charged with driving under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of:

.04, .08, .05, .02

Now, I assumed correctly that intention was testing the knowledge of what that limit is, however if you "RTFQS" as written, are you suggesting that you could NOT be criminally charged it .05, .04, or .08?

So I'm currently in a private Illinois CDL school and getting my ducks in a row for employment. I just moved back to Chicago in June from Toronto where I lived for 8 years. First of all, when applying for employment, do I need to supply driving records or does the employer have a system where they themselves check these things? I had to supply them myself for driving school, but they were interested in only the last three years. My Illinois was easy peasy as they pretty much have ONE driver record. Ontario, on the other hand, offers NINE different versions. NINE!!! (I have pasted below the different versions directly from Service Ontario's website). I already have the 3 year version. The one called "Complete Driver's Record" sounds like the more accurate one, but I have my doubts because it takes 4-6 weeks to get and I cannot see Canadian employers dealing with that long of window for doing all of their hiring.

Sorry this is so lengthy, I just don't want to get blindsided when I'm all ready to go. Any Ontarians know which one is generally used for employment purposes? Cheers!

-----------------Service Ontario's Driver Records----------------------- - 3-year uncertified driver’s record or 3-year certified driver’s record e.g. employer requesting the record of a potential employee who will be driving a company vehicle - Driver’s licence history e.g. your insurance company requests it to see that you’ve completed a driving-education course to lower insurance rates also ordered to confirm a driver’s address in court - 5-year uncertified driver’s record e.g. your insurance company may requests it to verify longer-term driving experience - 5-year certified driver’s record e.g. you are asked for this if you are applying to drive in a province/territory or country outside Ontario - Extended driver’s record search e.g. you use this as a supporting document when in court for driving infraction - Complete driver’s record e.g. your insurance company asks for this record as it shows more than moving violations - Accident report e.g. you are in court because of an injury suffered in an accident and require this as evidence - Driver’s licence check e.g. you want to confirm that your licence is valid - Driver confirmation letter e.g. you are applying to drive in a province/country outside Ontario

Congrats! I just took mine two weeks ago here in Illinois. I found the program here on truckingtruth to be extremely helpful! I'm not sure how every state does their permit testing, but if yours is anything like mine, I have one word of advice. The SKIP button is your friend! For example, General Knowledge is 30 questions and you are allowed to have 6 wrong and pass. As soon as you reach 24 correct, the system stops because you have passed that portion of the exam. Skipping a question does not mark against you. Of course those questions will come back to you at the end of the test should you NEED to answer them, but you may very well get your 24 required correct answers before your stumper gets back to you. (and having a moment to 'step away' from the question may provide better clarity in the event you SHOULD have to face it at the end. Good luck to you! You've got this!

Here's the only thing I can add that is hopefully helpful. If you DO stick it out with your current career and it DOES end up going south badly and you end up loosing your job... Well, know this...the Federal Government offers money for vocational training programs, include private CDL schools. There are two ways to qualify, one is meeting certain low income requirements. The other, is if you applied for, received, and are currently collecting unemployment benefits from your state, then you AUTOMATICALLY qualify, regardless of your what your income/life is like. That's what I am doing right now. My school costs exactly $4,980 and I'm not paying a cent for it. (It even includes the permit and licensing fees and DOT physical fee). I'm in my second week and am very excited about what lies ahead for me.

I thought I'd share that with you because if you can get your CDL from a private school, and not have to pay for it, then why not?! If, when you get into a trucking company, you decide that the trucking world is NOT for you, you'd be under no obligation to the company to pay back a 3-4 grand for not sticking it out a year.

Oh, just Google WIOA and whatever county you live in and you'll surely find some links and information as to where you would go to get that ball rolling. Note: You don't just walk in and they give you 5K . They make you jump through some hoops. It is probably at least 6-8 weeks from the time you go to a first orientation for the program to the time you get your certificate that you take to a participating school and start your learnin'. Best of Luck to you Zen!

Dan,

I'm not even in the business yet! That said, however, I think anybody can comment on qualities of happiness... If you're not happy doing what you're doing, then you're not happy doing what you're doing! Before you took this new gig, were you absolutely NEEDING the extra pay (having trouble making ends meet)? Were you unhappy that you weren't home on the weekends? If either of those are true, well, then you have some thinking to do!

If the answer to those two questions though isn't a resounding "YES", well...money isn't always the answer.

Good luck to you Dan!

N.

Thanks for that. I very well may rethink this. I, too, fear that a gap will make what very very little experience I will get during the course a moot point if I don't get behind the wheel immediately. I would do my personal travel first, but I was just afraid of the remote chance that for some reason I WOULDN'T do well in school and come out without my CDL. 99.999% confident that wouldn't happen but that .001 always niggles at the back of my brain. ;) Thanks for the quick reply!

What I'm getting at is when finishing school and getting your CDL, how long can you 'sit' on that before actually starting to work in the industry before an employer wouldn't accept it anymore with out some sort of refresher? I'm not talking a TON of time here, perhaps like 30-45 days. My situation is that I will be changing careers and have the good fortune to have little expenses right now. My thought process is to secure my CDL and then spend a month overseas kicking about backpacking, etc. Then return home to start with a company. Any thoughts? You all are SUCH an awesome wealth of information!

Can I tag on to this? I'm looking into getting into trucking. I'm confused by companies that state that they hire in all states yet have limited terminals. when you have home time coming do you always end at terminal? or do they try and give you a load that ends nearer to where you live? Also, when you guys mention that you're travelling 160 miles etc to get home, who's paying for that gas? Thanks for any insight. I've been poking around the wealth of information here and I apologize if this has been asked and answered a zillion times.