Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
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Any veteran drivers get your CDL "on the job"?
Thank you all for the input. I like to see what others think about any given topic so it is greatly appreciated. Greg, sounds like you have a good plan in mind!
Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
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What did you do before becoming a truck driver?
I worked a lot of jobs before finally getting my CDL and a job I actually enjoy!
Concrete laborer, pipeline construction, security guard at an American Eagle DC in which I handled inbound/outbound trucks after hours, unloader at a Walmart DC, salesman/ service advisor at a Ford dealership, tree trimmer, two "driving" jobs where there was more manual labor involved than driving, basically a bunch of jobs that just weren't right for me even though I was good at them. I also spent the better part of the last decade booking and promoting shows for death metal bands as a hobby. I loved doing that for the most part but it diverted my time and energy from more important things in my life.
Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
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Where to get a Mini refrigerator?
I have been using a 40 quart Coleman electric cooler for almost a year now. Picked it up on sale for around $80 and aside from replacing the fuse once, it has met my needs of keeping ready to eat foods, sandwich fixings, and beverages chilled. When I was running solo pulling a tanker, I had it strapped in to the passenger seat. Since I have been running with a teammate, it sits on the floor in the bunk or between the seats when I am at the helm. The mini fridge my rig is equipped with is to small to be shared so my teammate uses it for his stuff.
Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
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Which companies have driver facing cameras?
Fedex Ground will soon require forward AND driver facing cameras in all trucks operated by them and has offered incentives to their contractors (my employer included) to install and utilize them early. While Fedex Ground does not yet require them at this time, they will by years end and many contractors have already installed them.
Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
View Topic:
Any veteran drivers get your CDL "on the job"?
Thank you G-Town.
I look at the current requirements for just getting your foot in the door these days and think to myself that I had it easy. Haha. Granted, it was 2006 when I got my foot in the door and it took me the better part of a decade to get to where I am now and to be teaching others.
The guy I am training now (my new teammate) through the FedEx entry level driver program is straight out of CDL school. Before he can become a "regular driver" he has to log 1000 hours behind the wheel and I have to observe 100 hours of him driving.
Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
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Being a local driver constitues driving within a limited mileage radius from your home terminal. Any miles driven outside of the local radius must be logged. Sorry I can't recall the exact mileage radius to cite here.
Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
View Topic:
Any veteran drivers get your CDL "on the job"?
Howdy everyone!
I am fairly new to TT and actually came across the site while doing some research on the trucking industry. Very impressive place you have here!
I grew up wanting to drive for a living after spending all of my childhood watching my Dad do just that. I am 35 now and he was rolling coal before I was born and still is to this day.
Anyway, I did a four year stint with the Marines out of high school and afterwards came back to Kansas. At the time, I didn't know much about CDL schools or company sponsored training programs, if I knew anything at all. I did know that I wanted my commercial drivers license and that my only option seemed to be landing a job that would help me get it.
That is exactly what I did. I applied with the city utilities department whose hiring ad stated the candidate must be able to obtain Class B CDL within six months of hire.
At the time I applied for the job I was working as a general laborer on a Wal-Greens build and regularly saw the utility department supervisor. I made sure he knew who I was and landed an interview then subsequently the job.
Four months in to it, I had a commercial drivers license with tanker endorsement, albeit only a class B. But it was the start that lead me to my current employer (four years and counting with them) dump trucking, upgrading to Class A, end dumping, pneumatic tankers, and ultimately my current role pulling for FedEx Ground as a team driver and trainer.
These days, the route I took to get my license looks to be uncommon so I was just curious as to whether or not anyone else here got their CDL in a similar fashion, without formal CDL school training?
Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
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I would run it and plan my route accordingly. Though I picked up some bad habits pulling end dump and dry bulk tank trailers that paid me a percentage of the load. Lol. The risk was worthwhile for me to run heavy.
Posted: 7 years ago
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As a solo and team driver for a company who is contracted by FedEx Ground, I find it odd for your employer to have sent you packing after only one week of training. You being fresh out of CDL school does not disqualify you from the Entry Level Driver Training Program. I was just approved to be one of their trainers and my first student/new teammate is joining us straight out of Apex CDL Institute as have other drivers we hired. My thoughts are that your trainer said something to your boss (if it isn't the same person) that prompted your termination or you just hired on with the wrong contractor. If he didn't tell you the specific reason as to why he fired you then all we can do is speculate. I would suggest you consider applying with another FedEx Ground contractor. If you get on with the right one, you will be hard pressed to find an entry level position that pays as well. Regardless of the path you choose, keep the faith and be relentless in your pursuits! Best of luck to you!
Posted: 6 years, 11 months ago
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NO HIGH BEAMS!
You wouldn't drive towards oncoming traffic with your high beams on at night so what sense does it make to flash your high beams to signal that a driver has clearance to come back over? To me it makes no sense. I don't like to be bright lighted dog an' amount of time so I refrain from doing it to other drivers. Everyone's eyes adjust differently when bright lighted at night time and as far as I am concerned, it can potentially create a hazard. Especially if the driver that just got an eyeful of high beams already has poor night vision.