Second Generation Trucker Questions.
Topic 10426 | Page 1
Cory, glad you decided to follow in your parent's footsteps. It sounds like you've been around big trucks one way or another for most of your life, so you know what the trucking lifestyle is like. This is what a trucking company would be interested in, from your description:
53 foot long Semi trailers act way different the 20' trailer with a pickup like you mentioned. Your best bet is to get in with a Truck Driving School or get on with Company-Sponsored Training . You still need to prepare for a CDL permit, so start studying for the test with the High Road Training Program. You will have about a two month training time before you can get that trucker pay, so plan accordingly. There are some Trucking Companies that pay you while you are in school, but that's usually less than the $833/month you would still be getting, I assume.
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.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Cory, glad you decided to follow in your parent's footsteps. It sounds like you've been around big trucks one way or another for most of your life, so you know what the trucking lifestyle is like. This is what a trucking company would be interested in, from your description:
53 foot long Semi trailers act way different the 20' trailer with a pickup like you mentioned. Your best bet is to get in with a Truck Driving School or get on with Company-Sponsored Training . You still need to prepare for a CDL permit, so start studying for the test with the High Road Training Program. You will have about a two month training time before you can get that trucker pay, so plan accordingly. There are some Trucking Companies that pay you while you are in school, but that's usually less than the $833/month you would still be getting, I assume.
I hope to work for Knight they do paid training and all from what I've read its 400$ paid weekly during training so long as I come in with CDL A with hazmat endorsements. After I hope to do 365 on for two to three years so I can buy a couple houses (fixer upper 4br 2 bths 15k a pop) but I am willing to do my 11 daily everyday 365 granted I'll cook before I sleep with a 116 decibel alarm clock but is it possible for me to clear 35-40k a year with that. Assuming you know what cooking lb is no offence...
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.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Most companies will not be able to hire you unless you have a certificate from an approved CDL training program. Their insurance won't allow them to hire you.
That said.. go to school, get your training certificate and your CDL, then Knight can hire you with a training pay of $400/week. Training and Schooling ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
Knight does have their own school, i believe, but I can't imagine them paying that much while you are in their school.
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.
Most companies will not be able to hire you unless you have a certificate from an approved CDL training program. Their insurance won't allow them to hire you.
That said.. go to school, get your training certificate and your CDL, then Knight can hire you with a training pay of $400/week. Training and Schooling ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
Knight does have their own school, i believe, but I can't imagine them paying that much while you are in their school.
as I was saying Knights school is their training (from what I understand) Id Est you show up with your local CDL permit do 40 hours in class over 3 weeks and then obtain your "legal CDL from Arizona" then do so many hours 1 on 1 (not team drive) then you're hired on OTR thats what I kinda understand although my more then willingness to relocate to Arizona may have something to do with it.
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.
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.
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So I'm wanting to become a trucker my mom and dad were both truckers they actually met at a truck stop both with the same destination and hit it off, enough about that. I have no family except for my mom and two younger sisters currently I'm used to living off my social security survivors benefits (833/mo) so I'm tired of living in what I almost consider poverty also knowing the pay will get me by and put my 11 year old sister through college so I think trucking might be my answer I've traveled alot in my life seen the entire west coast before 21 so the away from "home" doesn't bother me, let me explain I've literally driven eighteen wheeler on 4 lane on the lap of my parents at 7 years they where owner operators when they had me . My last job was trailer restoration, remanufacturing, repurposing in which my only real job was design and transport the biggest thing Ive hualed was a 32 foot aljo camper since I was 18 and I did good, my question is will I be ahead of the class that is to say I know how to control a trailer pretty good my father could parallel park a semi w/ trailer I've paralleled with a pick up and 20ft ball tounge. I wont say I know everything or even alot but knowing abit is good right? I'm smart and think I need the book learnin down like the codes and what not , but will any of my previous experience help, will it even be recognized, when I was transferred from a private school to a public I actually got in truble for correcting a teacher and got held back for "immaturity" I guess it may be just fear but any reassurance or tips would be appreciated.
Owner Operator:
An owner-operator is a driver who either owns or leases the truck they are driving. A self-employed driver.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices