CDL Permit

Topic 10668 | Page 1

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Pastor C.'s Comment
member avatar

I know this has probably already been asked but do I need my cdl permit or license before going to truck driving schools?

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.
Old School's Comment
member avatar

Pastor C, welcome aboard!

You probably don't need it, but we always recommend that you get it. You will be so far ahead of the class if you take care of that beforehand.

You can use our High Road Training Program to prepare yourself for that. It is a really great program which has helped thousands of folks retain the incredible amount of information needed to get that permit, and make a good start on your career.

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.
Phil C.'s Comment
member avatar

I know this has probably already been asked but do I need my cdl permit or license before going to truck driving schools?

No you do not "need" it. Your school will plan on you getting it there, plus there is something about getting the permit in the same state you get the cdl, but I cant seem to find that post. Its always a good idea to study up on the high road and after asking your recruiter if you can get the permit in your state then get the cdl in the state the trucking school is in you will have your answer.

Phil

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.
Pastor C.'s Comment
member avatar

My other question is do I have to start out as otr , I am married with children and as my handle states I'm a pastor, but not a head pastor. I would like to do local, but I figured that I would have to do otr for about a year before I could find one of those jobs

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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Errol V.'s Comment
member avatar

My other question is do I have to start out as otr , I am married with children and as my handle states I'm a pastor, but not a head pastor. I would like to do local, but I figured that I would have to do otr for about a year before I could find one of those jobs

That sounds about right. My mentor even recommended me to run with his dedicated account (off weekends!). But no, the Fleet Manager had other plans - OTR first! After about 6-8 months, depending how you feel about it, ask your DM about a change.

Also, my Swift OTR DM understood my reason for getting home weekends every two weeks. That worked out pretty much. Well, you can be half way there!

BTW, if you can, get your local state CDL permit. You will be that much ahead of the other students. In July the FMCSA (Federal) rules were changed a bit, and you should be able to take the school's skill test for your state's final. (Note: This comment is a very short piece of information. See if your school is implementing this now.)

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.

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

FMCSA:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

What Does The FMCSA Do?

  • Commercial Drivers' Licenses
  • Data and Analysis
  • Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
  • Research and Technology
  • Safety Assistance
  • Support and Information Sharing

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

Fm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

Fleet Manager:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar

There are people that come straight out of school and land local jobs that get them home every night but it's pretty uncommon. You would have to do a lot of digging around and making phone calls to find an opportunity.

It's quite common to come out of school and land a job that can get you home on most weekends though. So that could become a reality for you.

We always recommend sticking with your first company for one full year. That being said, if you really want to get home every night you can often find a local company that will hire you with as little as 2 or 3 months of OTR experience even though their job listing may state a minimum of one full year of OTR experience is required.

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.

Pastor C.'s Comment
member avatar

I would love to find a company that does cdl training and where I could be home most if not all weekends. I would only be missing church on Wednesdays then, but could still go on Sundays. I usually do not see my wife until the weekends as is (we work different shifts).

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.
Errol V.'s Comment
member avatar

I would love to find a company that does cdl training and where I could be home most if not all weekends. I would only be missing church on Wednesdays then, but could still go on Sundays. I usually do not see my wife until the weekends as is (we work different shifts).

Pastor, the general road map for new drivers (especially getting through a company sponsored school) is to go right into OTR work. But your company certainly will put drivers where the need is greatest, so it's not unheard of for a new driver to go directly into a different driving job.

Talk to your DM about your situation. There are assignments you could get that include all or almost all weekends off.

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.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
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