I Haven't Been Driving Long, But I'm Thinking About Becoming A Truck Driver. Am I Kidding Myself?
Topic 11000 | Page 1
The lack of driving experience won't hurt you. I only had my license for a year before I got my CDL. Now the license suspensions might hurt, some of the more knowledgeable members here might be able to give you more info there.
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.
You are good to go.... My license was suspended for child support and I reinstated it and a week later on a bus to crst...check out these links here Truck Driver's Career Guide that one will give you a idea of the lifestyle.. You should start studying to get your permit and this program will help you study High Road Training Program. You can go to a Truck Driving Schools which is a slower paced way to get your cdl and you might have to pay a little out of pocket or you can go with a faster paced Company-Sponsored Training with little to no upfront cost and get your cdl and a job in about 16 days.... Also check out Understanding Pre-Hires and Brett's Book.....
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.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre-hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
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.
You should start studying to get your permit and this program will help you study High Road Training Program. ... or you can go with a faster paced Company-Sponsored Training with little to no upfront cost and get your cdl and a job in about 16 days.... /p>
You know what's funny? When I moved to Michigan I had to get a new driver's license, take the test all over again & everything. I went to the website & took the practice test, and thought "My God, that was the hardest driver's license test ever!" I didn't even understand some of the terms. I got a C on it. Turns out I went to the wrong page & took the practice CDL test instead LOL Somehow I got lucky managed a passing grade, but it wasn't a great one. Thanks for the study links.
How realistic is the no-upfront-cost corporate-sponsored training? And pre-hiring? I'll be honest, I don't have a dime. I've been poor my whole life, & free training appears to be the only way I'll be able to get on top of 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.
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.
Hi Mike, I was a little worried about this sort of thing myself. I had my license for about 8 months before it was suspended way back in '02. I was a young, prideful idiot and didn't feel I owed the fines so I never paid up until 2013. They hated me for it and suspended me an extra year for good measure! Lol I was very honest and upfront with the companies I applied to and was finally accepted. My point is that if my spotty work history (Louisiana construction layoffs), past DMV infractions (years of suspension + other stuff), and general official misdeeds were overlooked by a reputable company I think any honest worker has a chance. Just be sure to be completely and absolutely honest with them. I don't know what they can find out through their checks but I just pretend they can read my mind and give them the straight dirt. Scott's advice is solid. If you follow the links he provided I think you will be heading in the right direction and begin to feel a lot more confident about the whole process.
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
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
Ah I feel you there Mike. I was born broke. Ha ha ha Do your research on the companies and programs for the training. There are some good ones and some that seen scary to broke folk. Lol but it's very realistic. I just signed on with Stevens Transport and I'm scheduled to start school on the 9th. But Stevens isn't the only place. Just research and don't limit yourself imo. Even if it seems the company may be "too good for your record".
The reviews here are really good for helping you figure out which programs are doable.
I went to crst and only thing I paid for with cash was food and cigs... Swift I think you need to pay for your permit... Just depends on company... That link I gave you lists all upfront costs..
I can't believe how affordable all this is. At worst it looks like some of the companies charge a couple hundred bucks up front. For someone like myself hoping to turn his life around, this is an incredible deal. It looks like Knight and Millis are my top 2 picks, but I'm just now starting to research it. One thing is for sure: I'm going to have to clean up. I've been a heavy mmj smoker over the past couple years. It's time for me to clean up, anyway. The 90-day wait should give me some time to work toward getting a car so I can get myself out to a school.
One thing is for sure: I'm going to have to clean up. I've been a heavy mmj smoker over the past couple years. It's time for me to clean up, anyway.
I remember those days. I had a smoking problem several years ago. I haven't forgotten the worry or the waiting. Check with your companies to see if they do a follicle or ua. Follicle is going to go back much further but I really can't say how far. Good luck Mike. Your goals are certainly attainable.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
It looks like Knight and Millis are my top 2 picks
What factors make these your Top 2?
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Nope, I'm not a teenager. I just didn't get my license until I was 26. I'm 43 now, & between the times I couldn't afford a car or I had my license suspended for not being insured, I've only got about 5 or 6 (non-consecutive) years of driving experience. I'm hoping being a truck driver will help me turn my life around, but am I un-hirable?