Trucking School Process (Will Update Daily/weekly)

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Shiva's Comment
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Did you check in to Century College or Dakota County Technical College?

What did they offer?

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No I did not check out either of these colleges. I went from Company Sponsored training (research) with a lot of turn down due to my background then started looking privately.

Just a suggestion, if your background is preventing you from getting company sponsored training, I suggest getting some prehire letters from several companies first. Before you spend so much $$ on school.

Prehire:

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.

Joshua F.'s Comment
member avatar

Our High Road Training Program is a complete CDL test preparation course. It has everything you'll need to pass the CDL permit exam, the endorsement exams, and prepare for the start of CDL training:

Here is how our program breaks down:

To Get Your CDL Permit:

  • Rules & Regulations
  • Driving Safely
  • Transporting Cargo Safely
  • Air Brakes
  • Combination Vehicles
  • Pre-Trip Inspection
  • Driving Exam

To get your CDL endorsements which are optional but highly recommend:

  • Transporting Passengers
  • Doubles And Triples
  • Tankers
  • Hazardous Materials

Two sections we've built ourselves with info you'll need for everyday life on the road:

  • Logbook
  • Weight & Balance

Two sections for anyone considering flatbed:

  • Cargo Securement
  • New York State Coil Endorsement

Two sections we've built ourselves with info you'll need for everyday life on the road:

Logbook Weight & Balance Two sections for anyone considering flatbed:

Cargo Securement

The above mention here will be covered by the school after the first two weeks.

I will know more after tomorrow.

Pre-trip Inspection:

A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.

Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.

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.

Logbook:

A written or electronic record of a driver's duty status which must be maintained at all times. The driver records the amount of time spent driving, on-duty not driving, in the sleeper berth, or off duty. The enforcement of the Hours Of Service Rules (HOS) are based upon the entries put in a driver's logbook.

Combination Vehicle:

A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

Joshua F.'s Comment
member avatar

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double-quotes-start.png

Did you check in to Century College or Dakota County Technical College?

What did they offer?

double-quotes-end.png

double-quotes-end.png

No I did not check out either of these colleges. I went from Company Sponsored training (research) with a lot of turn down due to my background then started looking privately.

double-quotes-end.png

Just a suggestion, if your background is preventing you from getting company sponsored training, I suggest getting some prehire letters from several companies first. Before you spend so much $$ on school.

Schneider is considering me for pre-hire. I will meet with a recruiter Tuesday - as they are coming to the school for a visit.

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.

Prehire:

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.

Anchorman's Comment
member avatar
Just a suggestion, if your background is preventing you from getting company sponsored training , I suggest getting some prehire letters from several companies first. Before you spend so much $$ on school.

I agree 110% with The Shiva. I hope you have looked in to some companies or have some pre-hires due to your background.

Here are some other links that you may find helpful:

Trucking Companies That Hire Drivers With Felonies

Trucking Company Policies For Drivers With DUI-DWI

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.

Prehire:

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.

DUI:

Driving Under the Influence

DWI:

Driving While Intoxicated

Joshua F.'s Comment
member avatar

I will post this info though to hopefully help others with their shifting.

Low Range -- 0-15MPH 1st gear creeps at 1-3MPH 2nd gear creeps at 2-6MPH 3rd gear creeps at 3-9MPH 4th gear creeps at 4-12MPH 5th gear creeps at 5-15MPH

High Range -- 15MPH+ 15mph -- 1+5=6 (6th gear) 25mph -- 2+5=7 (7th gear) 35mph -- 3+5+8 (8th gear) 45mph -- 4+5=9 (9th gear) 55mph -- 5+5=10 (10th gear)

This is of course for a 10 speed trans.

Joshua F.'s Comment
member avatar

double-quotes-start.png

Just a suggestion, if your background is preventing you from getting company sponsored training , I suggest getting some prehire letters from several companies first. Before you spend so much $$ on school.

double-quotes-end.png

I agree 110% with The Shiva. I hope you have looked in to some companies or have some pre-hires due to your background.

Here are some other links that you may find helpful:

Trucking Companies That Hire Drivers With Felonies

Trucking Company Policies For Drivers With DUI-DWI

I checked the link for the felonies and I now have more companies to pursue. I'm under the case by case basis even if my felony is 14 years ago.

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.

Prehire:

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.

DUI:

Driving Under the Influence

DWI:

Driving While Intoxicated

Serah D.'s Comment
member avatar

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Where are you going to school?

Is it a private school or a technical college?

How much did you pay out of pocket?

If it is a technical college, were there any grants available to help lower the cost?

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I will be attending Interstate Truck Driving School in South Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is a private school.

Took me 2 years to save up this amount -- $4,995 (for 160 hour manual transmission course)

The Automatic trans course (still 160 hours) was $3,995

The other school I had in mind - Heavy Metal Truck Driving, did offer grants but they dragged their heels and I was not happy with the way the recruiter rushed me into decision making. {they are based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota - just 8 miles from the school I'm attending}

Wouldn't it have been much easier for you if you studied/tested for the permit on your own? Then all you would have to do in school is learn the yard/road.

Interstate:

Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).

Joshua F.'s Comment
member avatar

double-quotes-start.png

double-quotes-start.png

double-quotes-start.png

Where are you going to school?

Is it a private school or a technical college?

How much did you pay out of pocket?

If it is a technical college, were there any grants available to help lower the cost?

double-quotes-end.png

double-quotes-end.png

I will be attending Interstate Truck Driving School in South Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is a private school.

Took me 2 years to save up this amount -- $4,995 (for 160 hour manual transmission course)

The Automatic trans course (still 160 hours) was $3,995

The other school I had in mind - Heavy Metal Truck Driving, did offer grants but they dragged their heels and I was not happy with the way the recruiter rushed me into decision making. {they are based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota - just 8 miles from the school I'm attending}

double-quotes-end.png

Wouldn't it have been much easier for you if you studied/tested for the permit on your own? Then all you would have to do in school is learn the yard/road.

I did have my permit but it expired. So now I have to redo it. It shouldn't take me long to review the material and obtain it. Then I will be getting ready for the yard.

Interstate:

Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).

Joshua F.'s Comment
member avatar

Good morning everyone.

Just thought I would give an update before my day starts and I hopefully bring you back some great first day news. Woke up 2.5 hours before my alarms went off and couldn't get back to sleep. Chock it up to being anxious for this to start. I was already planning on using the spare time before class started at 8am to continue reviewing the manual and air brake folders provided to me. Oh well, the more time to review the better. Someone "up there" must really want me to succeed (every thing happens for a reason).

So the day begins, stay safe out there on the roads and if you are still sleeping in your truck as I post this...pleasant sleeping.

Joshua F.'s Comment
member avatar

Good afternoon everyone. Class went quicker than expected, but enlightening none-the-less! Accident procedures were covered today. More of it will be blended into tomorrows class on defensive driving.

If you listen as they speak and check your ego at the door, you will pass these classes because it doesn't just end there. Once these 1st two weeks (for most) are completed and you get your permit; more course work and backing range/simulator training begins. They did show us the size truck and trailer we will be using on our road test to obtain the License. Since it is in a Metropolitan area, the size is smaller than OTR trucks. Although, once the road test is passed you would (depending on what program you are enrolled in) be going back for more training and simulator practice on 10 speed transmissions. (test trucks are 6 speeds) - More on that part when the time comes.

So it was just a pleasant day as I arrived early to the facility and just kept reviewing the MN Manual. Also my DOT physical is being held back a week as I work on my Blood Pressure. The faculty let me know that it was a very smart move (as 3 new comers today had theirs) to not waste the procedure. Interstate Truck Driving School is more than willing to work with me on whatever it takes to get the blood pressure under control. I was happy to hear that.

More tomorrow for ya'll. Stay safe on the roads out there.

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.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Interstate:

Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).

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