100% Committed To Becoming A Professional Commercial MV Driver
Topic 11543 | Page 1
Back in July, I signed up for a CDL school (not going to say which one), and attended a week of classes before being hit with their financing proposal. The financing interest was a bit high for me. I couldn't stomach it and drove back home.
Back at home, I took my permit tests and got my DOT physical. I passed all.
I then secured a job so that I could pay rent and feed my family.
By November 1, I had found a local CDL school for exactly half price of the original one. This school has no financing, no company sponsors, etc. So, I gave notice, took the cash I had saved from my job and signed on.
Having paid upfront, I am now 100% all in. In my mind, there is no alternative to completing the academy, getting my CDL, signing on with a carrier and going over the road. It just has to happen or my world will be upside down.
^ That's a lot of pressure for a family man.
Now, I'm studying the CDL manual in order to memorize the pre-trip. I've written it out at least five times in the last 3 hours. In the morning, my wife is going to video me practicing it (without the truck). This week, the school is closed so I have a lot of time to study stuff here that I would normally have to do at the school; this is a BONUS.
Can't wait for next week so I can practice on the equipment- touching and seeing everything. Then the following week- driving. Happy to be going into this with my permit so I can skip a lot of the classroom videos and stuff.
I'm super excited. I'm a 43 y.o. former teacher who has been overseas for the past decade and I've always wanted to drive a TT.
Wish me luck. I am shooting for flatbed, after school . My CDL should happen by January. Nothing better than flatbedding in the winter, right?
Just a little background: In my formal life, I was an American English teacher in Asia. Had to come back to the great USA for several reasons: the first being my daughter reached kindergarten age. There are others, but the list is too long. Don't get me wrong. I loved my time abroad. In fact, I've lived abroad about 25% of my life.
And, without a doubt, there is no better place to be than here in the USA.
Alright, so I will try to keep this thread going from here until I'm OTR.
Thanks for reading.
Not sure if anyone suggested pre-hires to you, these two links might be helpful: Understanding Pre-Hires & Apply For Truck Driving Jobs
Best of luck!
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.
Over The Road:
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.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Thanks for the info.
I've received a pre-hire from Covenant and USA Truck. PTL is in the works. I just have to give them some old tax forms so they can verify some past employment.
I have a good 4 weeks before I get my CDL and I will feel out a couple more companies. Right now, I'm reading the posts about the different companies. Both Covenant and PTL have good threads going.
Then, there's the woman who runs my school. She knows some small local companies who hire and train. Pay is not that great but home time looks fantastic. One leaves out once a week and goes from my home state on the east coast to California and back.
Whoever I go with, I'm not expecting any wine or roses for the first year. I will tough it out. Hell, I spent the last decade overseas. I know how to deal with adversity.
Let me just get my training out of the way and start earning money and time OTR so I can make myself more attractive to the great companies.
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.
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.
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Back in July, I signed up for a CDL school (not going to say which one), and attended a week of classes before being hit with their financing proposal. The financing interest was a bit high for me. I couldn't stomach it and drove back home.
Back at home, I took my permit tests and got my DOT physical. I passed all.
I then secured a job so that I could pay rent and feed my family.
By November 1, I had found a local CDL school for exactly half price of the original one. This school has no financing, no company sponsors, etc. So, I gave notice, took the cash I had saved from my job and signed on.
Having paid upfront, I am now 100% all in. In my mind, there is no alternative to completing the academy, getting my CDL, signing on with a carrier and going over the road. It just has to happen or my world will be upside down.
^ That's a lot of pressure for a family man.
Now, I'm studying the CDL manual in order to memorize the pre-trip. I've written it out at least five times in the last 3 hours. In the morning, my wife is going to video me practicing it (without the truck). This week, the school is closed so I have a lot of time to study stuff here that I would normally have to do at the school; this is a BONUS.
Can't wait for next week so I can practice on the equipment- touching and seeing everything. Then the following week- driving. Happy to be going into this with my permit so I can skip a lot of the classroom videos and stuff.
I'm super excited. I'm a 43 y.o. former teacher who has been overseas for the past decade and I've always wanted to drive a TT.
Wish me luck. I am shooting for flatbed, after school . My CDL should happen by January. Nothing better than flatbedding in the winter, right?
Just a little background: In my formal life, I was an American English teacher in Asia. Had to come back to the great USA for several reasons: the first being my daughter reached kindergarten age. There are others, but the list is too long. Don't get me wrong. I loved my time abroad. In fact, I've lived abroad about 25% of my life.
And, without a doubt, there is no better place to be than here in the USA.
Alright, so I will try to keep this thread going from here until I'm OTR.
Thanks for reading.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
Over The Road:
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated