Start Driving For PAM On 12/07/15
Topic 11621 | Page 1
If you have a CDL and a clean MVR there are so many options out there. Why go with a company that forces team driving ? You mention only 2 weeks with a trainer but sounds more to me you'll be in 6 months and 2 weeks of training each other ! The company I went with has a mandatory 2 month training and it was the worse 2 months of my life ! Once done and solo I could breath again and there isn't enough money in the world to make me ever go team. PAM is using you to get the miles done and that's why theres a high demand for drivers
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.
MVR:
Motor Vehicle Record
An MVR is a report of your driving history, as reported from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. Information on this report may include Drivers License information, point history, violations, convictions, and license status on your driving record.
I've drove for about 4 years but I'm out of it right now. I went down a similar road as you are now. First, these companies are pretty much the same as far as the training goes. If it gets too tough don't walk away from the truck or you will have a hard time getting another trucking job. If you think something isn't safe then its not, especially in the winter. Keep an open mind. Once you get that first year in you can right your own ticket. Keep your CDL 'clean'. It's not the company's property it's yours. Most of all; be safe. Good luck with your adventure!
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.
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Hello World! First off, I would like to say the wealth of knowledge & information on this site is remarkable. I've been visiting the site for the last year or so reading posts and researching companies. The lifestyle of trucking has always had an appeal to me, so I decided to jump in feet first with an open mind. After looking around a bit, (& leaving my ego at home) I attended C1 Training in Little Rock, Ar via Company Sponsored Training courtesy of PAM Transport on 10/19/15 It was challenging at first, but I kept a positive attitude and I made it through! We started with 28 people and only 4 of us got our CDL. (Issued 11/19/15) I go for orientation on the 7th of December as I've stated above which will last 5 days and the following 2 weeks I will be over the road with my trainer. Now, I do have a few concerns regarding this..... In my mind, 2 weeks with a "mentor" just does not seem adequate, after all it is an 80,000 lb vehicle loaded, and in all reality it's a weapon on wheels.. After my training phase has be completed I will then be given an assignment and paired with another driver for 6 months of Long Haul. This also has me a little on edge... I understand team drivers make more $ but I didn't get into trucking for the $ I made the choice because the lifestyle appeals to me. And plus, Jake brakes, & Chrome are just freaking awesome lol. Anyways.... Any tips, pointers, even encouragement will be much appreciated. Also, does anyone or has anyone here drive/drove for PAM? Hope to see some of y'all out there
TheMadHatter
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated