CDL License
Topic 12146 | Page 1
These are all great questions. I'm very curious myself.
Also once I finish school do you get your license right then & there? Like on hand or does it take a while to come in & you have to wait for it? While your on the road with a trainer.
Your CDL license comes from the state. I believe some schools want to walk you through their program in their state. The TT recommendation is to get your permit locally, including physical, before school starts. That way, you get an extra week to study driving stuff instead of taking time to do the CDL permit stuff. You definitely need the permit before you can drive a truck at all.
So, study now, get your CDL permit before going to truck school.
In July 2015, the FMCSA said you can get your permit in your home state A and do the skills test in school state B. Then state B must email the results to your state A to complete your full CDL.
Just like your "regular" driver permit, you get to drive a truck with a licensed driver next to you. But you need a full CDL-A to drive for your company for mentor/road training.
Check with your recruiter about how you get your actual license. Last year (pre-July rule changes) Swift arranged to get you to a terminal in your home state to train for, then test for the final CDL.
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.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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
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.
I live in Ohio and went to CDL school in Wisconsin. After passing my CDL test, we went to the DMV. I had to fill out a form (your school should give it to you) saying that I had come there for CDL training and that I didn't actually live there. I was given a temporary paper license and my Wisconsin license was mailed to me. Your license will be for whatever state you passed the CDL test in and you will have to get that tranferred to your home state so when I returned to Ohio and received the Wisconsin license I had to go to the local BMV and get the license switched over and a copy sent to my comany for their records.
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.
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.
Bmv:
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.
Thanks for the replies! This is good to know. One last question is Can I just get my CDL permit on my own then go to school? Or don't the company schools want to teach you theirselves & you get the permit in their state?
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.
Thanks for the replies! This is good to know. One last question is Can I just get my CDL permit on my own then go to school? Or don't the company schools want to teach you theirselves & you get the permit in their state?
Mine required that we obtain our permits before cdl school. Most company programs are accelerated courses so they want to get you in that truck your first day. Get the permit
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 stated:
The TT recommendation is to get your permit locally, including physical, before school starts
Like I said...
Errol stated:
The TT recommendation is to get your permit locally, including physical, before school starts
Like I said...
That one made me laugh Errol, thanks.
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When people attend Company sponsored CDL Training most of the time it's in another state & they ship you to school. My question is if you go to company school, when you do get your license is your license for that state only? Or does it license you for your own state? Like if I go to Swift in Texas will I have a Texas CDL? Or Prime in Missouri will my license be a Missouri license? Or will it be for my home state (Louisiana). Also if it is for the state that I am in how do I go about getting my license to be in my home state? Do you just get a Texas or Missouri license then you have to go back to your home state to get it transferred? Just curious. Sorry for all the question. But thanks for the replies!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: