Happy FRiday! Passed Several Exams Needed For My Class A Permit ..Next Step!?
Topic 12572 | Page 1
Congrats. There may be those that disagree with me, but I would avoid signing any training/school contracts with companies to obtain your CDL. If can afford it, pick a school and attend it on your own dollar (or secure a grant). When choosing a school find one that is at least 160 hours (200 is better), has several instructors, at least 5 training trucks, and has an authorized third party tester on site.
I am currently in one of these schools and having been compiling notes from my experiences to write synopsis for newbies who visit TT in the future. I will publish this when I graduate in a few weeks.
Also, the school I attend gave me 50 hours of credit for showing up with my CDL permit and DOT card in hand. Definitely ask about this when making inquiries to schools.
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.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Saxon W. wrote:
There may be those that disagree with me, but I would avoid signing any training/school contracts with companies to obtain your CDL.
Based on what? I do not agree with making a blanket statement like this without offering a supporting reason or experience. We have seen several recent examples of private schools falling well short of basic expectations.
There are plenty of successful and experienced drivers on this forum (including me) who took the company sponsored training route. Yes, it may not be for everyone, and there is a commitment, however company sponsored training is one of several viable choices for getting a career started. With that said, it's up to the individual to thoroughly research all of the available options and decide on what best fits their needs. There are pros and cons with both.
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.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Saxon W. wrote:
There may be those that disagree with me, but I would avoid signing any training/school contracts with companies to obtain your CDL.
Based on what? ... We have seen several recent examples of private schools falling well short of basic expectations.
Amen to that!! My part time private school experience was a complete nightmare! I think my school would have been fine for a full-time program, but there were many many days I regretted my choice, contemplated leaving and going to a trucking company sponsored school.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Saxon pontificates:
There may be those that disagree with me, but I would avoid signing any training/school contracts with companies to obtain your CDL.
As G-Town asks, tell me more. If this idea was true, why are there still so many companies willing to train you?
This is a great method for "broke" people like me. I went the Swift route. I can't in with me CDL-A permit. I didn't get "credit" but I didn't have to sit through a week of CDL rules for the test.
Saxon, are you worried about the one year commitment? Don't think a company will give you any "hiring bonus", and allow you to walk away a month later. You're committed to pay that bonus back, too.
Here's a choice:
A. Pay $4,000 out of my own pocket for training for a trucking job, or
B. Get the training for "free"with a promise to work it off over a year doing the job you were going to do anyway?
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Whoa...
Settle down everyone. It is okay that I have my own opinion.
Moreover, I take note that in the quoting of my response, you conveniently left out the "If you can afford it..."
To expound my position, I have learned the throughout my life that if one can avoid debt, then one should. Attending a private school affords more entry level options to the driver. Granted, not all CDL schools are the same. But there are good schools out there. For example, Swift, Averitt, Werner, PTL, Total, US Xpress, McElroy, Schnieder, Maverick and countless others visit my school daily to recruit drivers. This has been one of the benefits I appreciate. I am given the opportunity to question each recruiter and so that I can choose one that is more of fit for me and my family.
I never stated that it was BAD idea to go with company sponsored training. I was just offering my opinion that I personally wouldn't do it. Especially, if I could afford not to. I paid $2800 cash for tuition, not 4 grand.
Also, I never said the level of training the companies provide was sub-par with private schools. I didn't insinuate it either. You are reading into something that is not there.
With that being said... If circumstances don't allow for one to pay for tuition to a private school, then it is definitely a viable option.
Moreover, we all know that not all companies are good ones to work for, and many offer training to lock people into a period of misery to keep their freight running because good drivers leave them.
I thought this was trucking truth. I can only speak truthfully about what I have research and seen. I have no intention misinforming anyone.
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.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
You are right. Everyone has opinions, and they probably could explain their reasoning. That's the part that is missing. And on re-reading, you did start out with "I would ..."
It's sort of like I might say "I would avoid drinking Pepsi." And leave it like that.
Why? You ask. No reason given.
But if I backed that up with "They filter the soda through asbestos," that would be a reason. Now, is that true or not?
Errol wrote:
You are right. Everyone has opinions, and they probably could explain their reasoning. That's the part that is missing. And on re-reading, you did start out with "I would ..."
It's sort of like I might say "I would avoid drinking Pepsi." And leave it like that.
Why? You ask. No reason given.
But if I backed that up with "They filter the soda through asbestos," that would be a reason. Now, is that true or not?
Saxon, I took exception to exactly as Errol stated; you said (paraphrasing) to "avoid signing a training/school contract with any trucking company". So that statement implies that it's a bad choice. You didn't back it up with anything, it was just thrown out there. Your opinion is fine and I respect it, until it's offered as advice without the benefit of supporting facts or experience.
I am glad that you had a good experience with a private school, that's great, happy for you. But you have yet to provide any reasonable and factual argument as to why going to a private school is a better choice. Obviously it was a better choice for you, but that's it.
Errol wrote:
You are right. Everyone has opinions, and they probably could explain their reasoning. That's the part that is missing. And on re-reading, you did start out with "I would ..."
It's sort of like I might say "I would avoid drinking Pepsi." And leave it like that.
Why? You ask. No reason given.
But if I backed that up with "They filter the soda through asbestos," that would be a reason. Now, is that true or not?
...But you have yet to provide any reasonable and factual argument as to why going to a private school is a better choice...
Here is a reason, that I have already stated...
Attending a private school affords more entry level options to the driver. Granted, not all CDL schools are the same. But there are good schools out there. For example, Swift, Averitt, Werner, PTL, Total, US Xpress, McElroy, Schnieder, Maverick and countless others visit my school daily to recruit drivers. This has been one of the benefits I appreciate. I am given the opportunity to question each recruiter and so that I can choose one that is more of fit for me and my family.
That is a factual statement (or argument, as you choose to call it).
Moreover, as I stated previously, I believe that if one can avoid debt, then they should. Also, life can be full of the unexpected. If you don't finish your commitment, then you are financially on-the-hook for the cost of the tuition. So even if by no fault of your own, you have to leave the job before the commitment is up, you will have to reimburse the company accordingly. Some even charge interest on this money. Therefore, if you were in financial dire straits before you signed the agreement, you may very well end up in an even worse situation.
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.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Saxon wrote:
Here is a reason, that I have already stated...
Attending a private school affords more entry level options to the driver. Granted, not all CDL schools are the same. But there are good schools out there. For example, Swift, Averitt, Werner, PTL, Total, US Xpress, McElroy, Schnieder, Maverick and countless others visit my school daily to recruit drivers. This has been one of the benefits I appreciate. I am given the opportunity to question each recruiter and so that I can choose one that is more of fit for me and my family.
Ok, so now your opinion takes on tangible meaning based on your experience. Thank you.
I still maintain there are pros and cons to either path and your choice was best for you and may or may not be what is best for someone else. The path I chose was company sponsored training. It worked for me for many reasons (like you I spent months researching my options). Almost four years later I still work for the company who sponsored my CDL school and trained me. Regardless of how strongly I feel about the path I chose, I would never advise someone to "avoid" going to a private school. It's not my place.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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Hi All:)~ I passed my General, Air Brakes, Combo and Tank written exams on my first try! Maybe you all did too.. but it was quite fulfilling for me cuz I havent been in school and wasnt sure what my brain would take in! I missed 1 at the most on the exams and got 2 of the exams 100%! I am so happy! This site really helped me study! So Thank you to the powers that be! :) But I ALSO tho got my CDL class A manual at the dmv and sat down , tuned out everything and studied! I think both are needed..at least for me..There were a few different things in the book...Can't remember off the top of my head..but doing both helped :) I need to renew my Class C next week then I have my permit! I am breathing in this whole trucking journey..It surprises me how much I wanna learn
. As I am learning I am making sure I understand what I learn to the best of my ability ..til I get in that truck! Then it's hands on learning which I'm much better at..
I have a truck school I wanna attend...BUT a tiny bit up in the air still....Feel free to share any advice/experiences...:) I love to learn from other's experiences...
Anyways, Just sharing..Have a great and groovy weekend! KaSandra
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.