Should I Bother Going To CDL School?
Topic 13235 | Page 1
Hi Jason. I just got my license so I'm not experienced in the actual hiring process. However I have several pre hires from different companies. The first thing they usually look into is your driving record. Obviously you'll be driving their expensive equipment and are liable for safety of that equipment and lives of others. Some carriers may view you as a liability but some may give you s shot. You also mentioned you've been out of work? Work history is another big one for companies as well. Best you can do is apply to as many companies as you can and see what they say.
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.
You can always call the companies, like US Xpress and other that take new drivers, and they will tell you if they would take u after you have your cdl or get you into 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.
Recent convictions of that nature, are going to make it difficult (if not impossible) to get hired on by a company.
I would start exploring, by applying to a number of companies (and disclosing the convictions) to see if they'll even consider you.
It's not a matter of "whether or not you got screwed by your lawyer", but what the court records/MVR shows - because that's what the insurance companies look for.
I personally, would not invest the $$ going to a non-company schools - without at least getting some idea of whether or not you will be able to get hired on after you graduate.
Again, sadly - since trucking is about DRIVING - reckless and hit & runs that recent, are going to be an serious impediment. Once they are5-7 years old - you might have better luck. I'd suspect that a felony hit-n-run, also got you some license suspension time, which also - when for a serious incident, is going to prevent you from getting onboard anywhere.
Rick
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.
Welcome Jason.
Not to be judgmental but driving a tractor trailer is all about safety and not engaging in reckless driving behavior for any reason. Please realize the result of driving a tractor trailer in that way could be catastrophic and life changing for not only you, but anyone else involved. Before you do anything, please consider the underlying reasons that caused you to drive recklessly in the first place and seriously consider the consequences had you been operating an 80,000 pound CMV.
Like Rick has stated, it will be very challenging for you to get a CDL driving job because of how recent the convictions are and the nature of the offenses. Although anything is possibly, you may be required to wait a minimum period of 5 years (up to 10 in some cases) after your last conviction before a company will consider hiring you. Before investing in any school, I suggest you begin to apply to as many companies as you can to receive what is called a pre-hire. Also try to find employment just so you can establish/maintain verifiable employment history. Trucking companies will want to see that. Below is a series of links explaining the pre-hire and the process to follow:
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Forum Topics Tagged "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
In addition to the above, here is a link listing Companies that will hire drivers with felonies.
I am sure others will reply to this as well. Let us know how else we can help, we'll do our best. 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.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
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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Hi all. I just discovered this site and it's been a wealth of information!
Here is my dilemma. I have a reckless driving and misdemeanor Hit & Run, and and felony Hit & Run (i'm innocent, can prove it, but got screwed by my attorney), all from 2013/2014. I've been wanting to drive for a while now. With those on my record, is there any point in looking into getting my CDL , finding a company-sponsored training , or prehire processes? I really want to drive. I don't know what to do. I've been out of work for some time and want to venture down this path.
Let me know, please, what you think.
Jason
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.