Considering Coming Back To Trucking

Topic 14600 | Page 1

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Mike D.'s Comment
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Evening All, About 16 years ago I started driving OTR for Schneider, I chose to leave after only 3 months because at that point in my life I felt it was best for me to go back to school. Now though I have a steady job, which I enjoy, but it is getting harder to make ends meet as I make less than $25k a year. With that being said I am considering the possibility of returning to the trucking industry. I still hold my Class-A CDL with Tank and Double Triple endorsements and am going to re-add the hazmat endorsement to my CDL soon. I also because of FL law have a current dot medical card. On another note I am also a military veteran after having served 7 years in the USCG. I am looking for a military friendly company, and for some advice from other drivers out there to help my decision. Sorry for the long winded post and thanks in advance for the help and advice.

Mike

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.

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

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.

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.
Phoenix's Comment
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Military friendly I what regard? C.R. ENGLAND is appreciative of vets.

Mike D.'s Comment
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By Military friendly I mean companies who look to hire veterans, and possibly have VA approved apprenticeship programs in place

Chris K.'s Comment
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Stevens Swift TMC USA Truck to name a few.

Errol V.'s Comment
member avatar

By Military friendly I mean companies who look to hire veterans, and possibly have VA approved apprenticeship programs in place

Mike, nearly all companies have deals for vets. I went with Swift, and they paid my driving school. Some companies add a bit to your pay or bump your seniority.

Here's the Trucking Truth Wiki article: Trucking Companies, GI Bill and Military Veterans.

Trucking is a performance based job: you mostly get paid by the mile. If you do your stuff, don't slack, you should be bringing down $30-40,000 your first year.

Mike D.'s Comment
member avatar

Thanks Errol, I'm just starting to do research right now, since this will be a pretty big decision to make, not only for me but for my family as well. Obviously, I won't need to get my CDL again but I may need to go for a refresher since its been so long since I last drove OTR. I'm also looking for advice on selecting a company, and any other advice other drivers on here may want to offer.

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.

Errol V.'s Comment
member avatar

You'll certainly need a refresher course. In my Swift class, one student was off for six months and had to do a refresher.

He tested out if the course within a week.

Pianoman's Comment
member avatar

Prime is also military friendly. Thank you for your service.

Mike D.'s Comment
member avatar

Paul, Thanks for the compliment. Like I mentioned to Errol, ive got a lot of research to do and a lot of thinking to do as this will be a BIG decision to make for both myself and my family ... making a career change like this at 38yo.

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