Started My Training Last Week At Hamrick
Topic 14959 | Page 1
Just started the 600 master class. Seams to be a fairly professional if laid back atmosphere. Only real questions I have is where to apply. I know I have a lot to learn but I have a lot of time to do it. Previous career experience ( I am 42) tells me if they can do it I can, might not be the best but I will be competent. I read all kinds of horror stories about companies and the recruiters are all rainbows and unicorns ( its kinda their job). I understand that I WILL be gone but I want the go time to be productive. I don't want to be sitting one day in three a thousand miles from home because I don't have a load. Every review and blog I read is all doom and gloom. I just want to make money and the only way to do that is to make the company money. Any ideas?
Welcome Kalman. You have arrived at the right place...as follows:
Just started the 600 master class. Seams to be a fairly professional if laid back atmosphere. Only real questions I have is where to apply.
These links will help you apply and understand the value of a pre-hire.
and
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
Kalman has concerns:
I read all kinds of horror stories about companies and the recruiters are all rainbows and unicorns ( its kinda their job). I understand that I WILL be gone but I want the go time to be productive. I don't want to be sitting one day in three a thousand miles from home because I don't have a load. Every review and blog I read is all doom and gloom. I just want to make money and the only way to do that is to make the company money. Any ideas?
My first idea? Stop believing everything you read on the internet. If you believe all of the horror stories, there are no good companies and no good recruiters. Totally false...totally false. The majority of the "horror stories" you read are posted by former, disgruntled employees who could not cut it and blamed the company for their failure. No, no, no...companies do not fail their drivers. Drivers must perform on many levels...and are held accountable for mistakes and safety infractions. You want the truth? Check this link out:
Recruiters...the bane of our industry. Right? Not really. Here is the deal, most of the recruiters are honest hard working people who are indeed paid for hiring new drivers but are also paid a healthy bonus for retention of that new driver. Again, don't believe everything you hear or read. My suggestions is to be your own advocate and research before speaking to a recruiter and be prepared to ask informed questions.
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
Last but definitely not least, we highly suggest reviewing and studying the following links when seriously considering this as a career:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
Good luck...and let us know how else we can assist you.
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.
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.
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.
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Started my schooling last week, I already have my temps with tanker, double and triples and passenger just need to get my hazmat and I'll be all set. Got through my second week of classroom still have 3 more weeks and 10 weeks in the yard and on the road. So far so good, I know how to read a map but actually learned how to read the Trucker Atlas really well. Now just can't wait to get in the yard and start learning the P.T.I. and start driving can't wait.
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