First Time Posting, Longtime Reader, Seeking Advice And Knowledge
Topic 15075 | Page 1
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Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving
- Getting Started With The DOT Physical
- DOT Blood Pressure Requirements
- DOT Drug and Alcohol Policies & Testing
- DOT Eye & Vision Exam Requirements
- DOT Hearing Requirements
- DOT Physical - Driver Exemptions
- Hair Follicle vs. Urinalysis Drug Testing: Breakdown By Company
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Guidelines & Advice
- Sleep Apnea , Truck Drivers, & BMI Calculator
- Trucker's Wiki: Hair Follicle vs. Urinalysis Drug Testing: Breakdown By Company
- Trucker's Wiki: DOT Drug and Alcohol Policies & Testing
- Forum Topics Tagged "Drug And Alcohol Testing"
Also search on here for companies that hire felons. Good 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.
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.
Hypertension:
Abnormally high blood pressure.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Im wondering if i go to say a vo tech state school if its frowned upon or better to go to say where they pay for school.
Actually the Vo-Tech schools and community colleges normally have excellent programs that are less expensive than most private schools. You can apply for pre-hires before even committing to a school to make sure you'll find a job once you graduate. Here is more about the pre-hire process:
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
You can also try getting into the company-sponsored programs where they'll hire you if you complete the training successfully. I'm not sure what kind of luck you'll have but it's worth a shot.
You're definitely going to hit some resistance looking for work but if that's your only major blemish you should find companies that will give you a shot.
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.
As Brett said - they VoTech & Community Colleges are the least expensive by far, most are part of the State/County School System. They also tend to be the longest (usually 8-9 weeks). Do go and check them out - and ask if you can speak to one of the instructors. Ask them what companies are typically hiring their grads - they should have a decent idea where most of their students are ending up.
I really enjoyed the VoTech class I did - though it was a little "slow paced" for my liking. At the time - only CRST & Armellini were hiring out of this zip code - so I took a pass on going out OTR.
Rick
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.
Hello everyone, I will start off by thanking you guys that keep this thing going. I really have enjoyed the reading and hope that you provide. I am getting prepared to start school somewhere close. I live in Cookeville, Tn and have searched schools and am dialed into a few. I can get some grant from the unemployment office to pay some, or all, unsure really how it works. I am currently waiting on my background check through hire right. I have my driving record (previous 3 yrs). I do have a drug felony from 2004. I understand that they are frowned upon but I have every intention to do this as a career. Im interested to any and all feedback. Im wondering if i go to say a vo tech state school if its frowned upon or better to go to say where they pay for school. Like i said earlier i was told some state schools will be paid by a grant so im not passing that up if at all possible although im not looking to go 8 weeks then not really have a ride waiting so da speak. I have read and believe that persistence will pay off, Guidance and knowledge is appreciated. Brett, Erol, old school thank you so much. Erol we are practically neighbors ps hope I spelled that right, thanks
I would look at Western Express. They seem to be a little more lenient to those kind of things, so I heard anyways.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thanks for the help from everyone. Im currently sort of waiting to receive my background check it should be here in the next few days. I want to be sure what Im putting on the apps is correct for prehires etc. I do think there are some oppurtunities close to me. Western, USxpress, maybe Covenant, PTL, I think most all have yards or terminals within a hour of home. trying to absorb and stay upbeat and humble. Thanks again B
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.
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.
Prehires:
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.
PeakinB, I would not even consider terminal location as a factor. I've never had the terminal I was running out of anywhere close to my home, or even in the same state. It's not important. As long as you are in their hiring area, there should be no problems in getting you home.
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.
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Hello everyone, I will start off by thanking you guys that keep this thing going. I really have enjoyed the reading and hope that you provide. I am getting prepared to start school somewhere close. I live in Cookeville, Tn and have searched schools and am dialed into a few. I can get some grant from the unemployment office to pay some, or all, unsure really how it works. I am currently waiting on my background check through hire right. I have my driving record (previous 3 yrs). I do have a drug felony from 2004. I understand that they are frowned upon but I have every intention to do this as a career. Im interested to any and all feedback. Im wondering if i go to say a vo tech state school if its frowned upon or better to go to say where they pay for school. Like i said earlier i was told some state schools will be paid by a grant so im not passing that up if at all possible although im not looking to go 8 weeks then not really have a ride waiting so da speak. I have read and believe that persistence will pay off, Guidance and knowledge is appreciated. Brett, Erol, old school thank you so much. Erol we are practically neighbors ps hope I spelled that right, thanks