New Driver Ready For School

Hello all, not sure if this is a good introduction thread but just wanted to say I'm about to start school and I've been taking those practice testing to help out. Im going through trucking school at Southwest Truck Driver Training in Las Vegas, NV starting in Aug. From what i hear its the best school to go through, and to use your GI bill with, also going to get every endorsement i can to broaden my job search. This website has been a great source of information and anytime i google something it sends me back here, so i figure id make an account. So I'm not sure what I'm looking for, i just need a great change of a career. Im more prone to driving tanker and hopper, haven't seen many hopper trucks on the road and tankers seem to be hauling fuel, hazard endorsement may take more time to get but i know i can get it. Anyways i just wanted to say hi and ill be roaming around the site absorbing information.

This website has been a great source of information and anytime i google something it sends me back here, so i figure id make an account.

LOL Exactly how I came about making an account on here, too!!!! Unbelievable amount of info on here (which is actually impressively organized, Brett!!!), and people are actually civilized with each other here unlike what seems to be the trend on internet forums. I'm glad I came here... and I think you won't regret it either! From one newbie to another - welcome, and good luck in your endeavors. :)

This website has been a great source of information and anytime i google something it sends me back here, so i figure id make an account.

LOL Exactly how I came about making an account on here, too!!!! Unbelievable amount of info on here (which is actually impressively organized, Brett!!!), and people are actually civilized with each other here unlike what seems to be the trend on internet forums. I'm glad I came here... and I think you won't regret it either! From one newbie to another - welcome, and good luck in your endeavors. :)

Thanks Chris, I think for the first time in my life i have a 5 year plan, and this new career change is my ticket home if you can believe it.

Welcome Willson!! There are some amazing people here, and some awesome tools for you to read. Unlike other forums I think you will find these to be troll-free, with some very friendly and helpful people. Make sure you take a look at the stuff under the training tab like:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road Training Program

High Road Training ProgramThe Complete Guide To A Career In Trucking

• CDL Practice Tests
• High Road Practice Questions
• Android App: CDL Practice Tests

Trucking Company Reviews

lots of good stuff in there. I can especially recommend the High Road Training Program its all you need to get your permit.

Again, Welcome!

Hazard endorsement will definitely take more time. Not just the extra studying, but you need a federal background check from the TSA. You will need to go to one of their federal offices (could be quite the trip depending on where you are) and get fingerprinted, then wait for the all clear on your background check (which can take over a month).

Hazardous, Passenger, and School Bus endorsements are the only ones where you have to do something other than a written test (aside from your core CDL + Air Brakes skills test of course). The other endorsements you can get just from doing a written test so you can easily add those onto your license as needed. If you have the time now though, there is no reason not to get them from the start though. Just keep in mind that you don't need to rush when it comes to extra endorsements that only require a written test.

If you only see hazmat tankers, you must not be in dairy country. There are a lot of tankers running the roads that are non-hazmat if you get to the right areas.

Non-hazmat tankers also suffer from the same ailment as hoppers. They don't tend to need to travel long distances so if you aren't looking in the right areas it can be hard to find them. Their origin tends to be close to their destination because of how impractical it is to carry the materials normally hauled in them over long distances by truck.

Raw milk for example in a non-hazmat tanker would typically travel only a short distance from dairy farm to a nearby processor where it is bottled or turned into cheese. Grain in a hopper will typically travel from farm to another nearby farm, or to a nearby grain elevator and then later out to another nearby farm. Hopper loads like stone from a quarry typically move to a close destination or to/from a rail yard or port.

Just the nature of what gets hauled in hoppers and non-hazmat tankers can make them hard to find on the open road. A hopper or tanker driver may never see an Interstate as part of their job. This also makes non-hazmat tanker and hopper jobs something that you usually don't see bigger companies getting involved in. Many of the companies that run those loads will be smaller companies, with some not being trucking companies but actually just being part of another company like a farming co-op or a construction company.

Make sure to read through the stuff that Kanelin linked if you haven't already.

Welcome Wilson

My advice is to gain some experience driving either dry vans or reefers OTR before considering tanker or a local gig like running grain buckets. Food-grade tankers, especially milk, although not carrying a hazardous material are usually un-baffled and far more difficult to control, especially when not fully loaded. Further to the point, grain buckets and milk tankers typically navigate back, country roads and require very close quarter backing and maneuvering. This is something I would not recommend for an entry level driver. Get some experience learning how to safely operate your truck before considering this.

There are several tanker drivers on here who can elaborate on my point.