Making A Career Change And Trucking Is My Choice
Topic 15701 | Page 1
If money is tight why not check out the compnay sponsored programs? Once you get the CDL you enter into training and start getting paid. It will save you a lot of money if you meet there Contract which us usually work for them for one year.
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.
Start here.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
Then look here. Paid CDL Training Programs 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.
If money is tight why not check out the compnay sponsored programs? Once you get the CDL you enter into training and start getting paid. It will save you a lot of money if you meet there Contract which us usually work for them for one year.
I plan to pay out of my pocket for the training, I have the money for it. From all that I have read It seems being locked in a contract is not the best way to go. I want to have my options open. I know as a new driver I won't have many options.
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.
If money is tight why not check out the compnay sponsored programs? Once you get the CDL you enter into training and start getting paid. It will save you a lot of money if you meet there Contract which us usually work for them for one year.
I plan to pay out of my pocket for the training, I have the money for it. From all that I have read It seems being locked in a contract is not the best way to go. I want to have my options open. I know as a new driver I won't have many options.
I chose company sponsored because the companies that I was interested in and would hire me each had their own school, so why pay a bunch when they will basically make it free (dependent on contract stipulation) and the purpose of any school is to get you your cdl. Not to teach you how to be a truck driver.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
The more research you do on this site, you will read over and over.......stay with your first Company for at least 1 year. I had the money to pay for school as well. Swift offers No Money Down, ZERO percent financing. Tuition is $3900.00. 13 month contract. Payroll deduction of 37.50 per week for 52 weeks. $1950.00. Swift matches that. Stay for another year or portion thereof, they put $37.50 per week back on your check. Two years equals FREE School. I still have $4000.00 in the bank and had a virtually guaranteed job straight out of school. Just something to consider. Good Luck!
How's the pay? Is it what you were expecting?
The more research you do on this site, you will read over and over.......stay with your first Company for at least 1 year. I had the money to pay for school as well. Swift offers No Money Down, ZERO percent financing. Tuition is $3900.00. 13 month contract. Payroll deduction of 37.50 per week for 52 weeks. $1950.00. Swift matches that. Stay for another year or portion thereof, they put $37.50 per week back on your check. Two years equals FREE School. I still have $4000.00 in the bank and had a virtually guaranteed job straight out of school. Just something to consider. Good Luck!
Oh ......BTW Be careful using the phrase "I have read" or " My friend has a friend that was a Truck Driver, and he said". This site deals in the Truth. Lots of Veteran drivers with real good HONEST advice. You may not get the advice you want to hear, but you WILL get what you need to hear.
How's the pay? Is it what you were expecting?
I did a little over 8000 miles my 1st month. Made about $3100. Plan on doing 8-10 k miles per month for the first 3-6 months.
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Hi all, My name is Jason and like the title says I'm changing careers and I think I really want to give trucking a try. A little background on me. I'm 44, married and I have 2 children. For the past 15 years I have been a programmer working from home and I just can't take being chained to a desk any longer. My wife and I open up a fitness studio a few years ago. It's emotionally rewarding but not financially rewarding so if I'm going to leave programming behind I need a job that pays well but I also need love it. I know it takes time and hard work to make good money and I have no problem with that.
The school I'm considering is MCCann (CDL.com). I went for visit last week and their program looks good.
Well that's where I'm at right now. I'm sure I'm going to have some questions soon and just wanted thank you all in advance. Regards, Jason
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: