Looking To Get Started.

Topic 15722 | Page 1

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Mike M.'s Comment
member avatar

I'm a young guy (21) looking to try to get started in OTR trucking. I am a motor transport operator in the Army Reserve so I have a small bit of experience behind the wheel, but civilian side I don't have a lot to go on. I was mostly wondering what companies offer training and licensing assistance. I was thinking prime inc. in Springfield MO, but I didn't want to just jump into the first one I found. Any advice on newbie friendly companies would be appreciated.

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.

Kanelin's Comment
member avatar

Paid CDL Training Programs

Lots of good info here. Its what I used to make my decision. 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.

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.

Mark F. ( DAYBREAKER )'s Comment
member avatar

Morning all, I'm in the same truck as you brother. I have found this site to be a great help with any question you may have. Even the silly ones are answered by one driver or another. But one thing is for sure! You may not always like the replies you receive, but they will all be honest answers from their experience on the road. One thing I can tell you as a fellow wannabe a trucker. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY. Use the material on this site to STUDY and pre-test. I could not figure a lot of this out like finding the applications for certain companies. I asked on here and got a lot of help. So two things to remember. STUDY ALOT, and ask questions during your breaks from STUDYING :) Good luck young man. Mark F.

Paid CDL Training Programs

Lots of good info here. Its what I used to make my decision. 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.

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.

G-Town's Comment
member avatar

Welcome Mike M. Like Mark said you did come to the right place, and his advice to study is spot-on.

We highly recommend reviewing and studying these links:

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.
Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar
I was mostly wondering what companies offer training and licensing assistance

The others gave the link above but I just wanted to make sure you knew which one it was. Companies who own and operate their own trucking school or pay the upfront tuition for their drivers at a private school are called company-sponsored programs and you can find those here:

Paid CDL Training Programs

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.
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