Kind Of A Unique Situation, Want To Be A Truck Driver But I Already Am.
Topic 15771 | Page 1
OTR companies are looking for DOCUMENTABLE FULL TIME OTR EXPERIENCE.
Even if your race team driving was documented - it really isn't OTR, because you get to a venue and stop for a few days (to a week or more).
OTR companies consider experience, being out the 3-4 weeks at a time FULL TIME.
Most of the companies we talk about here, are not "bottom feeders" per se. Due to the fact that you have held a CDL-A and can drive a TT rig proficiently - you can likely come into a new company and just do a "refresher" or go directly into the team phase of training after passing a company road test.
Prime will do something like this, as will Jim Palmer and a few others. Abeline might be one to look at also.
You are going to need some level of training, especially securement for flatbed.
Rick
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.
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.
Ignoring the "bottom feeder company" remark, JB Hunt considers prior tractor trailer experience, meaning they don't specify OTR.
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.
Ignoring the "bottom feeder company" remark, JB Hunt considers prior tractor trailer experience, meaning they don't specify OTR.
What race team did you drive for?
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.
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Hey guys, I'm new here and I was hoping you could help me out. For the past 3 years I have had a class A and driven and still am driving a truck for race car teams. I have worked for 2 teams so far. What I drive is a full blown 56' triple axle air ride double floor hauler. I do log books, IFTA reports, all the stuff a normal truck driver would do. My primary job is not to drive the truck though but mainly to work as a mechanic on the race car, and driving the truck is actually just a small part of what I do. I probably drive around 40K miles a year.
I want to get into to trucking industry and be a regular truck driver, (pretty interested in flatbed) but the problem is I don't think there is any real proof I have driven a truck. I got a copy of my DAC report and it doesn't show I have ever driven a truck before at all. The reason is since these race teams have the mechanics drive the trucks there are some pretty major HOS violations going on since we are basically considered out of hours before we even sit in the truck at all. They dont report anything to DOT and basically float under the radar.
My hope is to get a job that requires previous experience and skip the "bottom feeder" companies altogether. I obviously don't need to be with a trainer or learn how to drive or anything. Im just worried that I might be treated as a newbie and have to start all over again if I switch to the trucking industry. Thoughts?
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.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.