Greyhound Driver Wanting To Make Jump To OTR?

Topic 17052 | Page 1

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Roadpilot's Comment
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Hey Guys,

I'm new here and in need of some info. I've been a driver for the "Dog" (Greyhound) for just under 10 years working out of the Northeast. I'm wondering if that time will hurt me trying to make the jump to OTR. I know we don't have the best rep among truck drivers so I'm not certain if it would hurt me when I start applying to companies in the future. Also I'm loooking at either Prime, Knight or Stevens.....any idea which one will keep me out of the Northeast? I don't mind having to do the Northeast but I've been doing it in the bus for so long I rather seea different part of the country

Thanks in advance

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.

LDRSHIP's Comment
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Welcome to TT. Since I am a rookie, I don't know anything about what driving a bus will do for you. But, I wish you luck.

Drive Safe and God Speed

G-Town's Comment
member avatar

Welcome Jason! I have been a Greyhound customer many times, you and your fellow drivers do a great job of safely managing the people and the road. It's the seats in your buses we don't care for, not the drivers.

I honestly do not think your experience will hurt you, especially if you have a clean driving record. In some cases your experience and knowledge in the areas of HOS rules, basic road sense, airbrakes, and some aspects of the pre-trip inspection may actually benefit you. However it is likely that you will need to go through schooling/training with any of the major companies you mentioned.

Reviewing the information available by clicking any of the links in the top tool bar will greatly assist you in making informed decisions and preparing you with realistic expectations.

For starters you might want to check these out:

Paid CDL Training Programs

Apply For Truck Driving Jobs

Let us know how else we can assist you, good luck and safe travels.

Pre-trip Inspection:

A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.

Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.

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.
Steve L.'s Comment
member avatar

I went through CDL school with a former bus driver and he got the same pre-hires everyone else did. He encouraged me to apply to bus companies, but I really like that the freight can't ***** at me or complain about where I choose to stop. :)

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.

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.

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.

Sambo's Comment
member avatar

Knight! Knight! Knight!....sorry, I can't help myself... embarrassed.gif

😉

G-Town's Comment
member avatar

Knight! Knight! Knight!....sorry, I can't help myself... embarrassed.gif

😉

That's great Sambo...and you may well be 100% on board with Knight. Please if you can, describe to the OP why you feel this way and the path you took to get there. That would be very helpful to him and others.

Thanks.

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