Can You Get A Class B Job With No Experience?
Topic 17161 | Page 1
Liam, it is true that as an inexperienced driver you could find a local job. But that is rare. There's too much going on with driving 18 wheels for a company to let a newbie do the driving.
The major carriers main line of work involved OTR driving. It's what you have to do if you go that route.
You wonder:
I'm planning on attending trucking school in a month so ive been looking at jobs(Class A and B) just to see what's available
I'm not sure if im doing something wrong or not looking in the right places.
You need to have a job lined up as soon as possible. Keep in mind that Paid CDL Training Programs can get you driving with little or of pocket. At least start collecting pre-trip hire letters.
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
Are you doing something wrong? Other than wanting a non-OTR job, no. Are you looking on the wrong places? Well the places where you want to look are rare.
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.
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.
When I hear class B, I think school bus. I did the math once, I think they bring home around 20 maybe a little less. That's what I plan to do during retirement
School bus companies are always hiring and advertise training to get your license. Plus you get summer vacation off every year and two weeks off for Christmas. If it paid more I'd do it tomorrow hahaha
School bus companies are always hiring and advertise training to get your license. Plus you get summer vacation off every year and two weeks off for Christmas. If it paid more I'd do it tomorrow hahaha
I can't stand my OWN KIDS - you think I want to deal with 30 of SOMEONE ELSES? I'd be like - "hey kids, are you ready to DIE". OOOOOPS - already been done.
Class B would be straight trucks, dump trucks, etc. - Class A would be combination vehicles (Tractor Trailer). Class A licenses you to drive ALL OTHER CLASSES of CMV's - though passenger and school bus are separate endorsements (and passenger requires a pre-trip and road test in a BUS also).
As far as "local jobs" go - you might have better luck finding a warehouse/delivery job that requires a Class B license, and little to no experience. You may have to start in the warehouse and "train into" the driving part of the job though.
In any case - if you going to attend trucking school - GO FOR THE CLASS A TRAINING. You can drive a straight (Class B) vehicle, and it will create future opportunities...
Rick
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
Liam, it is true that as an inexperienced driver you could find a local job. But that is rare. There's too much going on with driving 18 wheels for a company to let a newbie do the driving.
The major carriers main line of work involved OTR driving. It's what you have to do if you go that route.
You wonder:
I'm planning on attending trucking school in a month so ive been looking at jobs(Class A and B) just to see what's available
I'm not sure if im doing something wrong or not looking in the right places.
You need to have a job lined up as soon as possible. Keep in mind that Paid CDL Training Programs can get you driving with little or of pocket. At least start collecting pre-trip hire letters.
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
Are you doing something wrong? Other than wanting a non-OTR job, no. Are you looking on the wrong places? Well the places where you want to look are rare.
If i got to go otr i dont mind. I qualify for a grant that pays for 2/3rds of my tuition. Only reason i havent been looking at prehire letters is because i was trying to get a ltr job but its a little uncertain at the moment. That being said im waiting one more local job then ill start looking at companies. I'll probably end up going with the company who has the best home time. I'm not hurting for money or need a whole ton of it so im pretty flexible with where i go. I just dont understand the point of class B jobs existing if most require experience or willingness to get class A
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.
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.
Prehire:
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.
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^Serious question. I'm planning on attending trucking school in a month so ive been looking at jobs(Class A and B) just to see what's available and i have found not a single job sans the usual Swift, Werner, etc that would hire someone starting out. Every class B job seems to want a year plus experience as well. I'm not sure if im doing something wrong or not looking in the right places. Frankly im not interested in being otr for weeks at a time and im not doing it for uber amounts of money. Just making 20k a year would be a step up.
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.