I bet you after the first week with a trainer you will be wishing you could just get your truck and roll solo. You'll be alright, I say go for it.👍🏼
I agree with Chris!
The hardest thing you'll face will be adjusting to the lifestyle. You will pick up on the driving part very quickky while running with the trainer.
Most companies want to see at least an 80 HOUR REFRESHER.
The private schools I contacted - wanted more than I paid for a 9 week full time 320 hour course at my local VoTech in 09 (1,900 vs $3K, for a frikkin REFRESHER).
So 80 hours being 2 weeks + $3K out of pocket - OR - take the 4 week course and not work - OR - get on as an "already licensed student" at a flatbed company. You can do the training - minus the "getting your CDL" portion of the company course.
I had one company (non-flatbed) told me they would road test me, and if I could wangle through it - they would put me out with a trainer for 40K miles, then set me loose solo.
So your choices are: FInd a company that will onboard you for 30-40K for paid training. PAY to do a course or refresher - or sign on with a company as a student driver that already has a CDL. Lucky for you - you're in an area you can GET A HIRE FROM (as opposed to ME).
If you don't have your heart set on Flatbed - try Abeline Motor Express in Richmond. They'll send you out with a trainer for 3-4 wks with pay - then cut you loose solo.
Rick
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
Thanks to everyone for the great insight. I really appreciate it.
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Thanks to all for the wealth of information available on this site. Truly an excellent resource! I am strongly considering getting back into commercial driving. Here's my situation: I received my Class A CDL in 1998, having earned it based on prior landscape / construction driving experience with the help of a local lumber yard. I then drove a day cab and 45' flatbed locally for 2-3 years delivering building materials, I then did some intermodal , and regional vans & flats in a sleeper cab untill 2005, then drove recycle trucks and very small combination unit (day cab w/ 30' flat) delivering new dumpsters until 2007. I have not driven commercially since 2007 but I HAVE kept my CDL class A and medical card current. I went back to school, earned a few degrees, and been working in an office...can't stand it any longer (due to financial and other reasons). I've tugged equipment trailers and camper trailers around with my pickup since then so I can still back up (LOL). I'm looking at going to a refresher course offered by a big company to get back into regional flatbed work. It's a short "refresher" course (2-3 days), then 4 weeks with a trainer (No charge if I work for them for 9 months, if not its $2500). All automatics in their fleet, so shifting will not be a concern. Do you think I will get back in the groove quick enough? My guess is the company doesn't set people up to fail since they are paying to get you there, etc. I explained to the recruiter my concerns and they say the program is designed for people who have been out of a truck for at least 2 years or who have never used their CDL at all. This route is appealing to me since it would get me behind the wheel solo in about 5 weeks. OR, would I be better off going to the local CDL school near my home and taking the full 4 week course in a 10 speed? (the refresher course at this school is not an option as it costs much more than the full course which is available through a grant in my state for a cost of $1500 to me). The big disadvantage here is being out of work for the 4 weeks while taking the course. So...you think I'm worrying too much? Any advice? Thanks.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
Intermodal:
Transporting freight using two or more transportation modes. An example would be freight that is moved by truck from the shipper's dock to the rail yard, then placed on a train to the next rail yard, and finally returned to a truck for delivery to the receiving customer.
In trucking when you hear someone refer to an intermodal job they're normally talking about hauling shipping containers to and from the shipyards and railyards.