And Now For The Scary Part...
Topic 18149 | Page 1
Arizona does not require anything but: Straight Line, Offset and Parallel. Never did a 45 or 90 til I was out with my Mentor. You'll be fine!
Well I guess it’s time to start applying. I’m very curious about the “Apply for Truck Driving Jobs” that truckingtruth.com offers.
Doesn't your School offer Job Placement? That's where I would start.
Nacho, most schools have a time when company recruiters come in and tell you wonderful things about their company.
As far as the Apply For Truck Driving Jobs link, Brett should know, but does it matter? I used that and several companies contacted me, even an independent recruiter. (I went with the independent guy to sign on with Swift.)
If a recruiter calls and you've never heard of the company, you can either say "I'll call you back" and do some research, or if they're not what your looking for, just say "No thanks".
Nacho,...dude you need to relax. Fear is only good as a motivator to succeed and sharpen one's focus, when it becomes a distraction, it can be dangerous and counter-productive. Don't let that happen. You will be required to road-train with any company willing to hire novice, student drivers. They all know how to get you from where you are now, to where you need to be...
In addition to what Errol sent you, check these links out:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
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.
First sorry about the thread hijack. (#thread-hijack)
Speaking of phone calls. I got a call from Western Express yesterday. Wanting to know if I was looking for a job. This recruiter was far nicer than the first one I talked to while in school. The one I talked to while I was in school, gave me the cold shoulder blow off, just flatly told me to wait to contact him until after I was finished with school. I immediately crossed WE off my list.
I politely informed this new recruiter I was already employed. I asked 2 questions. Do they have local runs around Nashville and do they have any WalMart dedicated. The answer was no on both. I thanked her for her time and consideration. I politely declined at that time.
Its normal what you are feeling..and all that stuff will be part of the OTR training. That is one of the reasons training can take so long....cause despite what many think when they get a CDL....they know nothing. I would be concerned if you weren't a little scared. That would mean you are stupid and could be reckless out here. Which could kill yourself others and hey...even us...cause we are on these roads too.
So thanks for being scared...now I know you won't kill me. Hahaha
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.
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Well, I’m all done with my schooling and currently holding my CDL-A. I'm proud of myself and I’m scared as all get out! Back in July I started my research into pursuing this career and stared CDL school in mid-November. It’s been an incredible journey so far and, while I’m excited about the future, I’m also really frightened! I KNOW that I can survive the aspect of long days on the road and being away from home. In fact, I very much WELCOME that part. My professionalism and dedication to do a job correctly, safely and efficiently also poses no concern to me whatsoever.
I guess I’m mostly afraid of just not being ABLE to do the job. I’m hoping this is normal to feel this way.
I’m not sure what I’m hoping to get from this post. I guess some reassurance that just merely GETTING a CDL has NOTHING to do with the job, and companies know this and accept this and to not worry because it’ll be the company that trains me for the REAL elements of truck driving. Does it matter that since my state requires skills testing in only straight line, offset, and parallel parking that I never once even attempted a 45 or 90 degree alley dock? Does it matter that I have no clue how a truck, in practice, reacts when heading up or down and incline? Never moved tandems? Never coupled or uncoupled a tailer?…and a whole lot more….sigh…
I want to thank everybody who contributes on this site. Reading your thoughts and advice is extremely helpful.
Well I guess it’s time to start applying. I’m very curious about the “Apply for Truck Driving Jobs” that truckingtruth.com offers. Can somebody tell me what companies that actually goes to? I’ve been doing a lot of research on companies and have a pretty good idea of what I’m looking for, but I’m also open to seeing what some that I may not even thought of has to say. (I just don’t want to be overwhelmed or waste anybody’s time if I already know it’s not going to be a good fit).
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".