Exdriver Wanting To Get Back On The Road.
Topic 1879 | Page 1
Hey Dennis, Welcome to the forum!
I don't know if you still have a CDL or not, but basically no one will touch you without "recent experience". You will have to go through a truck driving school, or take a refresher course which would be cheaper if you still have your CDL. Another option is to go through Company-Sponsored Training . If you'll follow that link it will show you various companies willing to train you if you will agree to work for them for one year after the training. It is an economical way to get back in to the industry, and some of them (I'm thinking of Prime) will start you out at a very good rate of pay.
Best of luck to ya, and please let us know if there is anything else you need to know about. We'd be glad to help you get back behind the wheel and chasing that white line!
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.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
I was in the same boat. I still had my CDL but not recent full time driving. Thought it was down to what Old School said, but at the last minute a company said they'd take me and the road test would determine if I'd go out with a trainer for 2 or 5 weeks. Two weeks was the minimum. You have to admit, skills are rusty and times have changed so training is definitely in order. I did pretty good on my road test, went out with a trainer for 2 weeks to knock the rust off and get back in the groove, qualified solo again and am happily motoring on with a company that has thus far impressed me very much. Not only have they done everything they said, they put our agreement in writing so there's no question about it, but they gave me credit for ALL my previous experience once I finished up re-training and got my own truck. So far it's been a really good outfit. PM me if you are interested in them. I will say I'm not impressed much with the truck I got, but I chose it, and they have 250 more brand new ones on the way, due in December. They are finishing up upgrading the fleet after acquiring a smaller carrier. I am confident my next truck will be a winner and truthfully I can't really fuss about this one, I've driven a lot worse and when I have an issue they do jump right on it.
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.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thanks for responding. I do still have a cdl. My next question is about a bad report on DAC. From last company I was with. Seems the companies I recently contacted. Wouldn't or couldn't hire me, because of it. So why would that be?
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.
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.
You can get a copy of your dac report...and until you do, or we know kinda whats on it...then we just have to guess. BUT....there IS a company out there for ya...we just need to help ya find 'em !!!
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.
Thanks for responding. I do still have a cdl. My next question is about a bad report on DAC. From last company I was with. Seems the companies I recently contacted. Wouldn't or couldn't hire me, because of it. So why would that be?
We can't answer that. Obviously there's something bad on that report that the company didnt like so they turned you down because of it. You need to get a copy of your DAC report and look exactly what's on there yourself. You need to see what the company sees so you two can both be on the same page. Definitely find out what's on there asap.
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.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
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.
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Want to know how to get back to driving truck after being out for 7+ yrs.?