Had To Downgrade Class A TX CDL. I Want My CDL Back. What Do I Do Here?
Topic 18910 | Page 2
Crstuartfl, where you live is up to you. Brett listed what you might say are a states with the best freight business. All major carriers have many terminals there.
Generally cost of living is lower in the South, so you could stick with Dixie Land. Location safety, if you mean personal safety, is more connected with your urban/ suburban/ rural choice.
As for type of freight, just focus on Dry Van , the most common type of trailer. You'll stay as busy as the next guy with dry van. We have plenty of resources for choosing a school:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Article Category: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Truck Driving School"
and companies:
- 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"
A lot of pre-hire work if taken care of by going to a Company- Sponsored Training Program.
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.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.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.
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.
Sounds great. Well you know where to find us so keep us updated and we'll help out as things progress.
Sounds great. Well you know where to find us so keep us updated and we'll help out as things progress.
Will do. I surely appreciate all the suggestions. Now I have an idea where to start. Or in my case, restart. LOL
If you get the address situated and on with a major carrier, some have mail boxes you can rent at the terminal. I know prime does this as I have one in Springfield. Although, getting home every 2 weeks is possible, it would be difficult with many major companies. You shouldn't fear driving nationwide, it's not as scary as some may crack it up to be. I am just finishing my first year, been thru NYC and everywhere else the northeast has to offer, been on 80 and 90 through snow/wind and just delivered 15 miles from downtown Oakland this morning. Just stay alert and know what the truck can(t) do.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
If you get the address situated and on with a major carrier, some have mail boxes you can rent at the terminal. I know prime does this as I have one in Springfield. Although, getting home every 2 weeks is possible, it would be difficult with many major companies. You shouldn't fear driving nationwide, it's not as scary as some may crack it up to be. I am just finishing my first year, been thru NYC and everywhere else the northeast has to offer, been on 80 and 90 through snow/wind and just delivered 15 miles from downtown Oakland this morning. Just stay alert and know what the truck can(t) do.
I was considering Prime as my reboot into the industry. Do they have any up front costs for CDL schooling? If so, would they let me advance the money and pay them back during training or when I get my CDL and start officially driving for them? Also, would they get me out to Springfield MO? If not then I probably need to relocate there myself.
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.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
I was considering Prime as my reboot into the industry. Do they have any up front costs for CDL schooling? If so, would they let me advance the money and pay them back during training or when I get my CDL and start officially driving for them? Also, would they get me out to Springfield MO? If not then I probably need to relocate there myself.
We have quite a few drivers here from Prime and they'll be happy to answer specifics for you. I just wanted to point out also that we have pages and pages of reviews on every one of these programs here:
Company-Sponsored Training Program Reviews
They include upfront costs, hiring requirements, the training itinerary, pay, and all kinds of stuff.
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 just wanted to point out also that we have pages and pages of reviews on every one of these programs here:
Company-Sponsored Training Program Reviews
They include upfront costs, hiring requirements, the training itinerary, pay, and all kinds of stuff.
Prime requires too much for me in terms of upfront costs. The most appealing of all of your selections to me is Jim Palmer Trucking, and Maverick Transportation (If I do Maverick, I would do their temp-controlled division). Either one of these require no upfront costs whatsoever, and I more than likely will be moving to a state where there are more opportunities. I think Iowa seems to be the best overall bet with the research I have done so far since we last talked on here. Also, I would like to know: Are there any community colleges that would help me get my CDL? In other words, I could get a grant and be able to pay the license costs and everything else? That way when I apply to a company, I will already have my CDL and then maybe I can get back with my Co Driver and go back to work for Werner? That would also be the easier option. If not, then do either of my above choices, stick with them until I pay the contract off and then move on to Werner. Which would be best for me to do?
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.
Sounds great. Well you know where to find us so keep us updated and we'll help out as things progress.
Hey Brett, I had another question: When I go to test for my CDL Permit, will I be able to take all my endorsement tests that day also or will I have to wait til I have my full CDL before I can test for endorsements?
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.
I plugged a Stuart, FL zip code (34994) into the job search app on Schneider's website. They list several jobs available. One includes paid CDL refresher training. You will have to work there for a certain amount of time and then owe nothing for training. Schneider Link
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.
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Iowa I think is. If you are passionate about trucking, that seems like a good place. Especially Walcott with Iowa 80, the world's largest truck stop. I will research each one though to see which would be the best. Whichever one has the best all around stats, that is the one I will go with. Just about whatever I have to do to get out of my current situation, I will be glad to do.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.