CDL School Application Timeline Question

Topic 19971 | Page 1

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Fleetwood Mac's Comment
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Hey guys,

I'm am looking to enter company-sponsored CDL training the beginning of August. In the meantime I'm studying hard for all the endorsements as well as the pre-trip inspection , and have everything pretty much down.

I am waiting for my passport application to be approved, which should be in the next week or two (around the beginning of July). Once I get my birth certificate back from them I will be able to go get my DOT physical and background check for Hazmat rolling.

My question is, how far ahead do I need to begin the application process if my target date is the beginning of August (5-6 weeks away)? Does it vary widely by company or is there a basic ballpark average?

Thanks in advance!

Pre-trip Inspection:

A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.

Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.

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.

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Big Scott's Comment
member avatar

In most cases once the company approves you, you would head out within one week. Some companies may take longer. If you have three to ten years of verifiable work experience, clean background, and clean license it will be easy for them to approve you. I hope that helps. Good luck to you.
Fleetwood Mac's Comment
member avatar

Really appreciate it, Big Scott. Does help, thank you!!
icecold24k's Comment
member avatar

If you are unsure what company you want to go with at the moment, I would go ahead and be reaching out to recruiters gathering as much information about all of them as possible so you don't feel like you are needing to make a rushed decision. Then when you narrow it down to a few you are really interested in then go ahead and apply and let them know your timeframe for you to be ready to come out for orientation.

Fleetwood Mac's Comment
member avatar

Great info icecold, I will get on it. Had a feeling it would be like that; a matter of narrowing it down. Thank you so much brother!

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated
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