Am I Nuts? Beginning Truck Driving At 57!
Topic 2032 | Page 3
Like many in the good ol USA, I find myself unemployed and looking for employment. Who can miss all the ads for truck driving? It seems to be a wide open field for sure.
My back ground is ministry and military, I have served as a missionary (Eastern NC and Eastern VA), an Associate Pastor and Pastor. With so many young men with Masters degrees looking for churches to serve, and myself only having a BS, it has been difficult to find a place to serve, so I guess, God is sending me in a different direction.
So, I contacted the local Community College and they don't have an opening until March, I chose a Private CDL program to begin on December 2. I had already gotten my CDL B, so I have a headstart anyway.
I headed down to the school, signed the papers, went and got my DOT Medical (didn't need one with my CDL B for school bus), drivers record and paid my deposit, then I came home and went online.
That is when I began to wonder, what am I getting into? My first forum reading was from a husband/wife team with the dispatcher from hell. Boy, did that get me thinking. I was wondering if I better see about a refund from the school. But I kept reading more forums.
Now don't think me naive, I know this will require work, study, family separation, and much more that I have no idea what to antipate yet, but will learn. I also know that people posting will always have different opinions about companies, training, rule and regs, so I will continue to be positive, honest and truthful in how I view training, hiring, company training and every thing else.
I look forward to your replies and thoughts.
Until then...
Jim
I to am just starting a new career after 20 years in retail. Just filled out an application to start school with central refrigerated. I am also doing truckingtruths High road to trucking on the internet to try and get a headstart. before hopefully starting class in march
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.
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.
Dispatcher:
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.
Like many in the good ol USA, I find myself unemployed and looking for employment. Who can miss all the ads for truck driving? It seems to be a wide open field for sure.
My back ground is ministry and military, I have served as a missionary (Eastern NC and Eastern VA), an Associate Pastor and Pastor. With so many young men with Masters degrees looking for churches to serve, and myself only having a BS, it has been difficult to find a place to serve, so I guess, God is sending me in a different direction.
So, I contacted the local Community College and they don't have an opening until March, I chose a Private CDL program to begin on December 2. I had already gotten my CDL B, so I have a headstart anyway.
I headed down to the school, signed the papers, went and got my DOT Medical (didn't need one with my CDL B for school bus), drivers record and paid my deposit, then I came home and went online.
That is when I began to wonder, what am I getting into? My first forum reading was from a husband/wife team with the dispatcher from hell. Boy, did that get me thinking. I was wondering if I better see about a refund from the school. But I kept reading more forums.
Now don't think me naive, I know this will require work, study, family separation, and much more that I have no idea what to antipate yet, but will learn. I also know that people posting will always have different opinions about companies, training, rule and regs, so I will continue to be positive, honest and truthful in how I view training, hiring, company training and every thing else.
I look forward to your replies and thoughts.
Until then...
Jim
im new also and scared
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.
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.
Dispatcher:
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.
Twenty three hours of class left until I take my DMV Roadtest on Thursday, Feb 6. To be honest, I tired of class and really want to get going.
I leave for the Atlanta area on Sunday to begin working with Roehl on Monday.
Class has been fun, just seems it has gone on for ever. After 1 week of backing, we hit the road to begin driving. My team in the truck voted me to begin first with this new concept of "Double Clutching." Well all my fear of that was for nought. Nailed it right from the beginning. Downshifting took a little more practice however. But our awesome instructor taught us look at the speedometer and if you see 45, add that together to get 9 and that is the gear to downshift to. So, 35 is 8, 25 is 7. That tip was perfect. Nailed downshifting. Next was turns in the city, not to bad since I had driven a bus some.
So, school is almost over, I'll keep you posted on Company Training.
Until then.....
Papa Jim
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Double Clutching:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
Hey Jim,
Like yourself, I am 57, prior navy (aircrew), and am leaving the ministry. It's time for me to start the process of fulfilling a dream I've had since I was a kid, drive a big rig. I, however, hope to go to a company sponsored cdl school if I can pass the medical part...nothing seriously wrong just arthroscopic shoulder surgery last year. The only problem there is it can take the VA 3 weeks to get the required paperwork filled out and back to me. I haven't decided on a company completely but am leaning towards Roehl Transport. They were the first to send me a pre-hire letter.
Blessings Bill
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.
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.
Bill, I went with Roehl and so far I am satisfied.
Just got home following my orientation and training with a trainer. It has been a long 28 days, but it all went well. I grinned a few gears in the trainer's truck, but I think he expected that some. He was a real good guy from Jacksonville, Fl.
Got my truck which I was called 20 minutes after theassignment and told it was sold. So I have to head north when my home time is over to turn it in. Hope to get something similar.
Well, thanks to everyone who has read my log and a special thanks to those who replied.
See you on the road.....
Papa Jim
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Jim,
Nicely done. Great information and tips. I am looking forward to beginning my career, still have some hurdles to jump but I'll get there. You know I think what is helpful, in addition to all the great tips and information you and others have been sharing and providing, is having a great support network at home. My wife and two daughters are excited about my decision to change careers, they are behind me and that speaks volumes in accomplishing any of it.
Thanks again,
Jim
Papa Jim if you are still out there I'm starting out at age 49.
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I am in the same boat. I am a little younger but not that much. Well almost 20 years but who is splitting hairs right? Anyway, us 40+ guys and gals have advantages. I am a career Paramedic. My 20 something partner likes to drive so I let him. I have to constantly remind him, "Don't let other driver's actions affect the way you drive." "Why are we speeding to go to lunch?" "Remember the roads are wet. We are in a heavier vehicle than a car. Back off a bit." Remember when we were younger and nothing bad could happen to us? Our experience in life has taught us things that only age teaches. Keep on trucking man! I don't plan on slowing down until I hit that final resting place wherever and whenever that may be.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated