Quitting Regular Job For Tucking
Topic 20935 | Page 1
I would not quit my job until I had another one already lined up. Last day of old job is on Friday, first day of new job is on Monday. Unless you can afford to be out of work, and want to give yourself time off, keep your job until you have day one of orientation scheduled with the CDL-sponsored company. The schools all have rolling entrance dates, so once you're hired by a CDL sponsored trucking company, you can work with the recruiter on scheduling your first day, leaving yourself time to turn in your two weeks notice and working out those last two weeks.
The day you turn 21 start filling out applications, beginning with this one.
If you haven't already seen it, here's a good link to company-sponsored CDL schools: Company sponsored training programs.
Again, you shouldn't turn in your two weeks notice until you have been excepted into one of these programs. The recruiters' job is to put butts in seats, so they're going to try to get you into their school as soon as possible, but there's usually a new class every week or every-other-week, so you shouldn't let that jeopardize leaving your current company on good terms.
Go ahead and begin now working through the High Road CDL Training Program, it's the very best CDL prep material available, and it's free!!
Best of luck to you! Keep coming back to this site for any questions you may have; there's plenty of experienced drivers here willing and able to share their advice and experiences.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Pete's advice is spot-on. Have all your ducks in a row before giving notice. And yes two weeks is customary.
Good luck!
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Should I quit my regular job before getting hired in a CDL sponsored company? I'm currently 20 turn 21 on November 26 and for the past 3 years this is what I wanted to do. I want to start as close as possible to my 21st birthday. Obviously I'm not quitting now but I'd want to leave my current job on a good note and give them enough notice. Would it be wise to give my current company 2 weeks prior to my 21st birthday that way once I turn 21 I'm free and can start when the new company wants me to? Or should I just wait until after my birthday and get pre hires first?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
Pre Hires:
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.