Want My Cdl

Topic 22197 | Page 1

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Charles E.'s Comment
member avatar

Okay I want to start a career in trucking. Now please keep the comments respectful and legit. I am just wondering what my chances are if I have two class a mistdmeeaner pot possession 1) 2011 2 2016

I don’t smoke anymore. Now the school I’m gonna take is in Mitchell South Dakota which takes 4 months and right now it’s 4 more months til it starts in August will I have a hard time getting a career with this? I also plan to try and pardon my 2016 charge they say I’m eligible to submit a application. I’m worried. I’m not a bad person.

BMI:

Body mass index (BMI)

BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:

  • Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
  • Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit

It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.

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.
Old School's Comment
member avatar

Charles, your current approach gives you four months of time to work on this little problem. Here's what I would do were I you. I would ditch the current plan and start applying at every Paid CDL Training Program I could find. The reason for that approach is that when they invite you to come to their program they are going to have already looked at your background record, and you are already going to have told them about it. If they are interested, they will invite you to their school and will hire you upon successful completion of the program. Forget about trying to get it expunged or pardoned - they will still find out about it - they are very creative when it comes to background searches. I have witnessed multiple times where a new entry level driver got sent home from orientation due to the fact that they didn't tell about a past conviction because it had been expunged. Honesty is a big thing in the hiring process for this career. The least little bit of deception will send you home real quick. They have the ability to find anything that is or has been there.

Here's some reading material on the Benefits Of Paid CDL Training. Take a look at that information, I think you will find it is your best option at this point.

The thing that you want to avoid is going to a private school or a community college program and then not being able to get a job due to your background issues. The approach I laid out above saves you the unnecessary expense and the frustration of wasting your time. I'm not saying you are wasting your time, in fact I think you can get a job as a truck driver. I would just take a more solid approach to it than you have laid out.

Here's some more helpful information as you get started in pursuit of this rewarding career...

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.
Tim F.'s Comment
member avatar

Charles...ditto what Old School said. Good luck.

000's Comment
member avatar

I have 4 misdemeanors & followed Old School’s advice. I applied to Prime & was trained by them. I’m now a CDL holder training on how their system works. It’s called TNT. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

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.

TNT:

Trainer-N-Trainee

Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.

The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.

The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.

Charles E.'s Comment
member avatar

Well I assume the four mistddmeaner didn’t affect you getting hired at prime I assume right? I don’t feel I’ll have a hard time finding a job since you have and I assume the pay is good correct ? With the school I go to is 4 months so the experience I’ll get from that school upon graduating and showing that I attended school wold show them I’m in good standing I don’t smoke anymore

I have 4 misdemeanors & followed Old School’s advice. I applied to Prime & was trained by them. I’m now a CDL holder training on how their system works. It’s called TNT. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

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.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

TNT:

Trainer-N-Trainee

Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.

The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.

The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.

Rob T.'s Comment
member avatar

Well I assume the four mistddmeaner didn’t affect you getting hired at prime I assume right? I don’t feel I’ll have a hard time finding a job since you have and I assume the pay is good correct ? With the school I go to is 4 months so the experience I’ll get from that school upon graduating and showing that I attended school wold show them I’m in good standing I don’t smoke anymore

double-quotes-start.png

I have 4 misdemeanors & followed Old School’s advice. I applied to Prime & was trained by them. I’m now a CDL holder training on how their system works. It’s called TNT. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

double-quotes-end.png

Not all crimes are equal. I don't know the charges Reyn had and im not accusing him of it being either of these, but Companies look at say.....a dui (misdemeanor) and domestic violence (misdemeanor) very differently. Alcohol and drug charges are looked at much more negatively . The Only way to know for Sure is to apply to several carriers being completely honest with them. As old school said really look at company sponsored programs as you won't be out if pocket money for school then find out nobody will hire you. Also, school is really only teaching you enough to pass your CDL exam. Yes, you will get extra time behind the wheel but you're still going to go through the same amount of training.

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.

DUI:

Driving Under the Influence

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

TNT:

Trainer-N-Trainee

Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.

The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.

The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.

G-Town's Comment
member avatar

Charles did you read Old School's advice? It seems as if you have this all figured out, yet your approach is the opposite to his advice.

To reiterate:

He strongly urged you to take the path of Paid CDL Training Programs. He clearly described the reasons supporting this. I completely agree with him.

Contrary to what you want to believe, attending the private school and earning your CDL doesn't prove to any trucking company you are in good standing. Your last possession charge is rather recent...don't assume "getting hired" is automatic. They may require more time to pass since the charge occurred.

Please reread Old School's instructions and let us know if you have any questions or require further clarification.

Good luck!

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.
Truckin Along With Kearse's Comment
member avatar

Contrary to what you want to believe, attending the private school and earning your CDL doesn't prove to any trucking company you are in good standing.

This. All it proves is you had the money to pay for it. They probably wouldnt even want you to go to another school because then you have to unlearn everything someone else taught you and do it their way. Also, my company has incoming CDL holders do 10,000 more miles than those who went through their own schooling. Sounds like they really care about that CDL huh?

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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Workhorse 's Comment
member avatar

Hey Charles, Good luck to you. The advice that you're getting from these folks is excellent and on par with what you are going to encounter. Most companies are going to require 2 things when it comes to drug use 1. Time 2. Substance Abuse Program (SAP). I don't have a record for drug use but I do have 1 failed test that I report to carriers I apply to, me having a completed SAP certificate is what got me a pre-hire letter and training within the company. I recommend that you look into approved SAP Programs. I have written about such programs in my past so just look for my name (Workhorse) and read up.

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.

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.

Charles E.'s Comment
member avatar

I should go with the advice you guys are giving so if I do the paid programming. Should I talk to the requirter or just apply first which will have a better effect

Charles did you read Old School's advice? It seems as if you have this all figured out, yet your approach is the opposite to his advice.

To reiterate:

He strongly urged you to take the path of Paid CDL Training Programs. He clearly described the reasons supporting this. I completely agree with him.

Contrary to what you want to believe, attending the private school and earning your CDL doesn't prove to any trucking company you are in good standing. Your last possession charge is rather recent...don't assume "getting hired" is automatic. They may require more time to pass since the charge occurred.

Please reread Old School's instructions and let us know if you have any questions or require further clarification.

Good luck!

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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