Think I Want To Be A Trucker!!!!
Topic 22567 | Page 1
With a reckless driving charge barely over a year old it is going to be difficult. All I can say you are going to seriously rethink how you drive.
Before paying for trucking school, you should look into Paid CDL Training Programs. When a company accepts you into their program, you are usually conditionally hired. I went through CFI's program and here is a link to my CFI training diary. You should also look at
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
As Patrick said that reckless driving less than one year ago will hurt you. If you spend the money and get your CDL then can't get hired, you are out that money. Why? You won't have any experience and by the time a couple of years pass and you are hire able you will have to go through training all over again.
My advise, don't get any more tickets and wait three years.
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.
I have a speeding ticket from 2014 that says 15 mph over the limit. I was actually doing 30 over but the cop cut me a break.
I was accepted to 7 major trucking company orientations. A few of them flat out told me since it’s over 3 years old it is not if a concern to them.
You might have some trouble with major carriers but you will find a job. If your going to a PTDI certified school they might have job placement assistance. I know with my school I am guaranteed job placement for life.
Anything is possible. But as others here have stated, you may find some opposition to obtaining a CDL Driving job which might be a good "fit" for you with Reckless Driving types of incidents. However, I can attest personally that I had some driving infractions over the years (speeding, reckless driving, fleeing an officer, using a cell phone while driving, etc.) which DID NOT affect my being accepted into Driving School nor obtaining employment as a Driver.
Check the specifics with your potential school - they should be able to give you hones answers regarding your situation. But if you don't try, surely nothing will happen........
Be encouraged. Driving as a CDL holder is a prominent job with High Expectations as well as Requirements that MUST be met. But also be aware that there are always "exceptions" to the rule per se. Anything is possible!
I have lived it and am doing so now.
The Driving field is very much in need of Professionals.......find out if you can pursue it and if you can, do it whole-heartedly. And be prepared to do whatever is necessary, whether it is waiting 3 years or moving forward now. Many specifics are involved and each has work-around possibilities often that are not readily obvious. You MUST confirm (take action) before choosing either way. Peace to you.
Why do you think there are so many driving jobs available?
con·firm
/kənˈfərm/
verb
verb: confirm; 3rd person present: confirms; past tense: confirmed; past participle: confirmed; gerund or present participle: confirming
1. establish the truth or correctness of (something previously believed, suspected, or feared to be the case).
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.
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.
Thanks for the feed back... all is taken into consideration appreciate cha!😉
Anything is possible. But as others here have stated, you may find some opposition to obtaining a CDL Driving job which might be a good "fit" for you with Reckless Driving types of incidents. However, I can attest personally that I had some driving infractions over the years (speeding, reckless driving, fleeing an officer, using a cell phone while driving, etc.) which DID NOT affect my being accepted into Driving School nor obtaining employment as a Driver.
Check the specifics with your potential school - they should be able to give you hones answers regarding your situation. But if you don't try, surely nothing will happen........
Be encouraged. Driving as a CDL holder is a prominent job with High Expectations as well as Requirements that MUST be met. But also be aware that there are always "exceptions" to the rule per se. Anything is possible!
I have lived it and am doing so now.
The Driving field is very much in need of Professionals.......find out if you can pursue it and if you can, do it whole-heartedly. And be prepared to do whatever is necessary, whether it is waiting 3 years or moving forward now. Many specifics are involved and each has work-around possibilities often that are not readily obvious. You MUST confirm (take action) before choosing either way. Peace to you.
Why do you think there are so many driving jobs available?
con·firm
/kənˈfərm/
verb
verb: confirm; 3rd person present: confirms; past tense: confirmed; past participle: confirmed; gerund or present participle: confirming
1. establish the truth or correctness of (something previously believed, suspected, or feared to be the case).
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.
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.
INk think very long and serious about this decision. It’s not a traditional job, it’s a lifestyle. You live from shippers to truck stops to receivers , back & forth. There may be companies that might hire you with your record but they may not pay as much or other trade offs. You can wait until your license gets clean & research your butt off to find the right company that fits your needs. Or you can jump in head first & work your way up to your goals, whatever they may be. Being a mom & being away from your family may be a huge consideration for you to ponder also.
Personally, I’d stay away from CDL school just because they are a for profit institution. They’ll say whatever it takes to get you to sign on the dotted line. The company paid training, if your are upfront & are accepted seems like the most plausible route to take.
There’s plenty of resources on this site for you to do extensive research. The company paid training reviews, the training diaries section, the High Road Training to prepare you for the permit & so much more. Ask as many questions as possible. Folks on here are very knowledgeable & helpful. Just don’t expect sugar coating. Sometimes bluntness is necessary with all the misinformation out there.
Best of 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.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
Thanks for the info splitter... im looking for a long term career.. My kids are grown and as of now i work about 12 hr days and rarely see them on the weekends... sucks but thats been my life for the past 6 yearsish .. time for me to do me and invest in myself for the first time in my life... im excited and im gonna see where this journey takes me... thanks for the well wishes!👍
INk think very long and serious about this decision. It’s not a traditional job, it’s a lifestyle. You live from shippers to truck stops to receivers , back & forth. There may be companies that might hire you with your record but they may not pay as much or other trade offs. You can wait until your license gets clean & research your butt off to find the right company that fits your needs. Or you can jump in head first & work your way up to your goals, whatever they may be. Being a mom & being away from your family may be a huge consideration for you to ponder also.
Personally, I’d stay away from CDL school just because they are a for profit institution. They’ll say whatever it takes to get you to sign on the dotted line. The company paid training, if your are upfront & are accepted seems like the most plausible route to take.
There’s plenty of resources on this site for you to do extensive research. The company paid training reviews, the training diaries section, the High Road Training to prepare you for the permit & so much more. Ask as many questions as possible. Folks on here are very knowledgeable & helpful. Just don’t expect sugar coating. Sometimes bluntness is necessary with all the misinformation out there.
Best of luck!
INk think very long and serious about this decision. It’s not a traditional job, it’s a lifestyle. You live from shippers to truck stops to receivers , back & forth. There may be companies that might hire you with your record but they may not pay as much or other trade offs. You can wait until your license gets clean & research your butt off to find the right company that fits your needs. Or you can jump in head first & work your way up to your goals, whatever they may be. Being a mom & being away from your family may be a huge consideration for you to ponder also.
Personally, I’d stay away from CDL school just because they are a for profit institution. They’ll say whatever it takes to get you to sign on the dotted line. The company paid training, if your are upfront & are accepted seems like the most plausible route to take.
There’s plenty of resources on this site for you to do extensive research. The company paid training reviews, the training diaries section, the High Road Training to prepare you for the permit & so much more. Ask as many questions as possible. Folks on here are very knowledgeable & helpful. Just don’t expect sugar coating. Sometimes bluntness is necessary with all the misinformation out there.
Best of 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.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
That’s a great outlook to start with. I’m in the same boat to an extent. I’m just completing the TNT phase (been OTR for nearly 30K miles with a great trainer) of my company paid training. I almost did the CDL school route but in NYC, let’s just say there aren’t many certified schools. I asked the more popular school I was applying to, what companies they worked with in their job placement service & they told me that UPS & Fedex were hiring. Not very reassuring.
From your bio & your response, you stand a great chance of succeeding in this industry. I said the things in my original post for a dose of reality but it’s not always like that.
I get to see some of the most amazing scenery this country has to offer. While there are quite a few knuckleheads out on the road, I’ve gotten to see & meet hundreds of kind, friendly & helpful folks, who’ve shown many acts of kindness towards me. It feels really good when many strangers passs me (company trucks are governed at 62 on cruise control so I get passed a lot!) & they’ll either give me a wave or a nod or a peace sign. These & many more seemingly little things are what make my experience out here very worthwhile. And the pay ain’t bad either.
Again, all the best to you & don’t hesitate to ask anything in here. This place is what helped me not only persevere but succeed in my journey/process of becoming a safe & reliable trucker.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Hey i was wondering if any one had info on speeding tickets and being able to obtain a class A and get hired. Tickets record are as follows: 2/2017 - 23 miles over 8/2016 - just speeding about 11 miles over 2/2013 - following to close
Just wondering on thoughts and experiences.. im due to start private cdl school at TDI in july.
Any info will help.. thanks Ink
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated