Knight Transportation's Training Program - Looking For Advice
Topic 2577 | Page 2
Misty,
If i remember correctly the only time any company can push you into a refresher course is if you do not have 3 years of recent combination vehicle experience. (Truck & Transfer or trailer are combinations) I would simply ask them for a road test and if you pass then no need for a refresher. In my experience people who have driven local or dumptruck are a lot better drivers than anyone who comes out of any school or someone who drives 90% highway.
I have driven OTR (53') Local , Log Truck, and Dump truck w/transfer. The dump truck and Log truck were by far the biggest test of skills and the hardest to master. I am by no means an expert but after trying different things i can honestly say OTR takes the least amount of training.
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.
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
Misty, they will require a refresher simply because the dump truck job is not OTR. I joined the Knight team recently and there were a few new drivers in our group who had a similar situation as yours. They put one of them in a truck after one day with a trainer. I think they let the trainer evaluate the driver and then go with their suggestions.
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.
Misty,
If i remember correctly the only time any company can push you into a refresher course is if you do not have 3 years of recent combination vehicle experience. (Truck & Transfer or trailer are combinations) I would simply ask them for a road test and if you pass then no need for a refresher. In my experience people who have driven local or dumptruck are a lot better drivers than anyone who comes out of any school or someone who drives 90% highway.
I have driven OTR (53') Local , Log Truck, and Dump truck w/transfer. The dump truck and Log truck were by far the biggest test of skills and the hardest to master. I am by no means an expert but after trying different things i can honestly say OTR takes the least amount of training.
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.
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
I hear alot of good things about knight, they seem like a good company to work for? What kind of trucks do they run, meaning what type of transmissions? APU's , etc Any feedback about the pro's and Con's of their trucks
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
APU's:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
I spoke with someone today about joining Knight. She said I could skip going to Phoenix for the two weeks of training if I went to the DMV and got my CDL/Permit. I'm not sure if I just needed the permit or the CDL. Does anyone have any input on this?
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.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.
You need the CDL Permit before going to the school.
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.
I hear alot of good things about knight, they seem like a good company to work for? What kind of trucks do they run, meaning what type of transmissions? APU's , etc Any feedback about the pro's and Con's of their trucks
Knight runs all Volvo and International Pro Star's. Eaton 10 Speeds No APU's
The Volvo's turn sharper and their Jake Brake is much better, but the sleeper's are smaller. The Pro Star's ride better, have more room for both storage and sleeping, but they turn more like a 379 pete and the engine brake is a joke.
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
APU's:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
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I'm also looking into Knight...I already have my cdl but I've been driving dump truck for 10yrs...I called Knight & was transfered to Indiana... I was told I need a refresher course.... I'm planning on going in March.... I soo miss being OTR.... Any & all information on their training would help....stay safe
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.