When To Test.... High Road Question

I'm going to try and get my NC permit in about 2 weeks but have not read any of the NCDMV CDL handbook just what is on the High Road Training Program will that be all I need to know to pass...Also I'm going to test at the Hwy 16 DMV station in Charlotte so any advice would be really appreciated. I'm interested in the same endorsements and was wondering if you have to have any kind of medical checks done before taking the tests..? What about the Vision..I might need some glasses this time because last I went to DMV they said I was getting weak in my right eye but I still passed the renewal

Thanks

The High Road training program is the only thing I used. I never opened or read the DMV book. There were a few questions that were not covered but for the most part I was very well prepared. As for vision, yes they will check it. You must have 20/40 vision to pass your DOT physical so go ahead and get it checked before going. Otherwise you may just be wasting your time going in. They do not require you to have a DOT physical card to test but it does make the process much easier. If you are going to a school that will do your physical, just wait til you get there. The physical cost around $100 to $200 so don't pay it if you don't have too.

Ok Good deal...thanks for the reply I'll go ahead and get my eyes done since they said I barely got by last time and keep doing the High Road Training Program so I'll be ready

Ken, have you decided on a school? The reason I ask, you have six months from the time you get your learner's until it expires. You may want to wait until you get your school all lined up before testing. The way it worked for me, I researched and called recruiters. Then I researched some more. After I had it narrowed down to three schools, I started putting in applications. After a couple of weeks, I made my decision. Paperwork was sent to me and I read everything. They scheduled me for a DOT physical and paid for it. All I had to do was show up. Two days later and after studying the High Road CDL training program on here, I went to DMV and tested. Once, the ball gets rolling, it moves pretty fast!

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Good job TAANC!

Using this website is really all anyone needs to pass the tests. The real test though is on the road. I believe you are ready for that too. You truly have to sit down and go through this website. Cutting corners will not work. You have proved that.

Congratulations.

Ken, have you decided on a school? The reason I ask, you have six months from the time you get your learner's until it expires. You may want to wait until you get your school all lined up before testing. The way it worked for me, I researched and called recruiters. Then I researched some more. After I had it narrowed down to three schools, I started putting in applications. After a couple of weeks, I made my decision. Paperwork was sent to me and I read everything. They scheduled me for a DOT physical and paid for it. All I had to do was show up. Two days later and after studying the High Road CDL training program on here, I went to DMV and tested. Once, the ball gets rolling, it moves pretty fast!

Let me know if you have any other questions!

I still haven't decided yet but I am leaning towards going Private because I think it will open more Doors at Companies if I already have my CDL-A when I apply...I like how you did yours and will wait until I'm getting closer to deciding what I'm going to do before I get the Permit. Thanks for sharing your process with me..I'm still doing the Pro's and Con's of each of the Companies and thinking about what I want to haul..but that's hard to know until I get a taste of the freight but so far I like Tankers or Temp Controlled the best because they seem to pay best after a few safe years but what do I know..:)

I was leaning toward reefers (temp controlled) as well but the way things worked out, I will start with dry vans. I still have the option of going flatbed. I figure the first year I will have plenty to learn. After that, I will figure out what I want to haul.

Ken who told you or where did you read that tankers or temp controlled freight pays more? Not sure where you got that idea cause IF it were true then everyone would be doing only refer loads or pulling a tanker. That is simply not the case.

Temp control loads get longer runs due to a lot of coast to coast running but a dry van driver gets more loads with shorter miles but both end up with close to 3000 miles each week.

The year and a half I was with JB Hunt I did 3000 to 3200 miles every week @.41 cpm even during the slow times of the year where a lot of drivers were struggling to get 1800 to 2000 miles for the week that were making .44 cpm. They got paid more but I made more money than they did.

So don't let starting pay be what makes you go with a certain company. Large numbers when dealing with pay is subjective at best. The is a large carrier out there that offers starting pay at .49 cpm to .50 cpm which is all well and good except for one little thing....Their trucks are always sitting in truck stops not moving and there drivers complain they are only getting 1500 to 1800 miles a week. Not going to say the companies name but just read the advertising on the back of the trailers you see.

Basically what I am getting at is although the pay is slightly different and some get more miles or less miles almost across the board solo drivers make about the same money each week.

I've been trying to learn about different types of loads and which get the most/best miles and have also thought about Flatbed but really don't think I would enjoy the frozen tarps and some of the other challenges which come in that area of Trucking but as long as it pays the Bills and offers the miles you never know.

I'm going to go through the High Road Training Program again because I had some issues in Airbrakes and I want to do as good as I can PLUS I really know that material better than the back of my hand...I should know or have a really good idea which way I'm going for school in March and maybe even have a company picked out.

So far the short list is Knight, Prime, Millis, Roehl and Stevens for Company-Sponsored Training but it was a CR England Driver that got me Interested in Trucking so I could end up there also...

Ken who told you or where did you read that tankers or temp controlled freight pays more? Not sure where you got that idea cause IF it were true then everyone would be doing only refer loads or pulling a tanker. That is simply not the case.

Temp control loads get longer runs due to a lot of coast to coast running but a dry van driver gets more loads with shorter miles but both end up with close to 3000 miles each week.

The year and a half I was with JB Hunt I did 3000 to 3200 miles every week @.41 cpm even during the slow times of the year where a lot of drivers were struggling to get 1800 to 2000 miles for the week that were making .44 cpm. They got paid more but I made more money than they did.

So don't let starting pay be what makes you go with a certain company. Large numbers when dealing with pay is subjective at best. The is a large carrier out there that offers starting pay at .49 cpm to .50 cpm which is all well and good except for one little thing....Their trucks are always sitting in truck stops not moving and there drivers complain they are only getting 1500 to 1800 miles a week. Not going to say the companies name but just read the advertising on the back of the trailers you see.

Basically what I am getting at is although the pay is slightly different and some get more miles or less miles almost across the board solo drivers make about the same money each week.

Hi Guy...I know what your saying and haven't decided either way but based on just me wanting miles and miles or more miles in between drops with less stops and possible better equipment I think Temp or Tanker are better. Maybe I was mistaken to think that 2 or 3 cents a mile will make a bigger difference and it won't if the wheels are moving or like you say I'm broke down all the time.

I don't know where I'll end up or what I'll end up pulling just as long as I can make miles I'll be happy doing whatever.

Honestly Ken the first 3 to 4 months will be tough no matter which route you go. You will be learning how to drive and just get by with the basics THEN you have to learn what things you can do to make your job easier and make yourself more efficient. You will not get the best miles right out the door. It will take you at least 5 to 6 months just proving yourself and only then will your dispatcher start to trust that you can get the loads there when they need to be.

So no matter what type of freight you decide on there is a learning curve to becoming efficient and learning your job. Miles at first should not be your main focus. Your main focus at first is learning your job and how to do it safely and you can't do that if your are focused only on miles When You First Get Into The truck.