SPE (Skill Performance Evaluation) Certificate
Topic 27583 | Page 1
You can get through the entire process a bit faster than that but you have to stay on top of the folks at FMCSA. I'm not sure what your disability is that might require you having the certificate but it's important to know that not every doctor will annotate it on the physical. It took me 4 years to get released from mine and I keep a copy of the release form from FMCSA , should a different doctor try to determine I should have it again.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
Fm:
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.
Training Certificate was 7 days for me. 11/11/19 - 1/11/20. Got extension good 1/12/20 - 3/12/20 . Training spe only good for 8 weeks. Make sure your state dmv gets copy of extension. Road test was 1/23/20 passed 1/24/20 called Tatiana from FMCSA and faxed interim license and requested SPE. Had that on 2/5/20 called Tatiana at FMCSA on the 6th she emailed me copy of SPE good for 2 years. Sent copy to DMV start with company Monday 2/24/20. Tatiana was awesome answering my questions .
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
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.Fm:
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.
Cfc ~
I'm pretty sure nobody in that other SPE thread you commented on is still around.
I'm glad to hear you are finally getting that worked out, good sir!
Probably be better to continue your updates and/or questions here. Robert B. is even MORE apt to show up if you need his input~!
Carry on sir; best wishes!
~ Anne ~
Well, I started the process this past Februaryand can happily say I finally received my SPE Certificate yesterday. While I received my temporary SPE certificate in order to start school in March, I delayed starting school until June. With that inconsideration, it did not take a full six months to receive the certificate, but it does require an abundance of patience every step of the way. Going into the process it was fairly murky as to what to expect, and I had a number of surprises along the way. If anyone has any questions, feel free to reach out, I would be happy answer them.
Hi, can I have your email to contact you? I’m trying to get my SPE but seems that no one knows and I’m having a hard time.
Well, I started the process this past Februaryand can happily say I finally received my SPE Certificate yesterday. While I received my temporary SPE certificate in order to start school in March, I delayed starting school until June. With that inconsideration, it did not take a full six months to receive the certificate, but it does require an abundance of patience every step of the way. Going into the process it was fairly murky as to what to expect, and I had a number of surprises along the way. If anyone has any questions, feel free to reach out, I would be happy answer them.
can I have your email to contact you?
Hello Daniel - welcome to our forum!
The whole point of having a forum is for you to ask your questions in here so that everyone can share in the learning process. You have nothing to be ashamed of or self conscious about. We are not going to judge you or flame you. That is not what we are about. We are here to help people make the transition into trucking. Some of us have more issues than others. That's okay. We have helped tens of thousands of people get into trucking. We have a treasure trove of helpful information here, and it is all because people communicated with each other in a public forum.
Please keep your conversations right here in the forum and don't go offline with them. The questions you ask and the answers you receive are valuable to a vast community of newbies who want to get into trucking. This is the place to inquire or ask your questions. So fire away with whatever it is you need to know. There are others who have the same questions and they need to see the answers right here in our forum.
Hi, can I have your email to contact you? I’m trying to get my SPE but seems that no one knows and I’m having a hard time.
Well, I started the process this past February and can happily say I finally received my SPE Certificate yesterday. While I received my temporary SPE certificate in order to start school in March, I delayed starting school until June. With that inconsideration, it did not take a full six months to receive the certificate, but it does require an abundance of patience every step of the way. Going into the process it was fairly murky as to what to expect, and I had a number of surprises along the way. If anyone has any questions, feel free to reach out, I would be happy answer them.
Howdy, Daniel ... and welcome!
I know a 'few' things about SPE's... and they 'may' vary from state to state, as well.
As OId School mentioned, please post your questions HERE, so they can
(a.) be answered by MANY! and (b.) be SHARED with many, to come!
If you could provide US here, with a bit more info & details; sure would help US help YOU!!
Glad to have ya, sir~!
~ Anne ~
Good Reads, as you work through this:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
- Getting Started With The DOT Physical
- DOT Blood Pressure Requirements
- DOT Drug and Alcohol Policies & Testing
- DOT Eye & Vision Exam Requirements
- DOT Hearing Requirements
- DOT Physical - Driver Exemptions
- Hair Follicle vs. Urinalysis Drug Testing: Breakdown By Company
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Guidelines & Advice
- Sleep Apnea , Truck Drivers, & BMI Calculator
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.
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.
Hypertension:
Abnormally high blood pressure.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
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.
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Thanks to Robert B (The Dragon)'s feedback on here we are able to get a better understanding of the process for obtaining a SPE Certificate. The instructions laid out by FMCSA leave a bit to be desired. As someone who is looking to get into trucking that is required to get a SPE, I'm trying to remove all the uncertainties before jumping in head first. My main concern is the time frame it will take, and how much of that will be unpaid. Here's the way I understand it:
- (Week 1) Obtain DOT Physical to determine if SPE is necessary
- (Week 2) Obtain medical evaluation from physiatrist or orthopedic surgeon - Apply for SPE certificate
- (Weeks 2 - 8) Wait for reply from FMCSA (the women I spoke with said expect 4-6 weeks for processing) to get temporary waiver.
- (Week 8) Apply for and obtain CDL learners permit.
- Leave my current job to attend Trucking school.
- (Week 8-12***) Trucking School. This portion could be longer depending on what school I attend. We have a local technical institute that offers schooling over eight weeks but the cost is significantly cheaper and your not locked into a contract with a carrier.
- (Week 13***) Apply for and obtain CDL.
- (Week 14-20***) Wait for someone from my state to reach out to do a driving test to complete the SPE application process.
- (Weeks 20 - 26***) Wait for SPE certificate to be issued.
- (Week 26) Start trucking!
**Weeks 14-26, the timeline is an assumption based on my call to FMCSA. The person I spoke with seemed to be rushed and the details were hazey. ***Potentially Unpaid portion. Probably get a job delivering Pizza's in the evening or something like that.
With this timeline, I could potentially go 18 weeks with little to no pay. Currently I have a good job that pays well for my area, and I would hate to leave it without knowing that I can become a trucker. Who is to say that I can pass the requirements provided by FMCSA and get the SPE at all?
It's my understanding trucking school is not required to get your CDL or SPE certificate, just as driving school is not required to get your driver license. What matters is your ability to pass the written and driving exam. Getting a job as a trucker on the other hand, schooling or one year experience is required. What if we replaced Week 8-12 trucking school with one to two weeks of driving with a trucker who is a owner/operator and has the patience to teach. Certainly I could take two weeks vacation from work.
What are your thoughts?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
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.
Fm:
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