Things To Ask Before Going To A Company

Topic 29593 | Page 1

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Susan S.'s Comment
member avatar

I'm just starting out and looking at all companies to see who is better to go with. I don't have my CDL yet so I need a place that with help me get it. I want to know some question to ask when talking to the recruiters. I live in Arkansas and can't really go far due not having a car. Can you please help?

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.
Rob T.'s Comment
member avatar

Take a look at this thread of questions for recruiters. Have you used this link to Apply For Paid CDL Training? Fill out one application and its sent to many companies.. Many members have posted they start getting calls or emails within a couple hours. Things may be a tad different right now due to Covid but most programs provide you with a bus ticket to orientation. My advice is use the link above to apply THEN seek the answers to those questions. The reason being is trucking companies reject candidates for a variety of reasons. Poor driving record (tickets/accidents), criminal background, home location (no freight in your area), poor job history and many other reasons. With trucking it doesn't matter what your previous jobs have been they're required by federal law to account for where you've been. Sometimes you'll be a great candidate and still get rejected for who knows what reason. We've had members spend weeks or months creating spreadsheets comparing everything just to find their top 3 choices didn't extend an offer. If you already have an idea of who you'd like to get started with and they turn you down no big deal. Put in a year elsewhere then you'll find that original company is more than happy to bring you on. You could also find you'd rather stay where you're at.

Please keep us updated on how things progress for you.

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.
Susan S.'s Comment
member avatar

Take a look at this thread of questions for recruiters. Have you used this link to Apply For Paid CDL Training? Fill out one application and its sent to many companies..

No Sir I've not looked into that just yet. I will do it now. Thank you so much for your help!!

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.
Jammer a's Comment
member avatar

The mega carriers will fly / bus / rental car you out put you up in a room feed you breakfast lunch dinner will be out of your pocket I recommend trying to save up some money to take with you hope this helps you good luck

double-quotes-start.png

Take a look at this thread of questions for recruiters. Have you used this link to Apply For Paid CDL Training? Fill out one application and its sent to many companies..

No Sir I've not looked into that just yet. I will do it now. Thank you so much for your help!!

double-quotes-end.png

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.
Old School's Comment
member avatar
I live in Arkansas and can't really go far due not having a car. Can you please help?

Welcome to our forum Susan!

Trucking is unlike any job you have ever been exposed to. There are a lot of misunderstandings related to trucking and one of them is that you need to live near the company terminal or headquarters. In trucking you don't have to report to a location on any kind of a regular basis. I might go for a year or more before actually reporting in to my "home terminal." I have usually lived several states away from my terminal. It isn't important that you are close by. You could work for a company in Salt Lake City, Utah. It wouldn't matter that you are in Vilonia, AR. As long as you live in their "hiring area" you are good to go. You don't even need to own a car to get to training and orientation. They will get you there and pay for your lodging and meals. That's how it works. You will eventually be given a truck and that is where you report for duty everyday. You might be in Miami, Florida one morning and Rochester, New York a couple of days later. Don't concern yourself with the company's location. It is not important.

Here's an example. I live in Nacogdoches, TX. My company's terminal is in Gulfport MS. I can't actually recall the last time I was there. They don't need me there or want me there. I was hired to move goods across the country. That's what we do. We pick them up at customer's locations and deliver them to customer's locations.

Here is some great material to help you get started in this journey...

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.

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.

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