Trying To Get Back Into Truck Driving.
Topic 30243 | Page 1
Howdy!
Welcome to Trucking Truth!
You will have to go thru a refresher at the very least.
Go thru our Study Materials
Then, use our One and Done app to apply to companies.
Others will be along and will give you more info. I took a 22 yr hiatus from the road while taking care of my Traumatic Brain Injured husband. I went to a school, paying for it myself. NOT the best way to go. Company sponsored is far better.
Holler if you have more questions.
Laura
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.
Ok guys and girls, here I go, I was a driver for a few years starting in 2013 ending in 2018. My last "driving" job was more a glorified construction job than a trucking job. Now it is 2021 and my life has changed a lot. When I was a driver before I hated it. I had my wife and three kids and didn't like being away. My whole mindset was crap, to be honest. Now on to the present. My wife took my kids and moved across the country and left me in a hell of a state. I was close to giving up in multiple ways. Instead, I decided to get my head on straight and take control of my life. I have started living with purpose instead of letting life control me. These last couple of months have been all about self-growth and trying to realize a better future. Now on to the main point. I have been searching for what direction to take my life and would love to return to truck driving. My driving record wasn't the best but it's been good the last few years. I am currently looking for options to get my CDL back. The main issue right now is a lack of funds and not the most reliable transportation so I am looking for a company that will help me get back to it. I'm not sure exactly when I last had my CDL but I am fairly certain it was more than three years ago. Any advice or comments are appreciated. Thank you, drivers.
Nathan W. ~
I hear you on the OTR ... very hard for a new family; my husband went OTR in 2003; we had a 3 y/o daughter, and our son in process.
It was hard. Harder than hard; hardest thing 'I've' ever done, being a trucker's wife. Not easy on either party, but IMHO, it takes a special breed of marriage (union) to make this work. I can't tell you how many times I've said "everything's fine" when in fact, it wasn't . Plumbing, electrical, this that ..combined! I'm still that person, tbh.
I'm sorry your marriage took a crap... I totally am. I'm still sacrificing (daily!) to hold ours together, even w/ my other half being 'local.' It's just not for many "families," sadly. Our youngest graduates this year.
I'm not a vet (haha, Laura! Love you!) but .. read these links, and especially Brett's book, second tab down.
Also, I'm pretty sure Roehl, SNI (Schneider) and even CFI have 'refresher' courses where you will go through a 'brief' training period (at least shorter than most...) and get back in a truck, pronto.
The link Laura gave you to 'apply' will actually cover these, and then some. I'd suggest that, first out the gate.
Here's the other links:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Best wishes; please don't be a stranger!! More replies will abound in the morning, from the 'seasoned' vets Ms. Laura speak of.
I'm just the 'vet' trucker's wife / Cheerleader around these parts; with a bit'o info, being married to it for 2 decades, haha!!
Wish you well !
~ Anne ~
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.
There are many companies offering Paid CDL Training Programs. This is is old and you should check with these companies to see what their current deals a pay are.
I was trained and drive for CFI, I am also a Driver Finishing Instructor (trainer) with them. I am 100% biased for CFI.
Their training is free, they provide transportation to school and orientation. They provide your hotel and food during training as well. Once you have your CDL permit and DOT physical and they accept you into trains, school is 3 weeks, orientation 2 days and 21 days on a truck with a trainer. Then upgrade and get out on your own. While out with your trainer you are paid 32 CPM , when you upgrade you start at 38 CPM. You would be required to drive for them for a year. That year goes quickly.
Hope that helps. There is a search bar at the top of this page, type the name of any company in there and tons of current info will come up from our members.
You can check out our Diaries section for first hand looks at different companies training.
Good 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.
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.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
Thank you for the responses. I now have a decent list to start on. Thanks once again.
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Ok guys and girls, here I go, I was a driver for a few years starting in 2013 ending in 2018. My last "driving" job was more a glorified construction job than a trucking job. Now it is 2021 and my life has changed a lot. When I was a driver before I hated it. I had my wife and three kids and didn't like being away. My whole mindset was crap, to be honest. Now on to the present. My wife took my kids and moved across the country and left me in a hell of a state. I was close to giving up in multiple ways. Instead, I decided to get my head on straight and take control of my life. I have started living with purpose instead of letting life control me. These last couple of months have been all about self-growth and trying to realize a better future. Now on to the main point. I have been searching for what direction to take my life and would love to return to truck driving. My driving record wasn't the best but it's been good the last few years. I am currently looking for options to get my CDL back. The main issue right now is a lack of funds and not the most reliable transportation so I am looking for a company that will help me get back to it. I'm not sure exactly when I last had my CDL but I am fairly certain it was more than three years ago. Any advice or comments are appreciated. Thank you, drivers.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: