Team Driving Starting Up
Topic 30844 | Page 1
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Every company operates differently but when you're ready use this link to Apply For Paid CDL Training. After you guys receive some offers then figure out what would work best for you. I'm not sure of programs that will allow you to train together but I do know C.R. England has some 3 bunk trucks that could accommodate that. Personally I wouldn't base my decision on something like training together as its such a short time in the grand scheme of things. You may also benefit more by going with different trainers to see different ways of accomplishing the same goal.
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 can only speak of my experience teaming with CRST, they have new pay plan. Schools contracted to 3rd party, you can have your license in 10 days of the 3 week training, which was thorough! Then went out with trainer for under 30 days, took me going thru 3 co-drivers, until 4th guy was great. You don't have that issue lol going with your BF.
Think start pay now is $0.35 you get 1 cent per month, contract is only 10 months. within a year you will be at $0.60 per mile and you will get TONS of miles.... 5000-6500+......Most we did in 1 week was 7200 and that was rough lol We had 1 of 4 head DM's and he took care of us, we hauled "mostly" Fed-Ex and XPO loads under him, among others, and they always have loads... Safety IS # 1 as well there.
If you choose to stay in their dorms, approx. 3 weeks, you repay at $40 a week, for like a couple 3 months and done. Now they have mostly 2019-2022 model trucks All Freightliners, governed up to 67 on cruise, 65 at the pedal and maintained pretty much on the regular....
Good Luck in your journey, where ever you go....
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.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Forgot to add, they do allow pets, many have em, I just never asked so I don't know IF they even charge any type of pet deposit, if that even matters to you YET. lol
The first question you should do serious thinking on is this: Is your relationship strong enough with your boyfriend to sustain team driving? I've never driven as a team member, but I know it's not easy and I've even heard of married couples getting divorced because of team driving. And if one of you can't take it and leaves, that is a HUGE problem.
I know nothing about you, your boyfriend or your relationship. Only you two can figure it out, but give it very serious consideration and discussion.
Thank you for all that information. I was curious what you mean about staying in dorms? Is that during training? I figured you just took turns sleeping in the truck when you're driving. Or do they charge you to sleep in their trucks? Thank you 😊
Family Plan & Buddy Plan Training: Covenant can train husband and wife teams together, and our Buddy Plan allows friends and/or other family members to train together. A qualified spouse may train the other while running team freight.
Effective June 14, 2021, the student and mentee pay at Covenant is increasing to $700 per week for non-hazmat and $725 per week for hazmat. This gives students the opportunity to make more than $90,000 annually by the time they reach one year of experience!
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Thank you for all that information. I was curious what you mean about staying in dorms? Is that during training? I figured you just took turns sleeping in the truck when you're driving. Or do they charge you to sleep in their trucks? Thank you 😊
Thank you for all that information. I was curious what you mean about staying in dorms? Is that during training? I figured you just took turns sleeping in the truck when you're driving. Or do they charge you to sleep in their trucks? Thank you 😊
Dorms are just used for training. You will sleep in the truck while your partner drives. And keep in mind that sleeping in the bunk while your partner drives can be problematic for some people. If you can't sleep during your bunk time, you will be too fatigued to drive your shift.
...Is that during training?
YES! There are two types of training - training to get your CDL and training to drive for your company.
Training to get your CDL usually involves staying in dorms or a hotel if you go with company training. You have an 8-5 type of schedule for 4 weeks. A little classroom training, some driving and a lot of watching others drive while you wait for your next turn to drive the truck. This teaches you to pass the DMV tests to get your CDL. Important things like how to fuel the truck, make a trip plan or put on snow chains aren't covered.
Training to drive for your company is usually 28 days driving on a truck with a trainer AFTER you have your CDL. What, you thought they were just going to turn you loose with a $200,000 truck and $1 million + cargo right out of school? You'll learn trip planning, fueling the truck, how to shower at a truck stop, how to use the QualComm , how to use the ELD and other vital skills. They don't charge you to stay on the truck.
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.
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.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.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Yes CRST has 2 terminals I know of I went to the 1 here in Riverside,So Cal. was 3 to a room now think it's 2 big rooms. Other is main terminal in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. You get breakfast & lunch, dinner's on you.
Here where I went, you are bussed to the school in Fontana, Cal. @ 6 am SHARP lol Breakfast cafe opens around 5 am I think. Laundry/Showers/a game room, a movie room and 3 pool tables etc. 2 huge fridges n freezers for your own food storage in dining room. They run a van shuttle to a local Wal-Mart in Calif @ least Mon-Sat. lunch served at school, then bussed back to terminal, before 3pm. So you have plenty of free time (and only at school, Monday thru Friday) Plus they WILL accept your DOT physical you come with, or its given @ the school.
It was a pretty good experience I have to say, and you meet quite the variety of people! lol
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.
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.
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Hi my boyfriend and I a seriously considering becoming truck drivers. We want to do it as a team. We know that we will have to drive with a mentor and log so many hours before we could drive together as a team because both of us are starting from scratch. Can anyone advise me on how that looks, pros and cons, how long before we could be a team, are there companies that will train us as a team? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance Melat