Trucking With Cypress Truck Lines Inc/sunbelt
Topic 32085 | Page 3
Congratulations Daniel M! I have been watching for your posts ever since you started your training. I am in Jacksonville also but I will be doing my training through Jones Technical Institute (JTech). I start September 6. When I complete it I am looking to get hired by Cypress Trucking. We will see what happens.
Congrats once again :)
Hay, Mark!
Not to hijack Daniel M.'s thread, but just saying...hope you start one, too! Did you end up getting the WIOA grant for school?
Here's some GREAT reads, as you await school and prepare:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Hope Cypress works out for you also; yet for safety sake and prehires , I'd go ahead and do this, too:
Apply For Truck Driving Jobs~ Always good to have a 'Plan B;' Keeps ya in the loop!
~ Anne ~
ps: Daniel, still watching/following your journey myself, also!!! 
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.
WIOA:
WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)
Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Prehires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Hello Anne,
I was going to start once I got started on my training. I have been reading mostly on the forums for a few months now. I was able to get the WIOA and looking forward to getting started. This Thursday I have an appointment to take the test for Tankers and Double/Triple Endorsements. After I get my CDL A then I will do the Hazmat and acquire the TWIC card. My situation is I am bored out of my mind lol. I spent 27 years in the Middle East Kuwaitis on the F/A-18 initially, then I switched over to working in Oil and Gas. I arrived back home in November 2021 and did all of my projects around the house that I wanted to complete. Now the wife has more ideas so I am trying to escape LOL. (Just Kidding) Thank you for all the information that you provided! Take care and I am sure we will speak again.
Regards, Mark
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.
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
WIOA:
WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)
Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Congratulations Daniel M! I have been watching for your posts ever since you started your training. I am in Jacksonville also but I will be doing my training through Jones Technical Institute (JTech). I start September 6. When I complete it I am looking to get hired by Cypress Trucking. We will see what happens.
Congrats once again :)
Thank you Mark! That's excellent! I hope everything works out for you.
I am officially done with my orientation this week. Mon-we'd they had me home watching training videos and I was back at Cypress, Jacksonville FL Thurs and Friday for orientation. They gave us a couple goodies gave us a tour of the Jacksonville terminal and some other stuff in the little orientation building. I'm going home for the weekend and will meet my trainer @ his home in Red**** FL, about an hour and 30 min away from my home in lake city FL, 3am Monday morning to start my 6 - 7 week training. He is out 2 weeks at a time and he said he runs hard. I will update when it's over in 6-7 weeks or I'm fired. I really appreciate the tips and help from everyone. Good luck to everyone else out there in training or trying to be a trucker. One thing it seems like at Cypress is, they are very"picky" when it comes to clean driving records more so then other companies. I think that's good because they help you in keeping a good driving record. For me though I'm very anxious and feel like there's a lot of pressure on me along with that. Blane, one of the orientation guys was telling us a bunch of stories of other guys being fired so now it turns up the heat for not making mistakes. Anyways I can't think of anything right now so, As the kids on the games say, BRB (be right back
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.
Congratulations Daniel M! I have been watching for your posts ever since you started your training. I am in Jacksonville also but I will be doing my training through Jones Technical Institute (JTech). I start September 6. When I complete it I am looking to get hired by Cypress Trucking. We will see what happens.
Congrats once again :)
Thank you Mark! That's excellent! I hope everything works out for you.
I am officially done with my orientation this week. Mon-we'd they had me home watching training videos and I was back at Cypress, Jacksonville FL Thurs and Friday for orientation. They gave us a couple goodies gave us a tour of the Jacksonville terminal and some other stuff in the little orientation building. I'm going home for the weekend and will meet my trainer @ his home in Red**** FL, about an hour and 30 min away from my home in lake city FL, 3am Monday morning to start my 6 - 7 week training. He is out 2 weeks at a time and he said he runs hard. I will update when it's over in 6-7 weeks or I'm fired. I really appreciate the tips and help from everyone. Good luck to everyone else out there in training or trying to be a trucker. One thing it seems like at Cypress is, they are very"picky" when it comes to clean driving records more so then other companies. I think that's good because they help you in keeping a good driving record. For me though I'm very anxious and feel like there's a lot of pressure on me along with that. Blane, one of the orientation guys was telling us a bunch of stories of other guys being fired so now it turns up the heat for not making mistakes. Anyways I can't think of anything right now so, As the kids on the games say, BRB (be right back
Daniel M.,
As the 'kids' say.... 'IKR?' It's been awhile; are you OUT w/your trainer? Sure can't figure out what got bleeped regarding the town in Florida....I went to school there; Bradenton/Manatee County.
The reason Cypress IS picky, is because they CAN be. One of the FEW training academies/schools in Florida/surrounding areas. LCT (Lester Coggins) where my late ex went, is long gone. Your guys can call it as they wish...that's for sure!
So, how was Clay?? And/or Pete? Hope you mentioned us here, at Trucking Truth... and if not, it's still not too late, haha!
By the time you read this (sorry I'm late!) .. hopefully you ARE in the driver's seat, learning the ropes, good sir.
Stop back as you can....
BEST WISHES FORWARD, (and yeah...reverse when necessary!)
~ Anne ~
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.
Congratulations Daniel M! I have been watching for your posts ever since you started your training. I am in Jacksonville also but I will be doing my training through Jones Technical Institute (JTech). I start September 6. When I complete it I am looking to get hired by Cypress Trucking. We will see what happens.
Congrats once again :)
Thank you Mark! That's excellent! I hope everything works out for you.
I am officially done with my orientation this week. Mon-we'd they had me home watching training videos and I was back at Cypress, Jacksonville FL Thurs and Friday for orientation. They gave us a couple goodies gave us a tour of the Jacksonville terminal and some other stuff in the little orientation building. I'm going home for the weekend and will meet my trainer @ his home in Red**** FL, about an hour and 30 min away from my home in lake city FL, 3am Monday morning to start my 6 - 7 week training. He is out 2 weeks at a time and he said he runs hard. I will update when it's over in 6-7 weeks or I'm fired. I really appreciate the tips and help from everyone. Good luck to everyone else out there in training or trying to be a trucker. One thing it seems like at Cypress is, they are very"picky" when it comes to clean driving records more so then other companies. I think that's good because they help you in keeping a good driving record. For me though I'm very anxious and feel like there's a lot of pressure on me along with that. Blane, one of the orientation guys was telling us a bunch of stories of other guys being fired so now it turns up the heat for not making mistakes. Anyways I can't think of anything right now so, As the kids on the games say, BRB (be right back
Daniel M.,
As the 'kids' say.... 'IKR?' It's been awhile; are you OUT w/your trainer? Sure can't figure out what got bleeped regarding the town in Florida....I went to school there; Bradenton/Manatee County.
The reason Cypress IS picky, is because they CAN be. One of the FEW training academies/schools in Florida/surrounding areas. LCT (Lester Coggins) where my late ex went, is long gone. Your guys can call it as they wish...that's for sure!
So, how was Clay?? And/or Pete? Hope you mentioned us here, at Trucking Truth... and if not, it's still not too late, haha!
By the time you read this (sorry I'm late!) .. hopefully you ARE in the driver's seat, learning the ropes, good sir.
Stop back as you can....
BEST WISHES FORWARD, (and yeah...reverse when necessary!)
~ Anne ~
Hey!. they bleeped out re**** re-****.
Yeah I'm with my trainer and everything is going well there's a crap ton to learn and there's no mental rest yet so far so good. I'll be back to get into some more detail.
Pete is the yard jockey in Jacksonville I haven't talked to him in person yet and my trainer told me Clay is now the head of safety. Sorry I couldn't explain more bit I gotta run! be back soon!
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.
As the 'kids' say.... 'IKR?' It's been awhile; are you OUT w/your trainer? Sure can't figure out what got bleeped regarding the town in Florida....I went to school there; Bradenton/Manatee County.
The reason Cypress IS picky, is because they CAN be. One of the FEW training academies/schools in Florida/surrounding areas. LCT (Lester Coggins) where my late ex went, is long gone. Your guys can call it as they wish...that's for sure!
So, how was Clay?? And/or Pete? Hope you mentioned us here, at Trucking Truth... and if not, it's still not too late, haha!
By the time you read this (sorry I'm late!) .. hopefully you ARE in the driver's seat, learning the ropes, good sir.
Stop back as you can....
BEST WISHES FORWARD, (and yeah...reverse when necessary!)
~ Anne ~
Hey!. they bleeped out re**** re-****.
Yeah I'm with my trainer and everything is going well there's a crap ton to learn and there's no mental rest yet so far so good. I'll be back to get into some more detail.
Pete is the yard jockey in Jacksonville I haven't talked to him in person yet and my trainer told me Clay is now the head of safety. Sorry I couldn't explain more bit I gotta run! be back soon!
Pete Peterson; Clay Hamblin! Good folks, no matter how ya slice it; tell them to join US here, too!!
I'm so loving the follow; how the heck have you gotten through the HEAT in FL, as of late?!?!? Wow, you! I spoke to a few family members earlier; just dang... being on asphalt at 99plus ?!?
STAY HYDRATED; best to ya!
Waiting for more updates; you're in great hands, man.
~ Anne ~
As the 'kids' say.... 'IKR?' It's been awhile; are you OUT w/your trainer? Sure can't figure out what got bleeped regarding the town in Florida....I went to school there; Bradenton/Manatee County.
The reason Cypress IS picky, is because they CAN be. One of the FEW training academies/schools in Florida/surrounding areas. LCT (Lester Coggins) where my late ex went, is long gone. Your guys can call it as they wish...that's for sure!
So, how was Clay?? And/or Pete? Hope you mentioned us here, at Trucking Truth... and if not, it's still not too late, haha!
By the time you read this (sorry I'm late!) .. hopefully you ARE in the driver's seat, learning the ropes, good sir.
Stop back as you can....
BEST WISHES FORWARD, (and yeah...reverse when necessary!)
~ Anne ~
Hey!. they bleeped out re**** re-****.
Yeah I'm with my trainer and everything is going well there's a crap ton to learn and there's no mental rest yet so far so good. I'll be back to get into some more detail.
Pete is the yard jockey in Jacksonville I haven't talked to him in person yet and my trainer told me Clay is now the head of safety. Sorry I couldn't explain more bit I gotta run! be back soon!
Pete Peterson; Clay Hamblin! Good folks, no matter how ya slice it; tell them to join US here, too!!
I'm so loving the follow; how the heck have you gotten through the HEAT in FL, as of late?!?!? Wow, you! I spoke to a few family members earlier; just dang... being on asphalt at 99plus ?!?
STAY HYDRATED; best to ya!
Waiting for more updates; you're in great hands, man.
~ Anne ~
It was hot when they had us in the sun on the static fifth wheel training but we got through it!.
So I finally finished 6 weeks of training with my trainer Andy and will be on evaluation week this Monday (10-3-2022). So within these 6 weeks we (most of the time, not always ) pick up at the same handful of places sprinkled throughout the states and then almost every delivery location is different and we did anywhere from 3-8 deliveries in 5 days. My trainer was otr so we'd be out 2 weeks and come home for Saturday Sunday (roughly). It's pretty rough for me with the schedule since, well there is no schedule it's, deliver your load and then see what dispatch has for you next. Definitely takes some getting used to. One day we started at 3 am and ended at 7-8pm and one time we started at 1pm and ended at 5 am, so it depends on when the delivery time is, like home depot cant be any earlier than 10pm when they close the customers out, and so that effects when you want to start your clock because once you start your clock your only aloud to operate for 14 hours so it all depends on what your dispatch gives you and if you want to get the most out of your clock. Like I said it takes some getting used to, especially since I'm used to having a set schedule when I start and stop work at the same time every day.
My trainer was great, he showed me some really good tricks to a lot of things and im glad they paired me with him.
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.
As the 'kids' say.... 'IKR?' It's been awhile; are you OUT w/your trainer? Sure can't figure out what got bleeped regarding the town in Florida....I went to school there; Bradenton/Manatee County.
The reason Cypress IS picky, is because they CAN be. One of the FEW training academies/schools in Florida/surrounding areas. LCT (Lester Coggins) where my late ex went, is long gone. Your guys can call it as they wish...that's for sure!
So, how was Clay?? And/or Pete? Hope you mentioned us here, at Trucking Truth... and if not, it's still not too late, haha!
By the time you read this (sorry I'm late!) .. hopefully you ARE in the driver's seat, learning the ropes, good sir.
Stop back as you can....
BEST WISHES FORWARD, (and yeah...reverse when necessary!)
~ Anne ~
Hey!. they bleeped out re**** re-****.
Yeah I'm with my trainer and everything is going well there's a crap ton to learn and there's no mental rest yet so far so good. I'll be back to get into some more detail.
Pete is the yard jockey in Jacksonville I haven't talked to him in person yet and my trainer told me Clay is now the head of safety. Sorry I couldn't explain more bit I gotta run! be back soon!
Pete Peterson; Clay Hamblin! Good folks, no matter how ya slice it; tell them to join US here, too!!
I'm so loving the follow; how the heck have you gotten through the HEAT in FL, as of late?!?!? Wow, you! I spoke to a few family members earlier; just dang... being on asphalt at 99plus ?!?
STAY HYDRATED; best to ya!
Waiting for more updates; you're in great hands, man.
~ Anne ~
It was hot when they had us in the sun on the static fifth wheel training but we got through it!.
So I finally finished 6 weeks of training with my trainer Andy and will be on evaluation week this Monday (10-3-2022). So within these 6 weeks we (most of the time, not always ) pick up at the same handful of places sprinkled throughout the states and then almost every delivery location is different and we did anywhere from 3-8 deliveries in 5 days. My trainer was otr so we'd be out 2 weeks and come home for Saturday Sunday (roughly). It's pretty rough for me with the schedule since, well there is no schedule it's, deliver your load and then see what dispatch has for you next. Definitely takes some getting used to. One day we started at 3 am and ended at 7-8pm and one time we started at 1pm and ended at 5 am, so it depends on when the delivery time is, like home depot cant be any earlier than 10pm when they close the customers out, and so that effects when you want to start your clock because once you start your clock your only aloud to operate for 14 hours so it all depends on what your dispatch gives you and if you want to get the most out of your clock. Like I said it takes some getting used to, especially since I'm used to having a set schedule when I start and stop work at the same time every day.
My trainer was great, he showed me some really good tricks to a lot of things and im glad they paired me with him.
Daniel ~!!! I'm so glad you stopped back!
Thanks for the updates, and SHEESH, how'd you all fare during the hurricane???!/!?? My family fared well, but for a few went 4 days without power; and I know that's less than some! So... it's now 7 days since your week long eval; how'd you do ?????
Have you managed in any securement training and whatnot? Andy... wow, I may have spoken to him on the phone, you should ask him!! Like I said, mostly Pete and Clay were my contacts down yonder.
Sure hoping this finds you with a smile, and in your own tractor, good sir! I'll await ~!
~ Anne ~
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.
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Congratulations Daniel M! I have been watching for your posts ever since you started your training. I am in Jacksonville also but I will be doing my training through Jones Technical Institute (JTech). I start September 6. When I complete it I am looking to get hired by Cypress Trucking. We will see what happens.
Congrats once again :)