Trucker To Be: What Do I Need?
Topic 32782 | Page 1
Okay so I’ve got my CLP , and I start training by an authorized trainer from the TPR in two weeks. My question is this: what all do I need? I’ve seen that I’ll probably need a gps and a good atlas. I’ve driven a manual since 16 and I plan on/have been practicing double clutching in the time leading up to the course. Any other things I should buy or practice?
I’m also working on memorizing the pre-trip inspection , and all of the book smart stuff I think I have a lot of resources for. Any other practical advice while I kill time/prepare for the course?
Thank you!
You are a long way from needing a GPS. Don't worry about that at all right now. Use the study resources from this website. An atlas will be good, but many companies provide them to drivers who start training. I would get a good set of gloves for use in handling parts of the during pre-trip. They will come in handy once you actually start driving with a trainer at a company, too.
Another note on the GPS:
If your trainer at whatever company has a GPS for you to use, I would suggest getting that GPS when you start off on your own because you will have familiarity with it. Give yourself a year on that unit before you consider using something else. But, you also want to make sure that you don't become GPS reliant. Study that atlas. When signals are lost and you have to find your way, that atlas will save your butt where a piece of technology can become useless.
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Double Clutching:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
CLP:
Commercial Learner's Permit
Before getting their CDL, commercial drivers will receive their commercial learner's permit (CLP) upon passing the written portion of the CDL exam. They will not have to retake the written exam to get their CDL.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
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.
Learning as much of the Pre-Trip Guide here as I could before I started training really helped. Just remember, you might have to tweak some verbiage to the school / state you'll be testing in, but it really gave me a leg up and I could focus on the other stuff.
Get your CDL License, successfully complete the driving training period, and get hired as a company driver. In That Order. Everything else is secondary at this point.
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.
This! I can't stress this enough. I did create Amazon wish lists for once I was in my own truck, so I knew how bad the wallet was going to get spanked, but realistically, you have bigger fish to fry FIRST.
Get your CDL License, successfully complete the driving training period, and get hired as a company driver. In That Order. Everything else is secondary at this point.
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.
Study the pre trip inspection here at TT and know it before going to training. You’ll be glad you did!!! You may need to tweak it a little bit depending on what truck your training/testing in but for most of it, it will be the same as the study guide here. I was the only one in my training class who came in pre studied, the other students were on information overload and stressed learning to shift, drive and get the maneuvers down while still memorizing the pre trip. I almost nailed the entire pre trip on my 1st run at it so that allowed me to put all my focus into learning to drive and back during training.
Thank 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.
Study the pre trip inspection here at TT and know it before going to training. You’ll be glad you did!!! You may need to tweak it a little bit depending on what truck your training/testing in but for most of it, it will be the same as the study guide here. I was the only one in my training class who came in pre studied, the other students were on information overload and stressed learning to shift, drive and get the maneuvers down while still memorizing the pre trip. I almost nailed the entire pre trip on my 1st run at it so that allowed me to put all my focus into learning to drive and back during training.
Man you’re smart to have done that. I didn’t learn the pretrip til I went to school but I did make myself flash cards my first day in school and went through them once every morning and once every night before bed and I was solid on my pretrip after about a week.
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Okay so I’ve got my CLP , and I start training by an authorized trainer from the TPR in two weeks. My question is this: what all do I need? I’ve seen that I’ll probably need a gps and a good atlas. I’ve driven a manual since 16 and I plan on/have been practicing double clutching in the time leading up to the course. Any other things I should buy or practice?
I’m also working on memorizing the pre-trip inspection , and all of the book smart stuff I think I have a lot of resources for. Any other practical advice while I kill time/prepare for the course?
Thank you!
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Double Clutching:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
CLP:
Commercial Learner's Permit
Before getting their CDL, commercial drivers will receive their commercial learner's permit (CLP) upon passing the written portion of the CDL exam. They will not have to retake the written exam to get their CDL.