Signed Up For School
Topic 32960 | Page 1
Today I took the computer test @ my local DMV and passed! I got my CLP along with the Double & Triple, as well as the tanker endorsements. I plan to study up for the hazmat and want to get that one as well. The whole thing took me about 25 minutes to complete. It was five different test on the touch screen computer, and I was very surprised @ how well I did. I mean I was certainly a little nervous. The lady was also surprise at how fast I took all of the test and thought it was like my third time taking them. Once I pass the driver part of the test the endorsements will be added to the CDL license. Not sure if it's standard anywhere else but Delaware allows you to take all of the computer test for your licenses and endorsements but will not add the endorsements until you pass the driving portion of the test.
Brett I would like to thank you for the time you put into the High Road Training course. It really made all the difference. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would also like to thank everyone else that has giving me some type of advice, and or inspiration.
I have already renewed my TWIC card online and it's on its way. I plan to look over the paper for the TSA hazmat application in the next few days. I'm just planning on taking a few days to rest from all of the studying and job researching first. Now I'm really looking forward to starting school. Just about a week and a half to go...
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
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.
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.
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.
I took my written test a few weeks ago for my permit as well as for the double/triple, and tanker endorsements and passed. I was told I could come back anytime to take the hazmat endorsement test which I tried to do this morning. The lady told me that I need to take the CDL training class first before I could take the hazmat written test. I am pretty bummed. I was hoping to get it all done so when I finish school I would be good to go. I know the background portion could take a few months so I was just trying to get a jump start on it. Guess the lord was putting the brakes on slowing me down a bit and just to enjoy the new ride.
School starts Monday the 27th and I'm excited and ready. I applied to a number of companies per my school recruiter to work on pre-hire letters to be turned down by everyone because I was not a full CDL A holder. Most of the ones I applied to stated on the posten that they hire students. Guess there are just enough full CDL A folks out there that are looking which I understand. I even applied to three mega carriers and they all said the same thing. Reapply after you get your CDL so that's what I'm going to do.
Chao for now...
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
Pre-hire:
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
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Well I took the first step and signed up for my CDL A class today @ a private school near me called American Driver Training Academy. They have an awesome reputation with all sorts of trucking companies and sponsored by a few mega carriers such as Rauel, TMC, Schneider, US Express, Werner, NFI, Covenant Transport, Gordon Food Service, and DOT Transportation(most offer tuition reimbursement).
I'm still currently going through the High Road Training 2.0 preparing for my writing test to get my permit. I'm hoping to get all of the possible endowments as well. My class starts on March 27th and graduation will be April 21st. There will be simulation training bobbing the tractor along with all the available trailers. There will be daily pre-trips and road time with a couple types of trailers(dry van, reefer , tanker). I don't think they have a flatbed, however the trucks are manuals. The class cost is on the lower end of the scale.
So right now I'm shooting to take my CDL writing test this coming Friday. I was hoping to try and take it tomorrow as the DMV is open later on Wednesdays, but I just don't think I'm ready yet. I know I'm excited to start driving though. It has been a long time dream, and 44 isn't a bad time to start living it lol. Wife and kids have be extremely supportive and took me out to dinner tonight to celebrate the start of a new career as well as a new chapter in our lives.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
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.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices