CDL-B With 10 Years Exp Recent CDL-A Learners, Is There A Shorter Class Option?
Topic 33521 | Page 1
Hello, Jeffrey.
The answer is yes. Many, if not the majority, of schools take students who already have the learner permit. I can’t comment on how things are done in Virginia, but when I went to driving school in Wisconsin, the school only accepted students with a permit AND a current DOT physical exam (FedMed card). I used the High Road Training program on this site to prepare for and pass the written exam. Then, the school I attended prepared us for our State road test to obtain an actual CDL-A. It was very little classroom instruction and almost entirely driving and backing practice.
Have you called any schools about this question?
Many companies provide training (company sponsored and paid training). That is the recommended way 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.
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.
No, there isn't. The EDLT rules that went into effect in February of 2022 say
FMCSA’s Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations set the baseline for training requirements for entry-level drivers. This applies to those seeking to:
Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time;
Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL;
or Obtain a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.
Upgrading a CDL B to a CDL A is considered entry level.
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.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
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.
Fm:
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.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thanks Banks!
Jeffrey, the rules have changed since BK got his license. Banks got it right. Entry level drivers have to follow the new ELDT rules.
Banks, Old School, thanks for the correction. My bad. I forgot about the new ELDT regulation.
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I'm posting this for my partner. She has a CDL-B from driving a school bus with 10 years driving experience. She recently passed the CDL-A written on her own and received a learner's permit (in Virginia). Is there such a thing as classes that only focus on road training and passing the road exam or would she have to take the full class that also prepares you for the written exam which she already passed?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: