Questions On Applying & Company Choice
Topic 34871 | Page 1
Hi, welcome to the fourm. There are a lot of great companies to start your career at. Many of them do not require you to have your permit, some do.
There are many different methods they use but in general, its obtain your permit, cdl , then training then solo. Most cover travel, some cover lodging, others pay to start but not cover lodging. It all washes out to similar ends.
Many of us used the high road training program to prepare for our class, cant recommend it strongly enough.
Check the following links, check out the CDL diaries section, make yourself known here, engage with our members, keep asking questions.
High Road CDL Training ProgramPaid CDL Training ProgramsApply For Paid CDL Training
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Not so fast... i am pretty sire Washington requires the company to actually have a terminal in the state. For this reason, Prime stopped taking washington people and one of my students transferred their license to OR for a short time.
Ask your DMV
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.
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.
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Hello everyone,
I'm a new member and I've found this site to be an incredible resource. I'm 21, currently living in Washington state, and I've decided to pursue a career in trucking. I'm really excited to get started.
I've been studying hard for the permit tests and I have my DOT physical scheduled for this weekend. My plan is to take the CLP knowledge tests this coming Monday. I'm trying to be as proactive as possible, which leads to my questions:
Applying Before CLP: Is it a good idea to start submitting applications to companies with paid CDL programs before I officially have my CLP in hand? My thinking is that the application process can run in the background while I get my permit.
Company Recommendations: I'm looking for recommendations for good company-sponsored training programs. My main priority is a company that is known for processing applications quickly and getting you into training without long delays.
Travel & Lodging: Since I'm in Washington, it's likely that any training program will be in another state. How do companies typically handle travel to the training facility and lodging during the program? Do they usually cover the bus ticket and provide a place to stay?
A little about me: I'm drawn to this career because I enjoy working alone and the lifestyle seems like a great fit for my personality. My main focus isn't on chasing the highest possible starting pay, but on finding a stable, reliable company to start my career with.
My only concern is my background. I've been a college student and don't have a formal work history. Will this be a major hurdle for a 21-year-old trying to get into a company-sponsored program? What's the application acceptance look like?
Thank you all in advance for any advice you can offer!
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.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
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.