Considering A New Career, Few Questions
Topic 3833 | Page 1
Hey Matt, I was at an information session at my local tech school and THEY said speeding tickets MAY hamper your employment options, but that's all. You can still attend and get your CDL , but it may be harder to get a job right away.
I asked the instructor about 'home time' and HE said that due to the incredible demand for drivers, a lot of companies are trying to lure drivers by offering more frequent home time-I told him that "I won't make any money like that!" and he said (I quote) NOT NECESSARILY!! Also, he said that some companies are starting to offer hourly pay AS WELL as higher cpm..
Now I know he's trying to sell the program, but he has a pretty good rep among driving companies (I spoke to a Schneider recruiter who knew him well)..ANYWAY, everything sounded almost TOO GOOD to be true...I HOPE some of it is (increased cpm!!!)
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.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
Thanks Gary. I sure hope my LEAD foot didn't screw me over here.
And about the home time, I don't really need a lot of it, just at the right time. I love my little girl and don't get to see her much as it is now seeing as it is over an hours drive and my custody is so limited.
Thanks Gary. I sure hope my LEAD foot didn't screw me over here.
And about the home time, I don't really need a lot of it, just at the right time. I love my little girl and don't get to see her much as it is now seeing as it is over an hours drive and my custody is so limited.
Not sure where you live bro but your best choice is Schneider National! they have regional or dedicated positions and you'll be home every weekend still getting the miles too. I got into trucking industry 6 month ago during that tough winter it wasn't easy but now I'm like "I should've started this aloong time ago! you never be out of a job or at risk of loosing your job just keep your record clean and drive responsibly. those tickets are not an issue I've seen worst and they still work for fleet companies!
Good luck to you!
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Here is 5 he problem as I see it. You need more hometime to be able to get your daughter on your assigned times and the better/larger companies do have that option of more home time. The problem is the two tickets. Most companies either have no more than 3 moving violations in a 3 years time period. While you are not at that point yet you are one away from it. Companies invest alot of money up front into drivers with schooling and 1 ticket will ruin that investment real quick if you can not drive. And since both were for speeding you have shown a habit that companies frown on. Speeding equals Unsafe always.
Now I am not saying you can't find a driving job. You will have to apply everywhere but because of those two tickets you might not find a company that has a whole lot of hometime. Unless your super lucky if you can find a driving job your hometime will be more like 3 to 4 days every 4 to 6 weeks.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
A lot will depend on how much over the limit you were going. More than 15 mph over the limit is considered reckless driving and most major companies don't want any reckless driving within the past 5 years. But like Guyjax mentioned, most companies will accept two minor moving violations within the past 3 years.
So as long as they weren't reckless driving, you should be fine.
What you can do to insure you'll find work after getting your CDL is to apply for pre-hires. For anyone not familiar with the process we have an excellent article that will help you Understand Pre-Hires .
Basically, before you ever even commit to any schooling you apply for jobs with trucking companies and they'll let you know whether or not you qualify to work there upon graduating from a legitimate school and getting your CDL. If you can get two or three pre-hires then you know you'll have no problem finding work. They're not a guarantee of employment...sometimes they fall through. That's why you want the assurance of getting two or three of em.
You can use our Truck Driving Job Listings. You can even Apply For Truck Driving Jobs With One Application which really speeds up the process dramatically.
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.
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.
Pre-hires:
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.
A lot will depend on how much over the limit you were going. More than 15 mph over the limit is considered reckless driving and most major companies don't want any reckless driving within the past 5 years. But like Guyjax mentioned, most companies will accept two minor moving violations within the past 3 years.
So as long as they weren't reckless driving, you should be fine.
What you can do to insure you'll find work after getting your CDL is to apply for pre-hires. For anyone not familiar with the process we have an excellent article that will help you Understand Pre-Hires .
Basically, before you ever even commit to any schooling you apply for jobs with trucking companies and they'll let you know whether or not you qualify to work there upon graduating from a legitimate school and getting your CDL. If you can get two or three pre-hires then you know you'll have no problem finding work. They're not a guarantee of employment...sometimes they fall through. That's why you want the assurance of getting two or three of em.
You can use our Truck Driving Job Listings. You can even Apply For Truck Driving Jobs With One Application which really speeds up the process dramatically>
One ticket was 15 mph over and the other is 20mph over.
Thanks for all of the advice guys.
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.
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.
Pre-hires:
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.
One ticket was 15 mph over and the other is 20mph over.
Thanks for all of the advice guys.
One reckless driving ticket will give you some trouble but 2 will nearly be impossible for you to find a job in trucking. Time is the only thing that will solve this issue. Trucking companies not only take into account the amount and type of tickets but they also look at patterns the tickets show. One reckless driving ticket....oops that was a mistake but a 2nd ticket of the same type shows a pattern and a behavior that can cost millions of dollars if an accident happens.
What really sucks about one of the tickets I got was the road I was on was a new 4 lane divided hwy that they posted at 45 mph, it has now been changed to 55 mph. So I got busted doing 60 in a 45. It should have been 55 the whole time, then I would have only been 5 over. Oh well, too late now.
I also got both tickets on my motorcycle shortly after getting my MC license. It's so easy to speed on a motorcycle, especially when it's a new toy.
I did learn my lesson after my wife and the insurance company punished me. 
So it's only the last 3 years they look at? I'll have to check to see how old these tickets are, one of them should almost be 3 years old.
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Hi everyone! I am getting laid off from my job in August and it may be time for a new career.
My first concern is that I have 2 speeding tickets within the last 2 years. I do not have any accidents within the last 10 years or so but I was wondering if that would make it difficult finding a job or getting my CDL?
My other problem is my 6 y/o daughter. I have custody of her every other weekend and do not want to forfeit the little time we have together, and my ex-wife is crazy and hates me so I don't think she would work around any new schedule. My wife could continue to pick her up on my weekends but I hate to put that on her, plus it's a 60 mile drive each way. How hard is it finding a company that will dispatch you on a schedule like that, or maybe a regional gig that has you home on a regular basis?
thanks Matt
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.