Best Time To Start Truck Driving School And Job Question Here In Idaho.
Topic 5843 | Page 1
Allen, if you are thinking you want to get a local truck driving job, then you may have some trouble finding one. I'm not saying it will be impossible, but almost always they will require at least one year of experience, and more than likely they will want two years. There is no reason why you couldn't get an over the road driving job as they are plentiful, and there is a shortage of drivers.
The traditional path to get into a local truck driving job is to get yourself one year of over the road experience first. We generally recommend that method to people, but it is not a hard and fast rule. It's kind of odd how this experience thing works. For some reason "over the road" is the acceptable standard for experience. You could potentially have ten years experience at a local truck driving job, and be considered as having zero experience at an over the road company.
Sage is a fine school and they can certainly help you with your job search, but I can assure you the jobs they have that are already lined up, needing drivers badly, are going to be over the road situations.
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
What are the chances of getting a job right out of school or being pre-hired prior to getting my CDL? Are jobs really lined up for people like me fresh out of school?
If your background is pretty solid and you go through Sage you'll have no problems finding work at all. In fact, you can get pre-hires before you ever even commit to the schooling. That way you'll know if you're going to land a job or not before you put down the cash.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
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.
If you have a clean background you or going to be pleasantly surprised at how many offers you get even being a new driver. I had been out of work for 13 months with no job offers before I went to school. Because of my work history (before the unemployment period) and my driving record I received offers from EVERY company to which I applied. It was a really nice feeling to be wanted again lol.
As far as time of the year, I started school last November. I needed to get back to work so I didn't want to wait. But I also wanted to be able to spend some time on bad roads while I was with a trainer. I got my wish, I was in training when all the ice storms came through!!! I feel that I learned things during that time that will help me greatly in my career.
Woody
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Hello,
I currently live in Idaho Falls, ID and the nearest school is just 30 minutes away from me. The truck driving school is "Sage." I'll be paying cash for the school and taking the more expensive one which gives me more training behind the wheel. My question is this:
Should I wait until after winter to take the class due to construction, etc slowing down due to the winter as finding a job around may be a little tougher then?
Second and third question: As there are no guarantees in life as so much for a job. So my question is: What are the chances of getting a job right out of school or being pre-hired prior to getting my CDL? Are jobs really lined up for people like me fresh out of school?
Reason I ask as I see lots of jobs for drivers in and around my state. Yet most jobs state they want 2 years experiance. I can take this class next week but I'm afraid of dropping $4500 on just a course that will yield me no job in the end. Your thoughts. Thanks in advance.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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