Just Thought I'd Say Hello :)

Topic 7012 | Page 1

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Robert B. (The Dragon) ye's Comment
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Greetings all. I'm new to the forum obviously but not entirely new to the industry. A little history about me. I got out of the Air Force in 1996 and had the chance to grandfather in my CDL at that time but didn't due to some family issues and I didn't want to be out on the road back then.

Currently, I'm driving a straight truck for an expedite service and looking to get back into the big boys just because to be honest, I miss it. I've learned a ton from this website and wanted to say thanks to everyone on here who chimes in with some great input for us newbies, it really means a lot. I've narrowed my choices to a few companies that work with the school I plan to attend and have already received pre hire letters from all three so the next thing is to get enrolled. It'll be a few weeks yet to get all my ducks in a row but I'm looking forward to it.

I'm looking at US Xpress, Prime Inc, and TMC Transport, based on pay, overall reviews and home time. I'm also looking for a company that I want to stay with potentially for a while, rather than just go with a driver mill and be miserable for a year while gaining experience.

Congrats to all, keep up the good work and a bit of advice to the new new guys. Remember, this is a business, not just the company you work for but for you as well. I think some guys get flustered when they get out there and are overwhelmed by paperwork, trip planning and everything else that we're responsible for as drivers. Stay organized, stay healthy and most of all, stay safe.

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.

Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar
I'm also looking for a company that I want to stay with potentially for a while, rather than just go with a driver mill and be miserable for a year while gaining experience.

From a guy who "isn't new to the industry" that statement tells me you still have almost everything to learn about this industry, beginning with "attitude is everything" all the way through "how to be happy and successful in trucking". But I'll help you. First, here's a list of companies that are "CDL Mills" that you should avoid at all costs:

Ok, now here's a list of companies that you'll be miserable at regardless of how good your attitude and work ethic is:

And finally, for various reasons, here's a list of companies you should avoid for other various reasons:

So there you have it! Just avoid those terrible companies and you'll be fine.

In 15 years of driving I never found a company I couldn't be happy at and couldn't make good money, and I worked for several major like Gainey, TRL, and even US Xpress which had their own training program at the time. Did great everywhere I went.

Don't believe the garbage you hear from people about "bad companies". Drivers are in high demand and really good drivers are extremely difficult to find no matter what company you're talking about. So a truly "bad company" where the drivers are miserable wouldn't be around for long.

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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Robert B. (The Dragon) ye's Comment
member avatar

You're absolutely right, I have everything to learn and that's the goal :)

I should have phrased that paragraph better. I didn't mean to reference it towards companies, I was aiming it at some of the schools. At least locally where I'm at, I can name two schools that are there specifically to make money and aren't as concerned with the quality of drivers they're putting out. Granted, as a whole, the school on a national level may not be bad but these individual satellite locations are. I only say that from talking to a few people I know who work with the local BMV as testers for most of their students and what they've told me when I asked for reference to a good school. That's why school wise, TDI or Sage seemed like the best fit.

Bmv:

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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