How Much Time Is Too Early To Contact Companies?
Topic 7228 | Page 1
One problem you can run into is "stale" training.......where you've graduated from school but haven't signed on with a company or done any driving in a while. Companies normally don't like to see more than 30-60 days from the time you complete schooling until you sign on and get started. So you don't really want to begin the schooling unless you'll be ready to start trucking upon graduating.
If you can't start driving until May then schedule your schooling accordingly if you're going to a Private Truck Driving School. If you're going to go with a Company-Sponsored Training Program in May then I'd start applying in March.
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.
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.
Thank you that is what I was feeling from reading a lot on here but wanted feed back from those who know.if l start the school in march I'd be done end of April so this actually puts me on tract. Any other need to or sh9uld know suggestions?
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
In agreement with Brett here.
Most companies will want you in orientation within 30 days of completing CDL Driving School. "Stale Driving" is a big problem for people that go to a private school TOO SOON - and end up having to enter the company is an "unlicensed student".
Having a CDL in hand, will make the initial phases go faster (while everyone else is doing permit study and testing), but still end up leaving you "obligated to the company" for paying back the schooling expense.
For example: Even recent grads will have to go through "phase II" of Primes training (driving team) - they just won;t be obligated to stay on for a "set period of time" that people who have no CDL are - in order to offset the cost of the Prime Training Program.
So it's important that you "time" your private driving school to the period RIGHT WHEN YOU ARE READY to start with a company. Applying and getting PRE-HIRES - even before you start school will be of GREAT HELP in allowing you to go right from graduation to orientation.
Also - Community College/Vo-Tech schools (usually run by the county/state) are way less expensive than "private schools" - but the course is also more lengthy (7-9 weeks for CC, as opposed to 2-3 weeks for private). I paid $1,900 for my 9 week course. Roadmasters wants the same $$ for a 1 week refresher - if you get my drift.
I have a "stale CDL". Got it 6 years ago - kept all my endorsements and TWIC card current - still have to go BACK TO SCHOOL - if I want to drive.
Rick
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.
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.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.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Thanks rick and Brett I read the article here about cc and found it reassuring that that may be my best plan until ready to go on the road also read about prehire letters now going to apply to my top 6 companies and cross my fingers.but about how long does it take to get one back? I am thinking it is like applying to colleges sent out a ton and wait for the few returns then set down with family and gonover asll pros and cons of each then decide. I realize this is not just about me so I am keeping my family involved and even have them on here reading everything to help prep them for this life as well. So far we are getting a good idea about it and findingbanswers to questions easily or one of us read about it before the others andvdfirects us to the answer so again thank you all for all input
Prehire:
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.
Right now we're in the slowest part of the year so that will have some affect on how quickly you hear back from companies. But it's not uncommon for people to apply to a company-sponsored program and have a bus ticket ready to go within a week or two. It's not a very long process at all.
When you do apply make sure you call them all yourself after applying. Get a recruiter on the phone and make sure they go over your application. Sometimes they'll sit on a pile collecting dust for a while if you don't. That will greatly speed up the process.
Same goes for applying for jobs after going to a private school. It doesn't take them long to review your application and give you an answer. You'll just want to call them a day or two after applying to speed up the process.
Thank you I'm already looking up contact info and started a note book with sections for each company I like .pros cons, questions ,answers, advice,commits, details like do I need hazmat or passport?transportation to them, what I will need on road ?, what am I allowed to have/put in truck etc.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
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Been deciding between private or company training. Contacted Knight and Prime to ask questions but not able to sign on til may (family and other commitments) is it too early to apply? Or is it better to do this early and get my ducks in a row? May be going to driving school at local community college next month any way. Thank you in advance for any input
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: