Recently Got My CDL.

Topic 7248 | Page 1

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Todd L.'s Comment
member avatar

I recently attended and 'graduated' CDL school here in the Twin Cities from a reputable school that is even on your forum. My question is.... My recent work history is sketchy. The only regular work(not under the table) in the past 5 years is a job that only lasts two months and the rest of the year I do side work i.e. remodeling, concrete, etc. My wife has a good job so we're not hurting financially. I have found this to be a hindrance when applying for work. I'm 48 and my work ethic has never been a problem. Why is this such a big thing in the industry. I figured once I had that CDL I could 'write my own ticket' so to speak. Please advise..... -TL

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.

EPU:

Electric Auxiliary Power Units

Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices

Old School's Comment
member avatar

Okay, I thought there was something else to your story - thanks for telling us. You can get past this, and it's really not that hard.

First off let me explain why it is such a big deal. This is a post 9/11 criteria that the FMCSA put into regulations requiring employment verification for the past so many years. The whole purpose of this is so that they can confirm that you are not someone planning on using a big truck such as a tanker for an act of terrorism. The work verification process shows them that you didn't just spend the last three years in Yemeni at a training camp learning how to destroy public places with a loaded fuel tanker.

Here's how you get around your lack of verifiable legitimately established business employers. Since you have been doing "side work," as you call it, have two or three of your customers or your friends who know what you have been doing write a simple letter stating that they have known you for however many years and that they can verify that you have been doing remodeling work (or whatever) for the past however many years it may be. Take the letters to a public notary and have them notarized. The persons who write the letters may have to be with you to get them notarized. Then when you are providing your work history tell what it is that you have been doing and provide those notarized letters as the verification of your statement. The letters need to be from customers or acquaintances (friends), not from family members. That will get you in the door of most places. I have seen this work for so many folks who were in your same shoes. Take the effort, and give it a shot, but let me warn you that you need to get this ball rolling, because if you wait too long you will have another problem that is harder to overcome. If you wait too long from the time you got your CDL to the time you are ready to start driving a truck, many of the insurance carriers will require you to take a refresher course before they will allow you to be hired.

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.

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

FMCSA:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

What Does The FMCSA Do?

  • Commercial Drivers' Licenses
  • Data and Analysis
  • Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
  • Research and Technology
  • Safety Assistance
  • Support and Information Sharing

Fm:

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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Todd L.'s Comment
member avatar

Okay, I thought there was something else to your story - thanks for telling us. You can get past this, and it's really not that hard.

First off let me explain why it is such a big deal. This is a post 9/11 criteria that the FMCSA put into regulations requiring employment verification for the past so many years. The whole purpose of this is so that they can confirm that you are not someone planning on using a big truck such as a tanker for an act of terrorism. The work verification process shows them that you didn't just spend the last three years in Yemeni at a training camp learning how to destroy public places with a loaded fuel tanker.

Here's how you get around your lack of verifiable legitimately established business employers. Since you have been doing "side work," as you call it, have two or three of your customers or your friends who know what you have been doing write a simple letter stating that they have known you for however many years and that they can verify that you have been doing remodeling work (or whatever) for the past however many years it may be. Take the letters to a public notary and have them notarized. The persons who write the letters may have to be with you to get them notarized. Then when you are providing your work history tell what it is that you have been doing and provide those notarized letters as the verification of your statement. The letters need to be from customers or acquaintances (friends), not from family members. That will get you in the door of most places. I have seen this work for so many folks who were in your same shoes. Take the effort, and give it a shot, but let me warn you that you need to get this ball rolling, because if you wait too long you will have another problem that is harder to overcome. If you wait too long from the time you got your CDL to the time you are ready to start driving a truck, many of the insurance carriers will require you to take a refresher course before they will allow you to be hired.

Thanks so much for the reply. Sounds like great advice and fits my situation. Love this forum and being a newbie.... well, you'll be hearing from me a lot. Thanks again, TL

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.

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

FMCSA:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

What Does The FMCSA Do?

  • Commercial Drivers' Licenses
  • Data and Analysis
  • Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
  • Research and Technology
  • Safety Assistance
  • Support and Information Sharing

Fm:

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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
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