Trying One More Time. Please Give Me Some Advice.

Topic 7272 | Page 1

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Jay R. R2-Detour 's Comment
member avatar

Looking to get back into trucking. I was an idiot and let my CDL lapse years ago. What is the best company sponsored option in your alls opinions? I'd like one with decent dedicated opportunities, and I don't really want to team drive any longer that I absolutely have to. Like I said I drove before, just want back in the driver seat. Thank to all who reply.

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.
Jared McClure's Comment
member avatar

It seems to me that would depend on your location and on whatever specific issues are important to you.

This site does have a list of companies offering company sponsored training , which can be found here.

I would click on that link and take a look at what it says about each school and decide which one is best for you.

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.

Jay R. R2-Detour 's Comment
member avatar

Ok thanks. I live in Indiana so as long as I can be gone for about 2 weeks at a time I'll be fine. My goal is to complete a contract to get the training paid, then start applying at local places near me for home daily jobs. Unless I really enjoy the time on the road. Which I liked ok last time.

Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar

Yeah, ya gotta kinda figure out what you want as far as the type of freight you want to haul and how often you want to get home. Those two things right there will eliminate about 75% of the choices and they'll you'll know which companies suit you best. Dry van companies are gonna get you home a lot more often and they'll have more regional and dedicated opportunities overall.

Figure out those two things and you'll know your best options.

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.

Dry Van:

A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
John S.'s Comment
member avatar

Just curious, if you had a CDL already in the pass and prior experience, wouldnt it be best to just find some pre hires that will do the refresher coarse and get your license that way. it seems like thats all you would need, unless of coarse you forgot alot. or are you just wanting to start all over again. truth is you dont have to even take a class for a CDL, just pass the written permit test, then have a truck to take the driving test. of coarse you will need to know all the driving skills.

john

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.

Jay R. R2-Detour 's Comment
member avatar

Just curious, if you had a CDL already in the pass and prior experience, wouldnt it be best to just find some pre hires that will do the refresher coarse and get your license that way. it seems like thats all you would need, unless of coarse you forgot alot. or are you just wanting to start all over again. truth is you dont have to even take a class for a CDL, just pass the written permit test, then have a truck to take the driving test. of coarse you will need to know all the driving skills.

john

There is a trucking school in Indianapolis I hear offers this type of deal. So I'm thinking of checking into it as wel .

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.

John S.'s Comment
member avatar

The reason i mentioned this was there are some craigslist ads for jobs in the transportation section thats always saying refresher coarses for people who are in experienced, or havent been driving after awhile they offer refresher coarses. i also noticed they advertise in most states as they are hiring all over.

john

Dutch's Comment
member avatar

When I got started with PAM, my trainer explained to me how to get out of my contract obligation to team drive. He said that when the time came for them to pair me up with another driver, to simply tell them that I am a light sleeper, and cannot sleep with the truck moving.

Sure enough, this is all it took, and I was allowed to continue to drive solo. I put in 7 months with PAM, and then went to work for Crete.

You can navigate a lot of obstacles in the trucking industry using "safety" as a bargaining chip.

Case in point, I maintain a consistent sleep schedule using "safety" as my primary motivation. Dispatch works to get me loads that keep me on the sleep and driving schedule that I prefer to run.

Daniel B.'s Comment
member avatar

When I got started with PAM, my trainer explained to me how to get out of my contract obligation to team drive. He said that when the time came for them to pair me up with another driver, to simply tell them that I am a light sleeper, and cannot sleep with the truck moving.

Sure enough, this is all it took, and I was allowed to continue to drive solo. I put in 7 months with PAM, and then went to work for Crete.

You can navigate a lot of obstacles in the trucking industry using "safety" as a bargaining chip.

Case in point, I maintain a consistent sleep schedule using "safety" as my primary motivation. Dispatch works to get me loads that keep me on the sleep and driving schedule that I prefer to run.

So what happens if they give you a load that you have to drive nights?

Dutch's Comment
member avatar

double-quotes-start.png

When I got started with PAM, my trainer explained to me how to get out of my contract obligation to team drive. He said that when the time came for them to pair me up with another driver, to simply tell them that I am a light sleeper, and cannot sleep with the truck moving.

Sure enough, this is all it took, and I was allowed to continue to drive solo. I put in 7 months with PAM, and then went to work for Crete.

You can navigate a lot of obstacles in the trucking industry using "safety" as a bargaining chip.

Case in point, I maintain a consistent sleep schedule using "safety" as my primary motivation. Dispatch works to get me loads that keep me on the sleep and driving schedule that I prefer to run.

double-quotes-end.png

So what happens if they give you a load that you have to drive nights?

Daniel, when I come back from home time I start running around midnight. I like to drive from midnight till 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Once I get my clock running on this schedule, it is hard for them to get me off that schedule. If they give me a load that picks up late in the am, I still shut down around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. If I can't run the load and stay on my preferred schedule, I turn it down, and dispatch will offer me another load. It's not really hard to figure out, once you decide when you want to run. I run this schedule, and still get 2200 to 3000 miles a week consistently.

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