Jobs For Both A CDL Holder AND A Welder?
Topic 8356 | Page 1
Dave, just thought I would throw out a suggestion of an area that you could look into.
I was in the custom electrical sign business for thirty years . I had trucks that required a CDL license to operate and some of the guys that drove them also needed to be proficient welders because we did a lot of fabrication/installation work out on the job sites. It is interesting work which requires a lot of different skills. I had employees that would make as much as twenty two dollars an hour.
Don't know if that might be an avenue of interest to you or not, but I know that sign companies look for guys like that. They also need folks with electrician licenses.
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.
The CDL is required for CSX because of the size of the trucks that you would drive and sometimes pull a pintle hitch trailer. With the railroad you would have great benefits and pay to boot. Sounds like something to shoot for.
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.
Mechanics trucks, bucket trucks, service trucks all require a cdl due to either air brakes or weight. We have a hard time finding heavy equipment mechanics who also hold cdl with tanker and hazmat. Welding makes me think oilfield and pipelines. The railroad is great if you can get on with them. Awesome retirement etc. Don't let the initial pay put you off, you can always ask for more based on experience, think of it as a starting point you ask for more and if they like you they will pay it. Caterpillar and others like that are always needing techs with a cdl. Even your local power company needs cld drivers with other skills. I would just start applying everywhere and be firm about your salary requirements and see what shakes out.
Phil
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.
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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Just curious. I just finished my CDL program; I test next week. Anxious but excited! Looking forward to starting and got some promising prehires locally out of Savannah, just need that license in hand!
I'm just looking into the future. I'm a jack of all trades, also worked for awhile as a mechanic and did plenty of different jobs in the Army too. Tons of skills but not many certifications. I'm ASE certified and when my job and life allows, I also want to go to school to tighten up my welding skills and get certified. I enjoy it that much; I'm like a serious welding hobbyist, among other things.
So the question came up. I have seen a lot of trades jobs that prefer or require at least a CDL B if not a CDL A. Some are really shooting low (like $12/hr) but there does seem to be a few fairly good opportunities out there for someone who is a CDL holder who also is a skilled tradesman, though they seem to be few and far between. One example is a CDL holder/welder working on the rails for CSX. What is your guys take on that?
I'll be doing the welding course, if for nothing else, for personal enjoyment, so if I'm crazy, no harm, no foul. Wouldn't be the first time I've been called crazy...
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
Prehires:
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.