Interested In New Career Need Help.
Topic 8390 | Page 1
Hey Dakota. The best place to start is our Truck Driver's Career Guide. That will teach you all about getting a great start in the industry and help you make the right choices for yourself.
You won't want to begin school until you're either 21 or just about to turn 21. You could get your license now but as you probably know you wouldn't be able to leave the state until you're 21 and no one would likely hire you anyhow at that age. You also don't want to get your license without using it right away. If there is an extended period of time from the time you graduate and get your CDL until you're ready to start working many companies will make you take a refresher course. That time period could be as little as 60-90 days.
Before you begin your schooling, plan on having your permit and all of your endorsements already. You can study our High Road Training Program and knock out all of the written tests in one day if you like or split it up into a couple of days. But you'll want to do that just before you begin your schooling.
Here's how our High Road Training Program breaks down:
To Get Your CDL Permit:
- Rules & Regulations
- Driving Safely
- Transporting Cargo Safely
- Air Brakes
- Combination Vehicles
- Pre-Trip Inspection
- Driving Exam
To get your CDL endorsements which are optional but we highly recommend you get:
- Transporting Passengers
- Doubles And Triples
- Tankers
- Hazardous Materials
And two sections we've built ourselves with info you'll need for everyday life on the road but the manual doesn't really cover it:
- Logbook
- Weight & Balance
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
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.
Logbook:
A written or electronic record of a driver's duty status which must be maintained at all times. The driver records the amount of time spent driving, on-duty not driving, in the sleeper berth, or off duty. The enforcement of the Hours Of Service Rules (HOS) are based upon the entries put in a driver's logbook.
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Thank you very much I appreciate it. I'm sure you will be hearing from me again.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Little back story. My dad started driving a truck when I was 5 or so, he would come home with pictures and stories of the things he had seen with his basset hound rooster, and it's been my dream to do and see those things. I'm 20 years old turn 21 close to the end if the year. I want to obtain my cdl and start driving. I would love to take my dog with me, that's a must. Tips on anything would be very helpful. What are some companies that allow your furry family come along for the ride? Also, I'm open to any other tips you might want to give me. Thanks in advance.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.