An Older Woman In Trucking?
Topic 9393 | Page 2
Jan, some companies check your physical ability - like being able to get under a trailer (about 3 1/2 feet high). Also, that landing gear crank can be hard to work, depending on the weight of the trailer. And, of course, climbing those steps into the cab.
If you can pass the DOT physical, as well as the CDL permit tests, you're good to go for driver training. Some companies do the agility tests, some don't. Your recruiters <-(there's a plural there) will be able to tell you.
I do appreciate all your advice. I'm not too concerned about the physical aspects of trucking, as my current job has some physical aspects to it also. Except I am a smoker......so I can get winded.....
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I haven't decided yet. I can't afford to go to school so I'm looking into company financed programs. But....I can't afford to quit my current job because I need to have some income, so I would need to find something in my area. I really do want to give this a try. I just have a lot to figure out yet.
Start by looking at trucking companies now. Recruiters can tell you how much their company will cover your school tuition/hiring bonus. Many community colleges have driving courses that last the semester. Some proprietary schools, too.
Do the Pre-Hire thing and take those letters to your chosen school. Some schools make you sign a note so you could skip that out-of-pocket.
Once you have the CDL-A in hand (maybe by the fall) make your jump to company orientation and youth new job.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I haven't decided yet. I can't afford to go to school so I'm looking into company financed programs. But....I can't afford to quit my current job because I need to have some income, so I would need to find something in my area. I really do want to give this a try. I just have a lot to figure out yet.
Start by looking at trucking companies now. Recruiters can tell you how much their company will cover your school tuition/hiring bonus. Many community colleges have driving courses that last the semester. Some proprietary schools, too.
Do the Pre-Hire thing and take those letters to your chosen school. Some schools make you sign a note so you could skip that out-of-pocket.
Once you have the CDL-A in hand (maybe by the fall) make your jump to company orientation and youth new job.
Can I find how to do those 'pre-hire' letters online?
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Can I find how to do those 'pre-hire' letters online?
The words " Pre-Hire " are a link to info on how they work.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Since when is 50 old? When I saw the title of this thread I was expecting to see someone in their 90's starting their career. I'm 56 and have been driving for 19 months. You might be insane, but your not crazy. I retired from teaching, got bored and decided to start a second career. Many companies like more mature drivers. Best of luck with your career.
Since when is 50 old? When I saw the title of this thread I was expecting to see someone in their 90's starting their career. I'm 56 and have been driving for 19 months. You might be insane, but your not crazy. I retired from teaching, got bored and decided to start a second career. Many companies like more mature drivers. Best of luck with your career.
Haha, I'm sorry, I hope I didn't offend anyone. I just wanted to know that there are others out there who have picked this career at a riper age. I love to drive, always have, and I really want to try this.
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I haven't decided yet. I can't afford to go to school so I'm looking into company financed programs. But....I can't afford to quit my current job because I need to have some income, so I would need to find something in my area. I really do want to give this a try. I just have a lot to figure out yet.