Advice For 50 Yr Old Female Interested In Trucking..
Topic 9605 | Page 1
Welcome to the forum Christine, we all understand your anxiety with all this. It can be a little overwhelming at first but you've landed on the right forum for knowledgable experts that can guide you to the right answers. First most of the written test information is located right on this site. Go to the link CDL training materials and you will find a wealth of information and practice tests in order to pass your CDL permit test. Then you will be able to start learning to drive with an instructor. As far as women in the trucking industry, over the past decade more and more women are getting behind the wheel. I think you will find a very positive reception when you start driving. Trucking is becoming more and more professional every year. Even at our terminals they have hair dressers spas massage you name it. Good luck and we are here if you need us.
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.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Welcome Christine. Our High Road Training Program will help you prepare for your CDL permit exams, your endorsement exams, and life on the road with Logbook Rules and Weight & Balance sections. Here is how our 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 highly recommend:
- Transporting Passengers
- Doubles And Triples
- Tankers
- Hazardous Materials
Two sections we've built ourselves with info you'll need for everyday life on the road:
- Logbook
- Weight & Balance
Two sections for anyone considering flatbed:
- Cargo Securement
- New York State Coil Endorsement
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 both for the helpful tips and advice! its much appreciated!
Thank you both for the helpful tips and advice! its much appreciated!
I'm a little younger than you, but in nearly the same boat. Feel free to inbox me...I'm trying to make some friends before I get out there :)
Thank you both for the helpful tips and advice! its much appreciated!
I'm a little younger than you, but in nearly the same boat. Feel free to inbox me...I'm trying to make some friends before I get out there :)
Christy, AND Christine,
Once you start posting on Trucking Truth, you HAVE friends! There are people on here who are not shy about telling their age, either. I was in Middle School when you were born, Christine! (I'm 64 now). Not to worry about the age issue.
Christine also wrote:
but I'm having a difficult time wrapping my head around all the tests/pretests just for the assesment tests..its been many many years since I was in school..also wondering how to make ends meet while being trained and until a first paycheck, with car payments and other bills.
The written test comes first, to get your CDL Permit. Concentrate on the High Road Training Program. This will all but guarantee passinig. Study as Brett outlined above. Then a school will teach you more about driving, the finer points of "Hours of Service"/Log book, and things like that. You will get practice in driving on the road, and backing. (Backing a 53' trailer will probably be the most frustrating thing about getting a CDL. Patience, Sister.)
The the BIG TEST is the CDL driving test. That's what so many people post here - that They PASSED! YAAAY!
Finances can be another story. There are company schools that either pay you or allow you to draw on future earnings (a loan). There are schools (even company schools) that give you no financial support till you are hired. Also, don't sweat tuition. Look in How To Choose A School and Truck Driving Schools. Most companies will cover your tuition once you get hired. Read this: Understanding Pre-Hires for some important information.
Come back soon with all your questions.
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.
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.
Forget your age and live your life. You can DO this.
-mountain girl
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I've gotten accepted for GAP assistance program for covering tuition for the truck driving course at the community college...but I'm having a difficult time wrapping my head around all the tests/pretests just for the assesment tests..its been many many years since I was in school..also wondering how to make ends meet while being trained and until a first paycheck, with car payments and other bills. I am single..so no other income..and already living paycheck to paycheck and no savings. Also a concern of being female in the industry. .I'm no spring chicken...but not quite an old goat...are females treated with less respect than males in this industry?