Have CDL-A But No School Or Road Experience
Topic 11381 | Page 1
I have my CDL-A my current Med CARD but no OTR Experience and all I get from Companies is that I need the School Certificate or the OTR Experience or both. It used to NOT be this way and it seems that it is one big SCAM because the school gets money from the Govt. the Companies get someone that they can low ball on pay not to mention they also get Govt. money and all I have been told is that I need some type of FORMAL training. Lets be honest what type of socalled FORMAL training can a school possibly offer? The best and ONLY FORMAL training to anything is to actually do whatever it is you are wanting to do. IF the STATE thinks that a person is good enough to get a license then a company should as well instead of running a DRIVER MILL and you all know what I am talking about. So tell me, WHAT exactly is a person supposed to do?
Lighten up, Mark! The school thing is mostly demanded by the commercial insurance companies. It is true, you can get your CDL on your own, but (with insurance companies whispering in their ear) a trucking company wants to know for sure that you can drive safely every day. The "Govt." has no financial interest in the process, but someone has to pay for the training, and that would be you, but companies want drivers so badly that they will pay the school, or run their own training.
This is exactly what you need to do (It sounds like you have your full CDL, but in your own way): First, decide whether you want to go to a Truck Driving School or get Company-Sponsored Training . You can decide through here How To Choose A School. Here's a hint: since you have the license, you should test out of the school in short order. I saw that happen in my Swift school. At any rate, that's what you need to do.
You can check out Trucking Companies and read up on How To Choose A Company. For a possible plan B, and plan C, apply to everyone you can here: Apply For Truck Driving Jobs
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.
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.
Hello Mark, I'm in a similar situation. Prime and other companies have offered for me to come on-board but they want me to 'update' my training. I pulled doubles for three years and ran local too. But it was along time ago. I'm looking to get out of my current occupation (20 years) and I want to get back into trucking. It's just something you have to accept. Think of it as an investment. Good luck!
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.
Dude, you may get by with just a refresher course tbh. That way they can't say you didn't go to school. Its just an idea to throw out to ya and may very well be cheaper in the long run. Once the school sees that you know what your doing they may pass you and you could be done.
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I have my CDL-A my current Med CARD but no OTR Experience and all I get from Companies is that I need the School Certificate or the OTR Experience or both. It used to NOT be this way and it seems that it is one big SCAM because the school gets money from the Govt. the Companies get someone that they can low ball on pay not to mention they also get Govt. money and all I have been told is that I need some type of FORMAL training. Lets be honest what type of socalled FORMAL training can a school possibly offer? The best and ONLY FORMAL training to anything is to actually do whatever it is you are wanting to do. IF the STATE thinks that a person is good enough to get a license then a company should as well instead of running a DRIVER MILL and you all know what I am talking about. So tell me, WHAT exactly is a person supposed to do?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.