New And Excited!
Topic 11708 | Page 1
Ha, oops this is the wrong section =( if someone could move it to CDL training diaries I'd appreciate it, hah.
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.
Welcome Scott! Glad you found the site.
I think we can all relate to your nerves and the anticipation of attending school. "Advice"? Focus, apply yourself, and make the very best of your time while in school. Align yourself with others that are serious and there to learn. After the preliminaries are out of the way, not a bad idea to form a study group for the purpose of reviewing material during the evening hours.
There is a lot of very good information in the Trucking Truth website that can assist you as you work through your schooling. TT's founder has a really good book, Brett's Book that is well worth your time to read and will answer many of the questions you may already have. The Truck Driver's Career Guide is also a good reference piece designed to assist in building a realistic set of expectations.
A review of Understanding Pre-Hires and how-to Apply For Truck Driving Jobs is also relevant. It doesn't hurt to start applying now to the Trucking Companies that will accept and road-train entry-level drivers. Since there are many employment options reading through the link How To Choose A Company will help you narrow your choices.
Let us know how else we can help, be safe and the best of luck as you begin your schooling.
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.
For many, the idea of starting a brand new thing in their liv\fe is exciting in itself. It shows you have "bought in" to it. Good luck on your new adventure!
Your first day will be mostly waiting around, filling out forms, and taking your physical and/or pee/hair test. I hope you don't need to be nervous for that!
If you have your CDL already, you are \ahead of the game. If you still need to take the test, start , like now to study the High Road Training Program so you won't be so nervous about that hurdle.
One piece of advice: most new drivers have "issues" with backing and double clutching. Backing a 53' long trailer is frustration itself. Just be patient, don't let your mistakes get you flustered. Do one thing at a time. I recommend getting a small toy semi-truck (less than $15 at Walmart) so you can see better what happens as you back around corners.
Double clutching (using the clutch two times when you shift up or down) is mostly a game of timing. The action is fast, and like learning bike riding, once you "get it" you always have it.
Bring your questions, frustrations and complaints back to this Trucking Truth forum.
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.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Double Clutching:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
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Hey, all! Hope you guys had a lovely Thanksgiving last week!
Reason for the post is Monday morning at the early time of 0730 I report at Des Moines Area Community college for drug screen and orientation to class! But I'm so excited that I am jittery at this exact moment typing this!
I'm also worrying about how I recently left my job that I was with for 5 years! Was it common for all of you guys to be nervous? Anyone have some words of advice too?
Last of all, sorry if this is in the wrong section of the forums.
Thanks guys!