No Driving School, But Successfully Tested & Obtained Florida CDL Class A License - What Are My Options For Jobs/companies?
Topic 15110 | Page 4
so i think it's ridiculous that u guys tell people on here that's it's impossible [to land a job without going to school] and a waste of time..We certainly never told anyone it was impossible. In fact I went back through and found several examples from the past few years of exactly what I've told people. For instance, this conversation from one month ago where a guy asks about getting trained by "some guy with a truck" instead of a reputable school. My response was:
There are plenty of people who need to get a CDL but aren't looking to land a job with it. Maybe they already have a job and the company they work for wants them to get a CDL. Maybe they're a mechanic somewhere or they own their own business which requires them to have a CDL to haul the equipment. So these little schools, or "guys with a truck", can serve that purpose pretty well and maybe save people some money in the process. But if you're looking to land a job after getting your CDL then you have to make sure that companies are going to hire you upon completing the schooling and getting your CDL.Did you already have a job lined up with your uncle? Yes, you did. In this conversation from almost a year ago a fella was wondering if his Class B experience will help him land a Class A job. He asked, "Would it be better for me to go through a school or just pay to test up?" and my response was:
Yeah, you'll be starting over. Class A companies normally don't consider Class B trucks as driving experience. Unless you already have a job lined up somewhere that said they'll take you once you upgrade you're going to be better off going through school.So once again I said if he already had a job lined up it would work. How long have I been telling people this? Let's keep digging. In this conversation from almost 2 1/2 years ago a fella asks about taking the cheapest option a school has to save money and my response was:
a lot of those short, inexpensive schools won't be enough to get you hired by most companies. Programs like those are usually for people who are in special circumstances. For instance, maybe they already have a Class B and the company they work for is willing to pay for their Class A so they can upgrade to the bigger trucks. Or maybe they already have a job lined up or experience at their company and they just need to get a Class A as quickly and inexpensively as possible.Finally, in this conversation from three years ago a fella said he had already gotten his CDL permit and said, "I have to line up a truck to take the test" because he was going to get his CDL without going to school at all. My response was:
Now I do have on major concern. You mentioned taking the road test on your own by renting a truck. So obviously you're not planning on going to a truck driving school. Have you tried applying for pre-hires or do you already have a job lined up? Because getting your CDL isn't enough to land you a job with most trucking companies that hire inexperienced drivers. Their insurance companies require new drivers to have a graduation certificate from an approved trucking school. So I'm concerned that you're going to get your license but will have trouble landing a job. What's your status?So yes, even three years ago I was telling people to make sure they go through a school unless they already had a job lined up. Davor, you said:
so i think it's ridiculous that u guys tell people on here that's it's impossible [to land a job without going to school] and a waste of time..So now that I've given you several quotes from our advice in the past it's clear we never said it was impossible. You also said:
if u really want it you will get it no matter what road u take is all I'm SayingNo, you won't get it no matter what road you take. You're wrong about that also. You will not get hired by the major companies if you don't have either the proper schooling or verifiable experience. But you will, however, get there if your family hands it all to you. Must be nice. Most of us don't have it that easy. Finally, you said:
Not ****ed or angry...just when people tell folks on here that's it's a disservice to get a CDL without school is pure BS...like they're actually ruining their career by going this way is what jerks me...
Well I'm sure you're not ****ed or angry anymore because obviously we never said the things you're claiming we said.
Then you're going to talk down to drivers with 100 times the skill and experience you have and act like you actually accomplished something on your own when in fact you were handed everything by your family? Please.
You didn't earn sh*t and you didn't prove anything to anyone except that you don't listen, you like trying to make good people look bad, and you're an arrogant jerk.
Would you like to run your mouth some more or can we be allowed to get back to helping people who actually listen and need the help? Because the thing is, most of the people here have to actually earn their way through this world themselves. They don't have a family to just hand them everything.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
I thought it has always been said here that CDL schools are only about teaching what is needed to pass the CDL exam, nothing more, nothing less. If so, then what difference does it make if someone attends a school, or not? As long as a person can pass the test, what's the difference?
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.
I was looking at an entry level driving job for Schneider the other day. Eligible candidates are "new class A CDL holders." Doesn't say anything about having to attend an accredited school.
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.
I was looking at an entry level driving job for Schneider the other day. Eligible candidates are "new class A CDL holders." Doesn't say anything about having to attend an accredited school.
They have approved driving schools they hire from. You were just on page x of x in the process of finding and applying for whichever job is available.
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.
I have also seen there list of approved schools. You have to dig in the site a little bit.
I was looking at an entry level driving job for Schneider the other day. Eligible candidates are "new class A CDL holders." Doesn't say anything about having to attend an accredited school.
They have approved driving schools they hire from. You were just on page x of x in the process of finding and applying for whichever job is available.
i'm kind of in a similar position as the gentleman that started this thread, so this is interesting to me. Seems strange that a company would advertise for "new CDL holders" when they mean "new graduates of CDL schools." I am going to make some calls and see what some companies actually have to say about it. I'll let you know what i find out.
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.
Paul, the big deal is that Davor is putting out false information, which you will soon discover. We work really hard around here to help people make the right choices to get into this career. We don't take it lightly when somebody jumps in here acting like a Banty rooster and telling us we don't know what we're talking about.
A lot of people depend on us for guidance. They don't need their confidence undermined by some new kid that thinks he's got a new revelation on the truth.
Call around, you'll soon find out we shoot straight.
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.
i'm kind of in a similar position as the gentleman that started this thread, so this is interesting to me. Seems strange that a company would advertise for "new CDL holders" when they mean "new graduates of CDL schools." I am going to make some calls and see what some companies actually have to say about it. I'll let you know what i find out.
A recent graduate IS a new CDL holder.
Can you break into the industry w/o school, or company training? Yes, definitely. But that is probably less than 5% of each new generation of drivers. And their options are a lot smaller at first, for first company.
From what I have seen, if you drove in the military, many companies would be happy to take you on, and you would also get their military perks.
As OS said, this site tries to focus on the "industry standard" way of getting your CDL.
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.
A recent graduate IS a new CDL holder.
Thanks, captain!
A "new CDL holder" is not necessarily a recent CDL school graduate.
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.
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There are exceptions to every rule and you seem to be one of them. Congrats on doing it the hard way but for a majority of the people in the country that would not work. The safest and surest way to ensure that you will have a job is company sponsored training. Next is private schools. There are some companies out there that don't even hire from private schools because they having approved them. The bottom of the list is doing it on your own. Is it possible? Yes. Is it the surest way to get a job? No. About once a month someone comes in because they went on thier own to get thier license and found they couldn't get a job afterward. And imagine that you are cash strapped and are in danger of losing your job. Do you want to take the safest surest way or do you want to go out and gamble to try to do it on your own? There are plenty of people even in here who got thier license on thier own and even they are saying go to school. That is why everyone here always says to go to a school instead of doing it on your own
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.