Kid's Journal
Topic 1595 | Page 1
It looks like a good list of questions and companies for sure. Have you seen our section for trucking companies that hire inexperienced drivers? There's a ton of information on companies there, and other companies are covered in our Company-Sponsored Training section. We've done exactly what you're doing - we made a huge list and called everyone to get the information.
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.
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.
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Becoming A Truck Driver Choosing A Truck Driving School Choosing A Trucking Company
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So, here's the deal. I'm still serious about a trucking career and have just now started to get my research done. Before I start calling companies, talking to recruiters, and sending my information out there, I've tried to get a very thorough list of questions I'll need to ask or look up the answers to. Take a look at these, feedback is welcome, and if I'm forgetting anything, please feel free to let me know!
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The Company :
1. What is your slip-seat policy?
2. Do you provide travel to your training?
3. How long is your training?
4. How many miles can your drivers expect a week?
5. What is the average age of your trucks on the road?
6. What is your lumper policy?
7. What percentage of your freight is no-touch?
8. Do you pay for motels?
9. Do you operate in New York City? Canada?
10. Is there a standard physical?
11. Do drivers do their own maintenance?
12. Do you have a designated company to fuel with?
13. Are your trucks governed? What speeds?
14. What are your policies if trucks break down?
15. Are drivers penalized for break downs?
16. How long do new graduates drive with trainers?
17. What's your company idling policy?
Pay and Personal :
1. What is your home time policy?
2. Do you have layover pay?
3. What can a driver expect in pay for their first year?
4. Do you offer bonuses? What kinds?
5. Do you reimburse for scales and tolls?
6. Do you have a pet policy?
7. What is your rider policy?
8. What are your pay options? (Check, direct deposit)
9. Is the truck allowed at my home during off time?
10. Does the company hold the first pay check?
11. When are your employees paid?
12. Do drivers pay their own commercial truck insurance?
13. Will you pay for a trainee's CDL training?
14. Does the trainee pay back any of the training investment?
15. How long must a new trainee sign on for to make up for debts?
16. How much cash will I need to bring for orientation?
17. Do you provide meals at orientation?
18. Does your CDL training offer special endorsements?
19. Do you provide insurance for drivers?
20. What are your retirement plans for drivers?
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In addition to those questions, I've got a list of twenty five companies I'm going to take a peek at. Yeah, I know it's a lot of work, but I want to cover all my bases. I'm going to compare the pros and cons of these guys. If you have any other companies I should add and look into, please, let me know! I'm also happy to hear feedback from any of the drivers of the companies I've listed. As I find the answers to the questions per company I'll be sure to post the results.
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1. JB Hunt
2. Con-Way
3. Swift
4. Schneider
5. Landstar
6. Old Dominion
7. Wener
8. US Xpress
9. Estes
10. Prime Inc.
11. C.R. England
12. Knight
13. Covenant
14. Celadon
15. Stevens Transportation
16. Saia
17. Averitt
18. Marten
19. Heartland Express
20. Arnold
21. Baylor
22. Crete Carrier
23. Gordon Trucking
24. KLLM
25. TMC
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.