Advice And Options For CDL With Limited Experience
Topic 16441 | Page 1
Hi. I am new to this website and forum. I hope this is being posted in the correct place. So much of the information I have found here has been informative and eye-opening. I have seen many others post here and get great advice. I am hoping I can get some of the same.
I already have a Class A CDL from a trucking school located in my hometown but only 5 weeks experience and have been out of trucking for a few months. I now am able to get back into trucking. With already having my CDL, but not having (what seems to the standard) 3 months minimum of experience required for a lot of company refresher courses - what are my options? Can anyone provide any advice or recommendations on how I reenter trucking with this type of situation?
I know and have researched many companies that offer their own CDL programs and refresher courses, but does anyone know of a company that would take me with my CDL and limited experience/what training or schooling I would be expected to do?
First hi and welcome ;). Most of the larger carriers will take you. They may make you go through the "schooling" again which in my company is a couple weeks of 24/7 driving with an instructor then taking the test for the cdl. All new CDL holders whether coming from a private school or going through a company sponsored school still have to go through intensive training before going solo. "Refresher courses" usually referred to someone who was an experienced driver but let the cdl lapse. What you need is training. At my company after you get the CDL you go out with a trainer for 30,000 miles as a teaming situation. Then you go solo.
Even if you were an experienced driver and say were switching from tanker to reefer , you would still need to go out with a trainer for 30 days in my company for the specific training in that division.
Try applying to swift prime knight and the major carriers. We have lots of drivers here from all different companies who can help ;)
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.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Yes, welcome to the forum David.
When I attended CDL school through Swift (Richmond VA), there was a student with a very similar story to yours. He had some experience, but not enough to justify only a refresher course. He was required to attend school, with a valid CDL. It was clear very early on that he knew how to handle a truck. Basically what happened with him is he tested out a week and a half earlier than the rest of us and he was placed with a mentor for an abbreviated version of the standard (at that time) 160 hours of Road Training. In the end he was assigned his truck and dispatched solo in no more than a month's time.
There is a ton of information in the TT site that can assist you with your decisions:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
Lots of reading, hope it helps. Good luck!
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.
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.
Agreeing with G-TOWN.
I've held my CDL for 7 years now. Not much OTR experience at all.
I would have ZERO ISSUES doing the entire course (and contractual obligation) with a company. Just don't want to have to downgrade my CDL (that I've kept current with medical card, etc.) because I have a passenger endorsement also - and don't want to have to pay $300+ again (for the road test) to put that back onto a new license.
CDL schools are not TRUCKING SCHOOLS - they are simply the minimum requirements (though some schools are better than others) to pass a road test and get your CDL.
Company Schools (after the first phase where applicants get their CDL's) are "finishing schools" where you learn how to operate safely, routing, logging efficiently/effectively (even though everyone is E-Logs now), how to use Qualcomms (or whatever gear your particular company uses), how to deal with shippers/receivers.
For better or worse, there's a LOT MORE TO TRUCKING than JUST DRIVING THE TRUCK.
Where did you get your "5 weeks of experience"? Did you leave under good terms? Did you leave OWING THEM ANYTHING (contractual obligations)? Can you GO BACK? Would you WANT TO GO BACK?
Basically - due to your lack of experience, and the "staleness" of your schooling (as most companies want you within 60 days of graduating a 3rd party school), you may have to start from scratch - minus the DMV stuff (since you already hold a Class A CDL).
Best of luck - keep us posted...
Rick
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.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Agreeing with G-TOWN.
I've held my CDL for 7 years now. Not much OTR experience at all.
I would have ZERO ISSUES doing the entire course (and contractual obligation) with a company. Just don't want to have to downgrade my CDL (that I've kept current with medical card, etc.) because I have a passenger endorsement also - and don't want to have to pay $300+ again (for the road test) to put that back onto a new license.
CDL schools are not TRUCKING SCHOOLS - they are simply the minimum requirements (though some schools are better than others) to pass a road test and get your CDL.
Company Schools (after the first phase where applicants get their CDL's) are "finishing schools" where you learn how to operate safely, routing, logging efficiently/effectively (even though everyone is E-Logs now), how to use Qualcomms (or whatever gear your particular company uses), how to deal with shippers/receivers.
For better or worse, there's a LOT MORE TO TRUCKING than JUST DRIVING THE TRUCK.
Where did you get your "5 weeks of experience"? Did you leave under good terms? Did you leave OWING THEM ANYTHING (contractual obligations)? Can you GO BACK? Would you WANT TO GO BACK?
Basically - due to your lack of experience, and the "staleness" of your schooling (as most companies want you within 60 days of graduating a 3rd party school), you may have to start from scratch - minus the DMV stuff (since you already hold a Class A CDL).
Best of luck - keep us posted...
Rick
The company I worked for was a local company. A new owner took over and laid off the most recent hires. Five of us I think. He wanted to downsize for whatever reason. I don't owe the company any money. Nothing like that.
I am looking at Averitt and Swift. Averitt told me I need a 40 hour refresher course from the school I graduated (one on their "approved" list) from before they could train me. Possibly an option. I really really need some info on their physical and agility stuff if ANYONE could tell me anything. I'm in AL and they would have me home more than Swift, which is important to me. I'm not out here to make a ton of money - just enough to pay the bills, which aren't terrible. My home and vehicles are paid for. I am a bigger guy, so I am really interested in the physical requirements for Swift and Averitt. Please anyone who can shed light in this area, speak up. I've looked at other posts and logs from other's time at both these companies but would love more info. I don't mind going through training and basically starting over. I understand and want the training. I just don't want to ship off to an orientation or training situation that I know won't work out.
Please please any help would be appreciated.
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.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Yes, welcome to the forum David.
When I attended CDL school through Swift (Richmond VA), there was a student with a very similar story to yours. He had some experience, but not enough to justify only a refresher course. He was required to attend school, with a valid CDL. It was clear very early on that he knew how to handle a truck. Basically what happened with him is he tested out a week and a half earlier than the rest of us and he was placed with a mentor for an abbreviated version of the standard (at that time) 160 hours of Road Training. In the end he was assigned his truck and dispatched solo in no more than a month's time.
There is a ton of information in the TT site that can assist you with your decisions:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
Lots of reading, hope it helps. Good luck!
Awesome information!! Thank you! Do you or your friend have any info you can give me on Swift physical and agility stuff? I would greatly appreciate it.
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.
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.
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Hi. I am new to this website and forum. I hope this is being posted in the correct place. So much of the information I have found here has been informative and eye-opening. I have seen many others post here and get great advice. I am hoping I can get some of the same.
I already have a Class A CDL from a trucking school located in my hometown but only 5 weeks experience and have been out of trucking for a few months. I now am able to get back into trucking. With already having my CDL, but not having (what seems to the standard) 3 months minimum of experience required for a lot of company refresher courses - what are my options? Can anyone provide any advice or recommendations on how I reenter trucking with this type of situation?
I know and have researched many companies that offer their own CDL programs and refresher courses, but does anyone know of a company that would take me with my CDL and limited experience/what training or schooling I would be expected to do?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: