Career Change: Leaving Marine Corps To Hit The Open Road
Topic 16785 | Page 1
Welcome Daryl and thank you for your service.
You have come to the right place for information. Once you begin to familiarize yourself with the TT site, you'll quickly realize it's the number one repository for trucking information specific to getting a good start in the business. Much of the information you need is found by clicking the buttons on the bar found at the top of this page. There is also a very good search bar in the upper left hand corner enabling you to find archived threads relevant to your topic.
We like to suggest for anyone just beginning their journey to review these links (click on them):
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
The first two are a basic primer on what to expect as a driver, especially the first year. High Road is the TT tool designed to assist in passing the CDL permit exams and offers training in other related trucking topics.
These two links will also provide you answers to your schooling and training questions:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Article Category: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Truck Driving School"
Keep in mind that most of the carriers conducting sponsored training offer special incentives for veterans. Be sure to inquire as you apply to individual companies.
Good luck and let us know how else we can assist you.
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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I've decided to hang up the uniform after 13 years (E-6/SSgt). I first got a CDL back in 2014 in North Carolina but transferred to California. I didn't take the CDL written test when I got to California. I've been told that I'll only have to take the written to get the CDL back. However, I feel that driving in California is different and probably more difficult than North Carolina because of the mountainous regions which I have no experience in. So I feel I should attend another truck driving school. I'm located in San Diego, CA and have Western Truck Driving School in mind. I'm open to suggestions about company sponsored training and good companies that will give a rookie a chance to get their start.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.