Think I Need More Training
Topic 17087 | Page 1
Don't give up, get your CDL there even if it takes a few tries. Any company you start with will give you more training don't worry about that. But you paid for your CDL school, might as well get it there. Your just nervous is all, you'll be alright.
I went to a private school that was ten weekends long. Everyone is worried about passing the test. You can do 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.
Check that link. Most of those companies will take you, but your school should be able to get you to the point of getting your license. You're just lacking confidence and skilll. You're going to get more training after you land a job.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
To echo what the above two posters have said - the CDL school is really just teaching you enough to pass the test and get your license. That is going to be almost every CDL school, not just the one you are going to. That is nothing to worry about, companies that hire new drivers know this and will give you further training when you start.
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.
Got it.
Don't give up, get your CDL there even if it takes a few tries. Any company you start with will give you more training don't worry about that. But you paid for your CDL school, might as well get it there. Your just nervous is all, you'll be alright.
I went to a private school that was ten weekends long. Everyone is worried about passing the test. You can do 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.
I just completed a six month course at a trade school. There was only 13 hours of on the road training. I feel kind of foolish now for signing up for six months. 32 hours of straightline and only 13 hours to actually learn how to drive the truck. So I'm preparing for the possibility that I won't be able to pass the road final. Will a company hire me without a cdl and train me even if I have had training? Roehl prehired me and are second on my list. I told the recruiter that I'd like to sign up for their cdl training and I haven't heard back from her. She signed me up to work for Roehl but didn't call back when I asked on her voice mail if I could do the cdl training. Are there any companies that would invest in training someone without asked cdl who already has training?
You are not expected to be able to expertly maneuver a truck when you are first hired. Companies that hire new drivers have training programs that are used to give you actual experience on the road. Apprenticeship, in essence.
For example, I got my CDL at TDI, Forsythe, GA. Then I took that CDL to Stevens Transport. They gave me a few days refresher course to make sure I had minimal skills, and then I got in a truck with a trainer for real life experience for about two months - it could have been completed in six weeks or so, but real-life issues caused delays, and I ended up spending time in trucks with two trainers.
What you want to be certain of is that the companies you apply to realize you have a CDL, but no experience. They will understand exactly what stage you are at. If you want to be certain, ask them how long you will be in a truck with a trainer. If they say they will put you on the road without a trainer, don't do it. The bigger companies that hire inexperienced drivers will not do that. Mom and Pop trucking companies might be desperate enough for drivers to try it, but don't do it. You aren't ready for solo yet, but you seem to understand that already.
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.
Prehire:
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.
I wish I had a school as long as that. My school was 12 days long. 3, 4 day, weeks. I actually tested for my CDL on day 11. The first 4 1/2 days are classroom work. I had 7 1/2 in a big rig. 6 1/2 before I tested. It is 4 students per truck. So probably a couple hours per day behind the wheel. We all feel that we didn't get enough training.
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.
Understood
I wish I had a school as long as that. My school was 12 days long. 3, 4 day, weeks. I actually tested for my CDL on day 11. The first 4 1/2 days are classroom work. I had 7 1/2 in a big rig. 6 1/2 before I tested. It is 4 students per truck. So probably a couple hours per day behind the wheel. We all feel that we didn't get enough training.
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.
Don't you worry a bit. They don't expect you to be perfect. You just have to show the necessary basic skills to pass. 6 months sounds too much to me. I did a 3 weeks course and got my cdl no problem. With 6 months you shouldn't be worried at all. The real learning begins when you get in a truck with a trainer.
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.
Kevin's worried:
So I'm preparing for the possibility that I won't be able to pass the road final.
Patrick C. agrees:
We all feel that we didn't get enough training.
Gladhand speaks truth:
Don't you worry a bit. They don't expect you to be perfect. You just have to show the necessary basic skills to pass.
Kevin, on finishing each stage of your training, you'll feel barely ready for the next step. That's the plan! You (and many others) look backward, and realize they barely know anything. It's simply a matter of perspective: look forward, and be thankful that you are now prepared for that next step.
I even complained to my school road instructor (the pre-CDL skills test one) that we didn't get enough training. But the three in my group did the important thing: we all passed out CDL test!
Even when I got my first solo/OTR dispatch I was a bit nervous. You'll get there! You'll get past that hurdle, too!
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.
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.
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I just completed a six month course at a trade school. There was only 13 hours of on the road training. I feel kind of foolish now for signing up for six months. 32 hours of straightline and only 13 hours to actually learn how to drive the truck. So I'm preparing for the possibility that I won't be able to pass the road final. Will a company hire me without a cdl and train me even if I have had training? Roehl prehired me and are second on my list. I told the recruiter that I'd like to sign up for their cdl training and I haven't heard back from her. She signed me up to work for Roehl but didn't call back when I asked on her voice mail if I could do the cdl training. Are there any companies that would invest in training someone without asked cdl who already has training?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Prehire:
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.