Just Got My CDL-A, Have An Urgent Question.
Topic 20303 | Page 2
Rusty asks:
Off topic question, but what's your hometime like in a walmart dedicated route? And how's the pay?
Home time depends on the carrier and the D.C., with us; 1 day off each 7 day week. Basically a 34hr reset.
Pay...first year run rate of 50k, second year 60-65 is possible. An experienced, top performing Walmart Dedicated driver can make 70-75k. It takes some time to get to that level, but very possible if you learn the account and run you butt off.
Search on Walmart upper left hand corner. There are a few of us on here working for different carriers in different regions.
Just an update but the company I was applying for turned me down. They said I cannot take my prescription medication and drive for them because it is a narcotic and they said they do a hair test which goes back 6 months. So I won't be able to apply with them until it's been atleast a half year.
Also I'd like to add that, when I took my DOT physical it asked me to list prescription medicene which I noted on their both including the narcotic one. I won't be able to update my DOT documentation for 2 years to have those meds taken off my dot physical documentation so it looks like I won't be driving for a long time.
Really wish I knew this information beforehand. I would have just not listed my prescriptions and then I would have just stopped taking them.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Never ever lie on a DOT medical form. My recommendation is that you get with a doctor to find alternative medications which are allowed, make the switch (which will take a bit of time) then reapply to companies when you get the all clear.
This might be an inconvience, but it's only a temporary setback. Don't throw in the towel just yet. If you have a lengthy gap between CDL school and company training, any prospective employers may want you to take a refresher course.
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Oh and BTW, your uploaded medical information will be replaced with a new DOT physical, so no it doesn't have to be 2 years. Just be completely honest on your forms.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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Rusty asks:
Home time depends on the carrier and the D.C., with us; 1 day off each 7 day week. Basically a 34hr reset.
Pay...first year run rate of 50k, second year 60-65 is possible. An experienced, top performing Walmart Dedicated driver can make 70-75k. It takes some time to get to that level, but very possible if you learn the account and run you butt off.
Search on Walmart upper left hand corner. There are a few of us on here working for different carriers in different regions.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."