Tough Decision. Giving Up CDL.

Topic 21960 | Page 1

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T.W.'s Comment
member avatar

Hey fellas,

It's been a long time since I have been on here.

In 2013 I received a grant from the state of Arizona to get my CDL license for free. I started trucking school strong, but after 4 weeks of being outside around diesel fumes, blowing dust, and pollutants -- it was enough to send me to the hospital with messed up lungs. X rays didn't look good and bad asthma. However, with 2 bouts of steroids -- I managed to finish trucking school with high marks 8 weeks later sick as a dog. Anyway, I am in good health now and pass the medical exams. I tried driving a truck - but this career is not a good fit for my health. I stopped driving and got a sales job. I feel way better.

I have this CDL license and endorsements and feel like its going to waste. Dump the CDL license or keep 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.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Pianoman's Comment
member avatar

I'd keep it up if I were you. You never know when it might come in handy. You can use it for alot more than just driving semis. The only thing you have to do to keep it up is keep getting your DOT physical whenever it's due.

Sorry you weren't able to go into this career like you originally planned, but I'm happy to hear you were able to find a good fit doing something else anyway.

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.

millionmiler24's Comment
member avatar

T. W. Is on the fence here:

Dump the CDL license or keep it?

My advice: You busted your chops in CDL school and had to go through all kinds of health problems as you mentioned above to obtain that CDL. If you get rid of it you are throwin' all that hard work down the toilet as we say, so my recommendation is keep it. You will never know when you may need it again. Plus when you put on your resume that you have a CDL license that has a clean record, people will see you as a much more trustworthy job, especially if you ever get another driving job, even if its not with trucks. Keep it, however as Pianoman said above, keep your physical current so you wont lose your CDL. I am someone who learned that the hard way.

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.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

T.W.'s Comment
member avatar

Good point fellas. You both offered a different perspective on things. I did bust my rear to get it and succeeded in the end.

I am keeping my CDL for life.

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.
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