Advice For 19yo
Topic 22465 | Page 1
Hi Eli, and welcome to the Forum!
First and foremost, keep your driver's license clean! You're at an age where a lot of people make mistakes. By the time I was your age my license had already been suspended! Tickets and citations will severely limit the companies that will accept you.
You can go the private school route, but I highly suggest Paid CDL Training Programs. You will receive the same training, and these companies will now have a vested interest in your success.
Don't sweat the pre-trip. You don't need any mechanical knowledge for this. You will simply learn what parts to look for, and how to look for signs of wear, damage, etc. People tend to over-complicate the process in their minds. It really isn't that hard.
Being afraid of failure is a losing battle from the start, you already know this. Keep in mind that there are gazillions of truck drivers out there. You can be one too.
In the meantime, check out our starter pack-
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Good luck and stay in contact with us. We are always here to help.
Turtle
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.
Eli, there is no need to worry about "failing". Sure, you need to take the course seriously. Always know you are setting course on your own future, so no goofing off.
The pre-trip has some 118 items, but this is not about memorizing. The things you have to inspect are right in front of you. Yes you will have to learn some new names, but they all have the same answer, like "the steering gear box is firmly attached, with no loose missing bolts or any leaks. The hoses are firmly attached to the gear box, and no cuts, bulges or leaks". Yes, there is some things you must memorize, but it's not all that complicated. Do a search for "pretrip my way must see, Daniel B." It's complete with pictures.
Your company paid CDL course will be about 4-6 weeks long, then you will test for your actual CDL-A license. Then your company should assign you to an on-road mentor/instructor who will teach you the finer points of OTR driving. We are close to unanimous in suggesting the company paid training. (Actually, it's financed and taken form your paycheck over about one year.)
Yes, you have plenty of time to prepare. Hang out in this forum, and watch come Youtube videos. Be careful to know that some videos are not accurate. There's just too many contributors, and some have "different" views.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.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.
When I got my Pre-trip list at my CDL school I didn’t think I could possibly memorize all that it intails.
We go out to a truck everyday and split up into groups and go over it. We can focus on any thing we want too. For instance, if I was having trouble with the trailer suspension, I would have someone who already passed their pre-trip at the DMV help me with it. Every school is a little different however.
I now know it like the back of my hand. There has been millions of drivers who has learned this before us. You will get 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.
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.
Thank god I never got a ticked and I am very fit with no health problems . Can’t wait till I reach 21 !
Hi Eli, and welcome to the Forum!
First and foremost, keep your driver's license clean! You're at an age where a lot of people make mistakes. By the time I was your age my license had already been suspended! Tickets and citations will severely limit the companies that will accept you.
You can go the private school route, but I highly suggest Paid CDL Training Programs. You will receive the same training, and these companies will now have a vested interest in your success.
Don't sweat the pre-trip. You don't need any mechanical knowledge for this. You will simply learn what parts to look for, and how to look for signs of wear, damage, etc. People tend to over-complicate the process in their minds. It really isn't that hard.
Being afraid of failure is a losing battle from the start, you already know this. Keep in mind that there are gazillions of truck drivers out there. You can be one too.
In the meantime, check out our starter pack-
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Good luck and stay in contact with us. We are always here to help.
Turtle
Hi Eli, and welcome to the Forum!
First and foremost, keep your driver's license clean! You're at an age where a lot of people make mistakes. By the time I was your age my license had already been suspended! Tickets and citations will severely limit the companies that will accept you.
You can go the private school route, but I highly suggest Paid CDL Training Programs. You will receive the same training, and these companies will now have a vested interest in your success.
Don't sweat the pre-trip. You don't need any mechanical knowledge for this. You will simply learn what parts to look for, and how to look for signs of wear, damage, etc. People tend to over-complicate the process in their minds. It really isn't that hard.
Being afraid of failure is a losing battle from the start, you already know this. Keep in mind that there are gazillions of truck drivers out there. You can be one too.
In the meantime, check out our starter pack-
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Good luck and stay in contact with us. We are always here to help.
Turtle
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.
You are right, I just read some 3 time failure stories and got a bad inspiration about the test , now I felt more confident after reading your comments
When I got my Pre-trip list at my CDL school I didn’t think I could possibly memorize all that it intails.
We go out to a truck everyday and split up into groups and go over it. We can focus on any thing we want too. For instance, if I was having trouble with the trailer suspension, I would have someone who already passed their pre-trip at the DMV help me with it. Every school is a little different however.
I now know it like the back of my hand. There has been millions of drivers who has learned this before us. You will get 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.
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.
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Just signed up to this amazing website:) I just turned 19 and I know I want to become a truck driver but as I watched some youtube videos about the learning process, I am afraid of Failing in truck school specially when I saw the Pre trip inspection because I have Zero mechanic skills or knowledge. My PLAN is : When I turn 20 , I will sign up for a Truck driving school and go through the 6 month training and Do my best to learn as much as I can to Pass and get my CDL , If I failed, I would be close to 21 so I could sign up for a CDL sponsored program with a company Like swift and repeat the Whole Training again So I can insure that I will have better chances of passing . Is that a great plan or Am I over complicating the Process? I really want to become a truck driver but Just afraid of failure, I know thats a bad habit that is hard to overcome. Plesse guys give me your thoughts and thank you .
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: