Questions About Training....
Topic 2373 | Page 3
I think I am reading too much and getting it all confused. Anyway, thank you for all or the responses. I am trying to figure out the fastest yet safest way of getting on the road. From what I have gathered, I should go to DMV and test CDL A and get all the endorsement test done. I called today and found a place that can do a DOT physical. The cost $180. After that, decide which school / company to join.
I am confused on one detail. I am in NC. Say I go and get my CDL learner's permit. I test endorsements like hazmat , tandem , etc. Then I decide to go to Prime for training in MO. Does the CDL transfer? My understanding is your CDL must be in the state you reside. How do I get my skills test done in NC when I am training in MO? Hope I am making sense.
You are indeed making much out of nothing. I live in VA & did my training with Prime.
What happens is they have setup with the state of MO for you to have a temp address in MO to get your license. Then you have a time frame (I think 30-45 days) to get back to your home state and get it transferred to there.
Ernie
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.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
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.
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.
What is the point of getting it done before you go if they are just going to transfer it to MO? Can you transfer it back to your state without testing again? Sorry, I am kind of a details driven person. I can't wait to see a trip planning instructors face with me. 
What is the point of getting it done before you go if they are just going to transfer it to MO? Can you transfer it back to your state without testing again? Sorry, I am kind of a details driven person. I can't wait to see a trip planning instructors face with me.
Okay, You ARE getting confused.. but no worries... you get your PERMIT in your home state before you go to Springfield..you get your CDL A in MO once you come back from PSD and test out,at some point in the next 30-45 days, you get to go back home to NC, THEN you transfer your CDL A back to your home state..hope this makes a little more sense.. 
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.
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
That makes sense. Thanks. Do you have to retest in your home state?
That makes sense. Thanks. Do you have to retest in your home state?
Nope..it's just a simple transfer..just like when you move to a new state...although, there are some states that require you, weirdly, to wait, i want to say 60 days, before you can transfer your license. I don't think NC is one, but don't quote me..check with your local DMV..
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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I think I am reading too much and getting it all confused. Anyway, thank you for all or the responses. I am trying to figure out the fastest yet safest way of getting on the road. From what I have gathered, I should go to DMV and test CDL A and get all the endorsement test done. I called today and found a place that can do a DOT physical. The cost $180. After that, decide which school / company to join.
I am confused on one detail. I am in NC. Say I go and get my CDL learner's permit. I test endorsements like hazmat , tandem , etc. Then I decide to go to Prime for training in MO. Does the CDL transfer? My understanding is your CDL must be in the state you reside. How do I get my skills test done in NC when I am training in MO? Hope I am making sense.
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
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.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.