What Are The Best Steps For Me..
Topic 2479 | Page 1
Ken, you are on the right track with your approach. Be honest and upfront with any place you are trying to get on with. They are more likely to send you home for dishonesty than for the things you mentioned. Trucking companies have tremendous resources when it comes to finding out about a persons past. If you try to conceal it and they uncover it... well that's the death sentence on starting your new career.
Take a look at this link on Company-Sponsored Training , it will give you some exposure to companies that will train you in return for a commitment from you to work for them for a year.
The problem with the company training is that you may hit a snag trying to get in with those old convictions, but give them all a try and see if you can get in somewhere.
Your other option is paying for training and then trying to get employment in the industry, but someone in your situation should get some pre-hire letters first so that they know if they are employable in the first place. A pre-hire letter is not a guarantee of employment, but it is a statement from the trucking company that you have met their standards and they would be willing to hire you when you are ready.
You can learn more about Understanding Pre-Hires by clicking on the link.
While you're doing all this research you really should go ahead and read our Trucker's Career Guide, it's chock full of great information for new inquirers.
Feel free to ask us anything that's on your mind, we will do our best to answer you or atleast point you in the right direction.
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.
Pre-hire:
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.
Pre-hires:
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.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thanks for the Reply and also for posting the links so I can keep researching the steps I need to take. My Dad says my Record was as a Juvenile, Got Sealed but I still don't want to risk getting sent home for not being totally honest and upfront with any of the recruiters. My bigger concern honestly is just the DWI
I have a Passport, I can Vote, even get a Permit for a Handgun so I have all my rights as a US Citizen same as anybody but I also understand that doesn't mean I can or will be accepted in a Company School...I will follow your advice and keep moving through this excellent site and hope for the best
Thanks Ken
DWI:
Driving While Intoxicated
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Company Sponsored CDL Training Understanding The Laws
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Hi, I want to Start Driving a Truck, Going through a Company Sponsored School because I want to already be with the Company I'm going to do my 1st year with however I can afford to pay for private school if I have to. My question...Do you think I will be automatically disqualified from most Company programs if I had a few brushes with the Law when I was 19..? I was charged with a Felony over 33yrs ago and then had a DWI 31yrs ago but since no problems. I have a solid work history and good driving record...I am honest, hard working and dependable I just made a dumb mistake being at the wrong place, wrong time, wrong people....
I'm going to disclose this info to all the Company Recruiters but in the meantime I'm going to keep preparing for a new career as a Truck Driver and wanted to know what steps, and in what order it would help me be the absolute best new Truck Driver I can be.. Do I need the Medical, get a Permit or just keep studying the High Road and be ready to take something if I can get a Pre Hire...?
I know everybody will say my past ruins my chances but my last Job (12yrs) was for a Bank in their Operations Center so I'm kind of hoping for the best...any input...?
Pre Hire:
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.
DWI:
Driving While Intoxicated