Career Interruption.
Topic 25585 | Page 3
Best of luck Bruce.
Don't think I will be able to make the Truck races in MSN... looks like packing and moving is on the agenda. Now if my Sister sends me to the INDY 500 (and a little errand for her involving a van which could help me move, I may have to take a day or two off moving.
Good news is I am moving to Kenosha - 20 minutes from Amazon which, I hope, will soon prove to be a good move for me!
Stay in touch and 
Are you working at Amazon, now? You know, after 1 year, they'll pay for your cdl.
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.
Are you working at Amazon, now? You know, after 1 year, they'll pay for your cdl.
Marc, tell us more about the Amazon gig. Will you be on a dedicated Amazon route? And you'll be near the new Foxconn site also, correct?
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.
I'm glad you will still be hanging with the group. It is more like an otr family away from home actually. And obviously nobody wants to lose a family member.
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.
Thanks Pete and RD.
This community means a lot to me. You guys are like best buddies and we get to help each other and have some fun at the same time. Amazing variety of personalities, knowledge and abilities represented here.
BTW, my new avatar is my beloved Moocho Poocho. He's watching me back up and I have no clue why
he looks worried.
BTW, my new avatar is my beloved Moocho Poocho. He's watching me back up and I have no clue why he looks worried.
Can't imagine why but he does look really concerned!
p>Marc, tell us more about the Amazon gig. Will you be on a dedicated Amazon route? And you'll be near the new Foxconn site also, correct?
So... as per usual... I am (somewhat) putting the trailer before the cab (so to speak)...
I see my Drs. in about 2 weeks. J.B. Hunt is willing to take me back after my "10-pound" lifting restriction is removed - (actually have a "CERTIFICATE OF RETURN TO WORK" with no restrictions but still healing from Prostate removal surgery).
Once rehired I will resume training at Oconomowoc Target DC. Once ready to go solo (or maybe "finish up" training, not sure) I head to Amazon in Kenosha - (yes, near Fox"conn-job") ) for a 7-State Regional position.
I think it is a great opportunity for a newbie. I was lucky to get it and felt terrible I "screwed the pooch" by falling getting out of a truck after 3 weeks of training. Was let go because I didn't have daily blood sugar testing 3x / day to get new MCSA-5870 form for new Federal Medical Certificate. (Been testing like a madman since!) Turns out it was all a blessing as my surgery was pretty close to free. Would have been thousands OOP, even with pretty good JBH PPO insurance. Could have even wound up paying COBRA rates vs. my free Medicaid.
I sent cards thanking people for their help at Target and Amazon and apologizing for my screw up. Said I hoped to return. Didn't pursue Worker's Comp. payment (would have been 10-days or less). Didn't pursue PTO... I think I had a day earned! Accepted responsibility, remained humble, kept doors open! See, I have learned something here!
RE: My upcoming move... I was managing 22 units in 3 buildings in exchange for cheap rent in Butler. Landlord made change and rent more than doubling so I am moving to nice hood in Kenosha near the lake. Unfortunately a couple got the place I found and wanted but same family also owns the place next door! Not all redone - in fact a work in progress, but they are willing to work with me. Lower flat, storage for all my stuff, including maybe my motorhome (till winter anyway). 2 possible spots for it one block away!
Funny how things work out!
Training is $15/hr. plus OT. Amazon is (was, probably still is) .54 CPM plus stop pay - 90% drop-and-hook , 100% no touch! Not bad for a newbie, eh?
No tuition reimbursement but I finally got that all paid for after filing dispute with Maximus / WIOA. Still getting commuting mileage reimbursement checks! (Got another small one yesterday!)
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
WIOA:
WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)
Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
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.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
Drop-and-hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
p>Marc, tell us more about the Amazon gig. Will you be on a dedicated Amazon route? And you'll be near the new Foxconn site also, correct?
So... as per usual... I am (somewhat) putting the trailer before the cab (so to speak)...
I see my Drs. in about 2 weeks. J.B. Hunt is willing to take me back after my "10-pound" lifting restriction is removed - (actually have a "CERTIFICATE OF RETURN TO WORK" with no restrictions but still healing from Prostate removal surgery).
Once rehired I will resume training at Oconomowoc Target DC. Once ready to go solo (or maybe "finish up" training, not sure) I head to Amazon in Kenosha - (yes, near Fox"conn-job")
I think it is a great opportunity for a newbie. I was lucky to get it and felt terrible I "screwed the pooch" by falling getting out of a truck after 3 weeks of training. Was let go because I didn't have daily blood sugar testing 3x / day to get new MCSA-5870 form for new Federal Medical Certificate. (Been testing like a madman since!) Turns out it was all a blessing as my surgery was pretty close to free. Would have been thousands OOP, even with pretty good JBH PPO insurance. Could have even wound up paying COBRA rates vs. my free Medicaid.
I sent cards thanking people for their help at Target and Amazon and apologizing for my screw up. Said I hoped to return. Didn't pursue Worker's Comp. payment (would have been 10-days or less). Didn't pursue PTO... I think I had a day earned! Accepted responsibility, remained humble, kept doors open! See, I have learned something here!
RE: My upcoming move... I was managing 22 units in 3 buildings in exchange for cheap rent in Butler. Landlord made change and rent more than doubling so I am moving to nice hood in Kenosha near the lake. Unfortunately a couple got the place I found and wanted but same family also owns the place next door! Not all redone - in fact a work in progress, but they are willing to work with me. Lower flat, storage for all my stuff, including maybe my motorhome (till winter anyway). 2 possible spots for it one block away!
Funny how things work out!
Training is $15/hr. plus OT. Amazon is (was, probably still is) .54 CPM plus stop pay - 90% drop-and-hook , 100% no touch! Not bad for a newbie, eh?
No tuition reimbursement but I finally got that all paid for after filing dispute with Maximus / WIOA. Still getting commuting mileage reimbursement checks! (Got another small one yesterday!)
Used to go drinking in Kenosha back when I was going to school at Great Lakes Naval Station. Drinking age was 21 in IL, still 18 in WI.
Rode the train quite frequently - went to the closest bar by the train station...
Rick
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
WIOA:
WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)
Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
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.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
Drop-and-hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Schneider National Changing Careers Company Sponsored CDL Training First Truck Driving Job Health Concerns Paying For Truck Driving School
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
Good luck Bruce; should you decide to return to driving, I hope your transition back is seamless and rewarding. I selfishly hope you keep up with the forum, I love your sense of humor!