Just Wanna Drive!

I was the same way. They are still family owned and they are good folks. I was not on the sliding pay scale because I ran a dedicated account. The equip is good. They have their quirks like every company. I left for a better opportunity, but enjoyed my time there.

I find that strange about Jim Palmer (Wilson Logistics) having you down grade to a CLP. Do you have the air breaks and combination vehicle endorsements? Is there an autoshift restriction?

I find that strange about Jim Palmer (Wilson Logistics) having you down grade to a CLP. Do you have the air breaks and combination vehicle endorsements? Is there an autoshift restriction?

Fully endorsed Class A, no restrictions.

Because my training was stale and had no experience in OTR , the recruiter I spoke with was insistent that I come in on a CLP , after downgrading my license in my home state. This was a couple of years ago - they may have changed their policy.

But I suspect that many companies, if you are going to do the "full student driver training course" (which would apply to someone that had a CDL and never used it - or someone who had been out of the game for a long time), are going to want you to not come in on a CDL-A. Not sure the reasoning behind this - I was simply relating my own experience when I was "testing the waters" about getting into a company.

With regards to the original poster (again) - if it requires a downgrade of your license, and going through the entire course of training to get where you want to be - driving TT OTR - then it's really no big deal (unless like me, you have endorsements you don't want to have to pay or re-test for).

Rick

Stale CDL makes a difference. Although, I have no clue what time frame it takes for a CDL to be considered stale.

Stale CDL makes a difference. Although, I have no clue what time frame it takes for a CDL to be considered stale.

Typically - if you've gone to school and gotten a CDL - a company will want to see you in the 60-90 day window to qualify as a "recent grad" - otherwise, your training is considered "stale".

For someone who has a Class A, but no documentable experience (I've had mine for 10 years now) - it's stale. Rule of thumb seems to be: 3 years OTR in the last 10, or 1 year in the last 3.

In the case of the OP, he got the Class A for a "challenge", even though he was only operating Class B (as a garbage truck mechanic, not as a full-time truck driver). So despite holding a Class A, he has zero experience driving that type of truck.

I have a friend I went to school with, who never used his either. Couple of years ago, he got another friend (who used to have his own MC #'s) LIE for him saying he drove for 2 years (NOT RECOMMENDED), and he went out driving FOOD GRADE TANKERS. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I coached him on logging, trip planning, etc., for awhile. By sheer luck, he went over a year without screwing anything up. SHEER LUCK. He managed to pull it off. I have similar connections that would "lie for me" - but I would never do that. I would WELCOME the opportunity to go through the full training regimen - it will only make me a better safer operator in the short/long run.

Keep in mind, many "non-starter companies" are still looking for 1 year (and a lot have gone back up to 2 years) recent experience. Recent being, you've left a company in the last 30-60 days and were driving continuously for 1 year (or 2) prior.

Rick