Amazon Driver Tired Of The Grind, Looking To Change
Topic 31169 | Page 1
Welcome! You mentioned going to a local CDL school, but I have to ask, why would you pay for something you can get for free? There are many large companies that offer free CDL training and paid on-the-job training with a contracted term, usually about one year.
I drive for Prime Inc, we are a large refrigerated carrier, but also run flatbed and tanker divisions. I got my CDL through Prime in 3 weeks, drove team with a trainer for 30,000 miles, and have been driving solo and as a trainer since the end of May 2019. After you get your CDL and are officially hired, we pay our trainees and guaranteed $900 every week until they finish training and get their own truck.
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.
Hey all,
I currently work for a Amazon DSP. It's not technicaly Amazon, but it might as well be. I work on the XL side, driving a box truck. I forget the exact length, but I want to say from nose to end is 40 feet (or so I'm told, I'm not super sure).
We hustle and work really hard, for little pay. I'll be honest with y'all, I make 17.50 an hour. Drivers here for 2 years make 19 an hour. We load our own packages out, pre and post trip inspection, secure our own cargo, etc. We have to be DOT fit to drive the trucks, but we don't have to have a CDL.
I'm seriously thinking about getting my CDL from a local school. My question is, how much different is driving a tractor and trailer then driving a large box truck?
Welcome to TT,
I worked for G&K Services/Cintas for just short of 2 years where I backed 26' box trucks (total length roughly 40'). I went to a CDL school and earned my CDL. I went through a brief training period with a company right out of CDL school. My experience is obviously not extensive, but I have enough exposure to both trucks to be confident in telling you that the differences between operating the two trucks is enormous. In fact, you won't be viewed by any company hiring you just the same as someone coming in who has driven nothing but a passenger vehicle.
Similarities between operating a box truck and combination vehicle:
Use of mirrors in performing maneuvers.
Use of Get Out And Look.
Going slow and being safe.
Differences in operating the two vehicles:
The differences are quite numerous. It would take me a while to identify them and I would probably forget many.
I went into trucking school thinking that my experience backing box trucks would be helpful. The only thing that was helpful is that when I had moments that I struggled in CDL school, I reminded myself that I learned to back box trucks with 0 experience before starting to learn on the job. My suggestion would be to not think that any of the skills are translatable other than using mirrors and getting out to look.
Here are some links to check out on the site:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Article Category: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Truck Driving School"
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
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.
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
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.
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.
25 posts, no name, and no status....?
25 posts, no name, and no status....?
Glitch?
Hey all,
I currently work for a Amazon DSP. It's not technicaly Amazon, but it might as well be. I work on the XL side, driving a box truck. I forget the exact length, but I want to say from nose to end is 40 feet (or so I'm told, I'm not super sure).
We hustle and work really hard, for little pay. I'll be honest with y'all, I make 17.50 an hour. Drivers here for 2 years make 19 an hour. We load our own packages out, pre and post trip inspection, secure our own cargo, etc. We have to be DOT fit to drive the trucks, but we don't have to have a CDL.
I'm seriously thinking about getting my CDL from a local school. My question is, how much different is driving a tractor and trailer then driving a large box truck?
Welcome to TT,
I worked for G&K Services/Cintas for just short of 2 years where I backed 26' box trucks (total length roughly 40'). I went to a CDL school and earned my CDL. I went through a brief training period with a company right out of CDL school. My experience is obviously not extensive, but I have enough exposure to both trucks to be confident in telling you that the differences between operating the two trucks is enormous. In fact, you won't be viewed by any company hiring you just the same as someone coming in who has driven nothing but a passenger vehicle.
Similarities between operating a box truck and combination vehicle:
Use of mirrors in performing maneuvers.
Use of Get Out And Look.
Going slow and being safe.
Differences in operating the two vehicles:
The differences are quite numerous. It would take me a while to identify them and I would probably forget many.
I went into trucking school thinking that my experience backing box trucks would be helpful. The only thing that was helpful is that when I had moments that I struggled in CDL school, I reminded myself that I learned to back box trucks with 0 experience before starting to learn on the job. My suggestion would be to not think that any of the skills are translatable other than using mirrors and getting out to look.
Here are some links to check out on the site:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Correction:
You will be viewed by any company hiring you just the same as someone coming in who has driven nothing but a passenger vehicle.
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.
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
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.
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.
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Hey all,
I currently work for a Amazon DSP. It's not technicaly Amazon, but it might as well be. I work on the XL side, driving a box truck. I forget the exact length, but I want to say from nose to end is 40 feet (or so I'm told, I'm not super sure).
We hustle and work really hard, for little pay. I'll be honest with y'all, I make 17.50 an hour. Drivers here for 2 years make 19 an hour. We load our own packages out, pre and post trip inspection, secure our own cargo, etc. We have to be DOT fit to drive the trucks, but we don't have to have a CDL.
I'm seriously thinking about getting my CDL from a local school. My question is, how much different is driving a tractor and trailer then driving a large box truck?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.