No Driver's License During Driver Shortage = Workable?

Topic 31328 | Page 1

Page 1 of 2 Next Page Go To Page:
Nicholas L.'s Comment
member avatar

Hi there,

I just made an account because this was the first site to come up when I was trying to find info on this (read on), and you seemed like a bunch of nice, knowledgeable people. I was recently gathering some input on what I might be able to transition into as I just became...not homeless, as I found a room to rent for the time being and have semistable income, but let's say "in between homes".

One thing someone mentioned was truck driving, and she even mentioned the stuff I've seen you all recommending about finding a school that will pay to train you and get you on the road ASAP after you get your CDL etc. The only catch is, I'm 31 and never had a driver's license. I would think that would preclude me from being able to do one of these programs, and told her so, but she said that because there's apparently a huge driver shortage right now, places might have changed/be willing to also get you your normal license first. Is there any truth to that?

I've got 0 ties holding me down and could go literally anywhere as long as I was able to afford it (say if they covered travel and training, or even paid a stipend-type thing like I've seen you guys mention?). I'm not looking at this on a whim (even if it might seem that way), and if I saw a financially viable path forward and the license thing could be figured out, I would tackle this with the same hard work and dedication that got me through graduate school (I know driving semi trucks and academia are vastly different, but I just mean, it seems like they both take a lot of time and dedication and I'm willing to put that in).

Any thoughts on this besides a direct answer to my question(s) would also be appreciated if you're willing to share them. :)

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.

SAP:

Substance Abuse Professional

The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.

Stevo Reno's Comment
member avatar

#1 NO Matter what, you WILL need to have been licensed, to drive a car for 1 year minimum...... Trucker shortage, or not, don't matter either. Their insurance companies hire you, not the company in the real world.....Another reason you will need to be trained thru a 160 hour course....

So basically, you will need to get a drivers license first and go from there.

Bobcat_Bob's Comment
member avatar

You will need to hold a car license for a minimum of 1 year, some companies might require longer.

Get your license ASAP and keep it squeaky clean in that time, try and hold down the same job in that amount of time. Then apply for company paid training you will probably get some bites, the driver shortage isn't going to end anytime within the year.

SAP:

Substance Abuse Professional

The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.

Mikey B.'s Comment
member avatar

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

PackRat's Comment
member avatar

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

Lots of city dwellers never have a license or a car.

midnight fox's Comment
member avatar

Some states require you to have held a regular driver's license for two years before they'll issue you a CDL , gotta check with your state's DMV.

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.

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.

Nicholas L.'s Comment
member avatar

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

Well, during high school I lived within walking distance of the campus, then during college I lived on-campus or within walking distance, then moving back to AZ it has a surprisingly robust public transit system (and I lived a 15 minute bus ride from campus while working on my master's. There's certainly been times it's sucked, like when I had a 2 to 2.5 hour commute ONE WAY to a job, so double that round-trip...but given that I wouldn't have been using a car outside going to work/school, 98% of the time, any suck was outweighed by not having to ever buy or maintain a car/car insurance. Plus, public transit commutes are perfect for reading/drawing/time to learn and better myself.

dozzat answer your question there, Mikey? :)

Otherwise -- thank you guys for the responses, message received, I shall plan for a longer-term...plan, then. Good luck on the roads out there!

Anne A. (and sometimes To's Comment
member avatar

double-quotes-start.png

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

double-quotes-end.png

Well, during high school I lived within walking distance of the campus, then during college I lived on-campus or within walking distance, then moving back to AZ it has a surprisingly robust public transit system (and I lived a 15 minute bus ride from campus while working on my master's. There's certainly been times it's sucked, like when I had a 2 to 2.5 hour commute ONE WAY to a job, so double that round-trip...but given that I wouldn't have been using a car outside going to work/school, 98% of the time, any suck was outweighed by not having to ever buy or maintain a car/car insurance. Plus, public transit commutes are perfect for reading/drawing/time to learn and better myself.

dozzat answer your question there, Mikey? :)

Otherwise -- thank you guys for the responses, message received, I shall plan for a longer-term...plan, then. Good luck on the roads out there!

Nicholas;

I was born in NY. My mom NEVER held a D/L !! I hear you there.

I've been doing some 'independent' research on this, myself . . . with the 'new' laws coming out next month... it almost will make proper licensure MORE stringent, actually.

"Beginning February 7, 2022, all entry-level operators of CMVs in both interstate and intrastate commerce who are applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL) must first satisfactorily complete minimum training requirements before taking their state-administered CDL examination."

I hear you, and I feel you. At 31, it would make SENSE for them to give you a chance, but then again, not being familiar with highways, byways, roads, and infrastructures behind the wheel of a Personal Vehicle (PV,) at all yet . . . sadly it won't happen.

Please don't take offense, y'all vets and mods; I can actually 'see' the O/P's viewpoint here!

Best to all,

~ Anne ~

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.

CMV:

Commercial Motor Vehicle

A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:

  • Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
  • Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
  • Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
  • Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
  • Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards

Interstate:

Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).

Intrastate Commerce:

The act of purchasers and sellers transacting business while keeping all transactions in a single state, without crossing state lines to do so.

Intrastate:

The act of purchasers and sellers transacting business while keeping all transactions in a single state, without crossing state lines to do so.

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.
Don's Comment
member avatar

I would be extremely surprised if yiur State of residence would allow you to apply for a CDL permit if you have never been licensed for, nor driven any type of passenger vehicle. Driving a 70 foot Semi-tractor and trailer combo with 80,000lbs is an entirely different animal, than driving a car, truck or van. None, that you have any experience in doing.

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.
Banks's Comment
member avatar

Federal law requires a driver's license before applying for a commercial learner permit.

I think the OP is underestimating this a bit. Going from not driving at all to driving an 80k lb truck for 11 hours is a huge leap.

Page 1 of 2 Next Page Go To Page:

New Reply:

New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features

Bold
Italic
Underline
Quote
Photo
Link
Smiley
Links On TruckingTruth


example: TruckingTruth Homepage



example: https://www.truckingtruth.com
Submit
Cancel
Upload New Photo
Please enter a caption of one sentence or less:

Click on any of the buttons below to insert a link to that section of TruckingTruth:

Getting Started In Trucking High Road Training Program Company-Sponsored Training Programs Apply For Company-Sponsored Training Truck Driver's Career Guide Choosing A School Choosing A Company Truck Driving Schools Truck Driving Jobs Apply For Truck Driving Jobs DOT Physical Drug Testing Items To Pack Pre-Hire Letters CDL Practice Tests Trucking Company Reviews Brett's Book Leasing A Truck Pre-Trip Inspection Learn The Logbook Rules Sleep Apnea
Done
Done

0 characters so far - 5,500 maximum allowed.
Submit Preview

Preview:

Submit
Cancel

This topic has the following tags:

Becoming A Truck Driver CDL Qualifications FMCSA Getting Your CDL
Click on any of the buttons above to view topics with that tag, or you can view a list of all forum tags here.

Why Join Trucking Truth?

We have an awesome set of tools that will help you understand the trucking industry and prepare for a great start to your trucking career. Not only that, but everything we offer here at TruckingTruth is 100% free - no strings attached! Sign up now and get instant access to our member's section:
High Road Training Program Logo
  • 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:

Apply For Paid CDL Training