I Know Many Aren't Able To...But, I'm Made For OTR!
Topic 31775 | Page 1
Apply to multiple companies via this site or alltruckjobs.com etc. Drive w first company for a year. Have fun.
I'm at a place in my life, empty nest, etc., where I can finally pursue my boyhood dream of OTR trucking. Just got my CDL A...any advice?
Hi, Rich! Welcome back, after a year hiatus!!!
Start here:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
Apply here: Apply For Paid CDL Training
More info here! Truck Driver's Career Guide
Best wishes this go'round!!
~ 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.
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.
Hey Rich!
When I started trucking, I was in the same boat. I was all about the adventure and I had nothing tying me down. I lived on the road for most of my 15 years as a driver and I loved it!
Anne sent the perfect links. Start with our Truck Driver's Career Guide to get a better understanding of how to get started in this industry and begin studying with our High Road CDL Training Program to prepare for the written exams you'll take to get your CDL permit.
Those are the starting points and we hope you'll come here to the forum regularly to ask a lot of questions. We love to help people get started in this industry and we're happy to answer any questions you may have!
The one thing I hope you won't do is to make major career decisions, tell us what you did, and then ask us what to do next. We get that regularly, and by the time people ask, it's often too late. They've made a major mistake in their career.
So anytime you're getting ready to make a decision, come here and run it by us. We're always happy to guide you through the process!
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I'm at a place in my life, empty nest, etc., where I can finally pursue my boyhood dream of OTR trucking. Just got my CDL A...any advice?
Advice: Find a company to train with and then drive for that company. Don’t go the private school route
Evaluate your current abilities. Can you sit behind a wheel and stay alert for long periods of time? Can you endure 14 hour days between driving and on duty time?
Start asking questions here and learning from the feedback.
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.
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.
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I'm at a place in my life, empty nest, etc., where I can finally pursue my boyhood dream of OTR trucking. Just got my CDL A...any advice?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.