Starting Over With Trucking
Topic 33273 | Page 4
A day and a half for a driver with zero experience? I don't believe that for a second.
My boss at my previous job paid for me to get my CDL so I could drive for him.... A few days later I called a place that had left flyers at the school I went to, got the job the following day.
It's been trial by fire since day 3 lol, I even had to learn to chain up a coil with YouTube videos.
So, you actually had more than 1.5 days of training when you went to the school to get your CDL.
How long have you been driving from when you were at that school?
Laura
Oh sorry I thought we weren't counting CDL school. I thought on the road training was what happens after CDL school, which took me about 6 weeks to finish. One of the instructors didn't like me which stressed me out immensely so it took longer than I anticipated.
Anyway sorry about hijacking your thread OP~
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Was strange to see every LTL company on the road minus Yellow. Then I started thinking of this thread with the Yellow recruiter trying to bring in more people only a month ago. I had seen some people where supposed to start this week or next now they are out of luck. With 22k union drivers looking for work it will be hard for new drivers to get a start in LTL for awhile.
Glad they didn't hire my dad last year. He was sick of management and I encouraged him to apply, he'd be in real trouble he they did!
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
Hey Jayson, hope all is well. I am the lead Class A CDL Instructor, for the Yellow Driving Academy, in Denver, CO.
1) I have had many students having a past with smoking, and none of them had a "Positive" test result. In particular, I had one student who had been smoking for years, waited one month, and passed his pre-screening test before the start of his class. Of course, UA results differ from person to person, based on diet, fitness, the type of quality and quantity you go through day by day, the overall length of time you have been smoking, and other environmental/physical aspects of your personal life. Research vitamins, and other remedies, that can accelerate the timeframe required to bring your urine attributes below the minimum test concentration that acts as the threshold of being considered "Negative" for your prior smoking. Only perform a UA if you feel that you can pass it, for the reasons that the other respondents have mentioned.
2) Research the many companies that are out there, offering training for your CDL, and the methods of drug testing that they use. Do not, at this point, choose a company that utilizes hair-follicle tests!
3) Have a look at Yellow's open positions for local terminals closest to where you live (including YRC Freight, Reddaway, Holland, and New Penn). Take a look at our available positions using:
Yellow | LTL Truck Driving Jobs - https://www.myyellow.com/us/en/careers (this link provides openings including all of our sub-companies, nation wide).
Yellow's Driving Academy program lasts a total of 8 weeks, of which you get paid $17.50 per hour. If there is not an Academy close to where you live, we fly you to the nearest Academy, pay for your travel (including a two-way flight and a rental car), lodging, and issue you a per-diem card covering any and all expenses you will have for the first 4 weeks of training, while you are away from home. We also will provide a mid-training, two way flight, back to your home for the 2nd weekend. This allows you to go back home to visit family and to take care of any other responsibilities. For a more detailed look at the Yellow Academy experience, check out our training website:
Yellow | Paid CDL Training - https://www.myyellow.com/us/en/careers/driving-academy
Additionally, check out Western Express. They provide training and, specifically, OTR driving experience. Ultimately, neither Yellow nor Western Express may fulfill the position you are truly seeking, so do some research if neither company fits you. As previously mentioned by a other TT Member, a speeding ticket for 15+ over the speed limit could be a deal-killer for certain companies, however, Yellow looks past things like this (when considering to hire you) which is why we have our own Academy, training drivers to become safer drivers before you develop bad habits in a Class A CMV.
Fundamentally, the world of Trucking, in the United States, is a massive and bountiful industry, full of opportunities for every person wanting to become a professional driver. I hope this information helps you and wanted to give you a general idea of some, of the many options, available to you. Multiple companies provide similar, yet incomplete, training programs available to onboarding student drivers. Feel free to stay in touch with me, as I would be more than happy to help you out through the process of becoming a safe and confident CDL driver.
Good luck, Chad Eatherton chad.eatherton@myyellow.com Work phone: (720) 402-6290
Just read this one again.
What's Monday look like for you?
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.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
LTL:
Less Than Truckload
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
- FedEx Freight
- Con-way
- YRC Freight
- UPS
- Old Dominion
- Estes
- Yellow-Roadway
- ABF Freight
- R+L Carrier
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.
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
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.
What's Monday look like for you?
That's hilarious!
What's Monday look like for you?
That's hilarious!
I love it when people come on here for their first post throwing around their title at work. A title that matters most to me would be Student, Brand New, Driver, etc.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Just a quick update! I took an at home test early July and unfortunately failed. Took another one about a week ago and passed. I'm taking the cdl permit test next Friday and applying to Prime as soon as I pass. I've also looked into other companies but I'm really leaning on the tanker division bc I want to get into fuel hauling after a few years of trucking. I appreciate all the feedback and laughs 😂
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.
Just a quick update! I took an at home test early July and unfortunately failed. Took another one about a week ago and passed. I'm taking the cdl permit test next Friday and applying to Prime as soon as I pass. I've also looked into other companies but I'm really leaning on the tanker division bc I want to get into fuel hauling after a few years of trucking. I appreciate all the feedback and laughs 😂
You are making a huge mistake. If you fail the first test, you killed a career before it even started.
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.
Just a quick update! I took an at home test early July and unfortunately failed. Took another one about a week ago and passed. I'm taking the cdl permit test next Friday and applying to Prime as soon as I pass. I've also looked into other companies but I'm really leaning on the tanker division bc I want to get into fuel hauling after a few years of trucking. I appreciate all the feedback and laughs 😂
You are making a huge mistake. If you fail the first test, you killed a career before it even started.
Not to mention the mistake of a new driver pursuing tanker. Another biggie.
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 heard some of your concerns about a new driver doing tanker. I also talked with my recruiter about it. I decided on reefer and it's been good so far. I was in orientation for about 3 days before hopping on the road (PSD) with my trainer. I do wish I could've spent at least a day or two in PTI class to really get the visual knowledge of the engine comportment but folks were telling me I'd have a better time with that one on one with my trainer. My 1st time driving over the road with the trailer attached will be in the morning. Excited about that.
Over The Road:
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.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
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Hey Banks in regards to my “ouch” comment I didn’t mean anything by it and I’m sorry if it came across poorly. As I just read your comment, not knowing anything about Yellow, I literally just thought “ouch” so I said it 😂. I’m glad you and everyone else said what they did though because I didn’t have a clue about the history there and it’s definitely pertinent info to have posted on here.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated