Going To Get My Truck Now...
Topic 34288 | Page 1
That's awesome news! Huge day for ya!
I don't know the actual figures, but I'll bet more than half the people who begin truck driving school never get to the point in their career that they're driving a truck solo. They either fail to get their CDL or never make it through on-the-road training and go solo.
Just getting to this point is a big win. Getting to that one-year mark would make you more successful than probably 75% of the people who take a shot at this industry, and I'm probably being conservative with that estimate.
When you're both nervous and excited you know you're living right. A life worth living will require taking risks to achieve goals that are far from certain.
Best of luck and keep us updated!
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.
Wow James, you have been a great example of determination and perseverance from the very start. You have my phone number and when you get going, call me anytime you need some help. We can discuss whatever you encounter, from trip planning to navigation to parking, etc.
I know you must be somewhat nervous. Go slow, deliberately and take deep breaths!
Big day, indeed! This is a moment in time that you will someday look back on with fondness.
But a word of caution:
Now is when the real learning begins. CDL school, company training, and supervised on road experience are no substitutes for what you'll learn in the coming weeks and months.
Now is when the buck stops with you. Now is when you and you alone make the necessary decisions to keep yourself, your cargo, and the public safe. Take extra time to make the right decisions in everything you do.
Good luck out there driver!
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 love Turtle's comments. Now is the time when it gets real. Be cautious and very careful. Your performance counts!
Hey all. I'd love to give you all a great update...but, unfortunately I'm still here waiting on my truck. I've checked 3 trucks out and each one of them had some kind of problem with it. I'm just waiting on maintenance now to switch out a tablet that my DM told me doesn't work and the driver's side headlight cover that was cracked and falling apart. Joy.
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.
It happens James lol reminds me of my starting out. They get me and my co driver a rental car to head out to Phoenix. To a sister company's shop for a 2016 FL in 2019. Well, the truck was in the shop still being put back together. My co driver climb in to check inside, it was a total dump and smelt like the landfill. It's front bumper was on a bench etc. total POS,.. NO TY
So after calls to our DM he told us there was a 2019 in their yard there, to check it out and take that tractor if it was ok. Well, it was very low on fuel, front tires were worn out, and they refused to change em. They did replace em after I had a little chat with their shops "foreman" lol
We take off, I follow my Co in the rental to drop it off....I make my left turn and get half a block down, truck just up n dies! I coast to a safe place to park out of the street. We sat for hours waiting for a tow back to the shop, 5 miles away. Turned out the trucks last driver was fired, so when he returned the truck he had filled the fuel tanks with WATER !! I read some of his texts on the Qualcom, they were not good lol
Turns out the shop had "fixed" it drained fuel (water) added some diesel called it fixed. Well, they forgot all that water was in the filters, fuel lines, injectors etc Don't know how we even made it as far as we did. Luckily a female driver was turning her lease truck in at that shop the next day.
We still had the rental car and hotel room so we went back waiting for this 2019 FL. She was nice had taken very good care of her truck. We helped her offload her stuff into a rental pick up, we FILLED that 4 door crew cab UP she had so much stuff hahaha......
So 3 days, to finally get our start, did we get mad? nawwww was just our intro how things can change, 1 minute/day to the next, and just roll with it
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.
Wow! And I thought I had a bad 1st day....lol! At least she seems to be running good. I guess that's always a plus.
It happens James lol reminds me of my starting out. They get me and my co driver a rental car to head out to Phoenix. To a sister company's shop for a 2016 FL in 2019. Well, the truck was in the shop still being put back together. My co driver climb in to check inside, it was a total dump and smelt like the landfill. It's front bumper was on a bench etc. total POS,.. NO TY
So after calls to our DM he told us there was a 2019 in their yard there, to check it out and take that tractor if it was ok. Well, it was very low on fuel, front tires were worn out, and they refused to change em. They did replace em after I had a little chat with their shops "foreman" lol
We take off, I follow my Co in the rental to drop it off....I make my left turn and get half a block down, truck just up n dies! I coast to a safe place to park out of the street. We sat for hours waiting for a tow back to the shop, 5 miles away. Turned out the trucks last driver was fired, so when he returned the truck he had filled the fuel tanks with WATER !! I read some of his texts on the Qualcom, they were not good lol
Turns out the shop had "fixed" it drained fuel (water) added some diesel called it fixed. Well, they forgot all that water was in the filters, fuel lines, injectors etc Don't know how we even made it as far as we did. Luckily a female driver was turning her lease truck in at that shop the next day.
We still had the rental car and hotel room so we went back waiting for this 2019 FL. She was nice had taken very good care of her truck. We helped her offload her stuff into a rental pick up, we FILLED that 4 door crew cab UP she had so much stuff hahaha......
So 3 days, to finally get our start, did we get mad? nawwww was just our intro how things can change, 1 minute/day to the next, and just roll with it
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.
Well, there she is in all her....ummm....glory! Yeah, that's it...lol 😆
Would help if I post the picture, wouldn't it?
Well, there she is in all her....ummm....glory! Yeah, that's it...lol 😆
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- 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:
TT On Facebook
Hey all. I'm just waiting for the shuttle to pick me up. Scott; the terminal manager; called me up and said they have a truck available for me now. I'm super excited, but nervous at the same time.
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.