How To Rent A Combination Vehicle For Road Skills Test
Topic 34311 | Page 1
Hi Wesley. What's your goal? If you haven't driven truck before you'll have to go through ELDT entry level driver training. Possibly if it's been a long time too. I don't know the ins and outs of the requirements, others will chime in with specifics.
If you're new to the industry, we recommend going through company-sponsored training where you'll likely earn a little money while training then have a guaranteed job upon completion of the program.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
You would need to contact Penske and Ryder for their requirements.
They used to require a valid cdl/DOT operating authority in good standing of at least 12 consecutive months and commercial insurance.
I haven’t checked the last couple years.
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.
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.
Wesley,
The Sandman is correct, in that, if obtaining a Class A, Class B or endorsement for the first time, then the FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations apply to you. Additionally, this also applies if you currently possess a Class B and want to upgrade to a Class A.
The ELDT requirements went into effect on February 7th, 2022. It simply sets a federal national standard for mandatory training curriculum. The two components of this curriculum are Theory instruction (knowledge skills tests) and Behind-the-wheel (range / road skills test). Prospective CDL applicants will have to complete (pass) The ELDT with a registered training provider, prior to testing for the CDL and/or endorsements.
FMCSA Training Provider Registry
Do you currently possess a Class A and want to remove the (E) restriction which prohibits the driver from operating a CMV with manual transmission? If so, then PJ’s suggestion on Penske and Ryder is a solid start.
Good journey and God bless.
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.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
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.
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
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.Fm:
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.
I’ve been through ELDT and I have my CDL permit. I failed at in cab on one test and at parking on the next. I paid $4200 for the ELDT and thought I would be afforded more than two road skills tests. And the troopers were being too fascist about everything. So now I’m low on funds and need to practice driving and parallel parking and then pay for another road skills test, “if I’m lucky”. But I can’t figure out a way to practice before the test. Any suggestions?
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.
Wesley,
As to not continue to pump dollar signs into the independent pursuit of a Class A, you may strongly want to consider a carrier company sponsorship CDL-A program. These programs require a contract commitment, typically approximately 1-year. In return, you are an employee on day-1 and receive on-the-job training while earning an income, in pursuit of the CDL-A credential.
Otherwise, another independent training option is to find somebody with a tractor-trailer. Seeing as you have a CLP , a co-driver CDL-A holder of minimum 1-year is legally required (if I remember correctly?).
Good journey and God bless.
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.
CLP:
Commercial Learner's Permit
Before getting their CDL, commercial drivers will receive their commercial learner's permit (CLP) upon passing the written portion of the CDL exam. They will not have to retake the written exam to get their CDL.
I agree with Highway 44. If I were you, looking to get this career started successfully, I'd want more training with a company willing to provide it.
You've already been through ELDT but it hasn't gotten you where you wanted, yet. If you go this route you'll already have a leg up and can focus on the areas you need to improve on to get that Class A.
Alright. Awesome! I’ll try company sponsored training. Any ideas on which one would be best suited for a resident of Kentucky?
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Alright. Awesome! I’ll try company sponsored training. Any ideas on which one would be best suited for a resident of Kentucky?
Wesley, good decision. You are fairly well located for most companies, living in Kentucky. If you are going to drive OTR , your location is usually not an issue. As far as what companies to apply to, what are you looking for? Dry van , reefer , flatbed? Van is best to start with. Flatbed involves more physicality. Apply to multiple companies and then see what opportunities come your way. You can use the link below. Good luck in your search!
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.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Uh... guys... because he already went to a school and failed, many companies may reject him. Welsey will have to apply everywhere and see who bites.
Also... did he test in KY? It may be a state law of how many times he can fail. Wesley, you may have to make sure that company that acvepts you will test you out of state. Find out what the test law was in your state.
You may be better off trying to pay your local school for additional time and testing.
Examiners are not fascists. They have a responsibilty to keep us safe. You failed. Own up to that and stop blaming them.
Good luck
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Does anybody know how to go about renting a combination vehicle for practice driving or for the road skills test
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.