Got My NEW CDL And I Was Lucky Enough To Get A Local Outfit Willing To Hire Me.
Topic 34682 | Page 1
As far as the job you'll likely get an hourly rate which will depend on where you live, you'll be moving slowly spreading asphalt used in repaving roads. Paychecks will be really good but then everyone gets laid off when construction season is over so save or when that happens get your otr experience and spend a year otr so you can really have options. It's road construction, drink water and prepare for 300° asphalt. If you don't know how to avoid heat exhaustion then please learn. I worked next to and with these crews 2 construction seasons and decided I needed a career and to make less money now so I could make more money later which getting my CDL and now being a solo otr trucker will lead me back home probably hauling milk or crude oil for $40+ an hour while you might make $21/hour in the same area. Milk is year round while construction is seasonal. If you can't make the sacrifice now just keep that in mind. You got the job because no one with a CDL and better options really wants it. Sorry I'm just being honest.
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.
Like Alex said you're riding a paver, laying the asphalt on the prepped roadway. I dunno why ya need a CDL much less the doubles/triples as well? lol
My buddies son in law does that in So Calif, at a major company his father, uncles, cousins have worked for, over 30 years. He started as an apprentice, for 2 years and progressed in pay, well over 10 years ago..... He started then at $30 an hour, after 2 years he was at $50+ an hour, I -have no idea how much higher his pay is these days, but I know he's making bank now!
Wishing you the best Robert, could be a great gig/career as well.
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.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
As far as the job, you'll likely get an hourly rate, which will depend on where you live; you'll be moving slowly, spreading asphalt used in repaving roads. Paychecks will be really good, but then everyone gets laid off when construction season is over, so save, or when that happens, get your OTR experience and spend a year or so you can really have options. It's road construction, drinking water, and preparing for 300° asphalt. If you don't know how to avoid heat exhaustion, then please learn. I worked next to and with these crews for two construction seasons. Before I decided, I needed a career and to make less money now so I could make more money later getting my CDL and now being a solo OTR trucker will lead me back home probably hauling milk or crude oil for $40+ an hour while you might make $21/hour in the same area. Milk is year-round, while construction is seasonal. If you can't make the sacrifice now, just keep that in mind. You got the job because no one with a CDL and better options really wants it. Sorry, I'm just being honest.
Hey, thank you very much for this. From my understanding, I will be driving a Transfer truck, a dump truck with a transfer trailer. I am happy to be able to get the driving experience, which I had no professional driving experience with before. I have a local outfit also looking at me, but they want 6 months to a year of driving experience, so my current plan is to do the paver for a season, then in the winter, do the local outfit as they said that would be ok after I have some experience.
I currently have my Hazmat and Tanker, but no one will touch me without 2+ years of driving experience at least not that I can find. Dairy isn't hiring right now. I am hoping that opens up soon, but they only hire once every 5 or 10 years when people leave.
I value honesty over all other things, thank 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.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
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.
Like Alex said you're riding a paver, laying the asphalt on the prepped roadway. I dunno why ya need a CDL , much less the doubles/triples as well. lol
I will be driving the truck that lays the asphalt in front of the paver. It takes a CDL to drive the truck, as it is a Peterbilt 389. The doubles is for the transfer trailer.
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.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Aha NOW it all makes sense for a CDL A lol..........Good luck to 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.
Check my last post... they let me go for doing a pre-trip
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So a local outfit is willing to hire me... as a paver driver.
So, as a paver driver, is there ANYTHING I should know about pay, duties, etc? The company requires I get my Dobles and triples, which I wasn't planning on, but ok.
I know as a new driver, I cannot care too much about pay, as long as it's enough to pay my bills, as I will be home every night. Also, I need a year of experience driving professionally. I know I have a lot to learn, and I am willing.