Best Option For Refresher Course?
Topic 536 | Page 1
I think the best place to start would be companies that have their own training programs. You can find those here:
Company-Sponsored Training Programs
That might be your fastest, least expensive way to get back out there rollin again.
As far as finding a private school that offers refresher courses, the thing to look out for is that trucking companies will only approve certain schools or certain courses. So you might have a school down the road that some companies will accept and others won't. Therefore, before you would consider signing up at a private school (instead of a company-sponsored program like the link above) make sure you have a pre-hire from a trucking company that approves the refresher course you're going to take.
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.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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Hi
I got my cdl a few years ago bak in november 08 but had to take care of of some financial issues. Got my cdl but no experience I want to get going however the companies I've talked to wont take me without a refresher and trying to find places that will do a refresher in maryland are few and far between.
What are some companies that offer sponsored refresher training?
Willis shaw and Werner won take me without a refresher
I'm thinking cr England or swift.
Can someone steer me n the right direction for a refresher
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: