Starting School In November With A Local College
Topic 5526 | Page 1
Hello Nick, and welcome to the forum!
Here's my advice. Forget everything you ever knew about shifting a manual transmission. You will have to learn to double clutch to pass your state driving exam, and everything you already know is going to fight against that.
Also if you want to do really well on your written tests I suggest that you ditch the state's CDL manual and spend the remaining time you have before school gets started by working your way through the entire High Road Training Program. It is an absolutely free online training program here at Trucking Truth and it will give you everything you need and more to pass with flying colors. You can even go get your permit before attending the school if you want to - trust me you will look like a genius when you go to school if you will follow that advice.
You might want to even go ahead and Apply For Truck Driving Jobs, that way you can get some pre-hire letters lined up and yo will be ready to go as soon as you finish your schooling. It's okay to apply even before you have your CDL. They will let you know if you are eligible to work for them once you get your license. Read our guide on Understanding Pre-Hires for a more in depth understanding of this whole process.
Since you've got a little time on your hands you ought to go through the Truck Driver's Career Guide also, it will really help you understand more about your new career choice.
And don't forget, you can ask as many questions as you like in the forum. There are no dumb questions, and there will almost always be someone jumping in here to give you a helpful response.
Again, welcome aboard!
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.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
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.
Pre-hires:
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.
Thanks for the advice. I've been looking at the high road trainning program alittle already. I'am lucky enough to have my trainning paid for through grants from the school and also the workforce employment act. The school I'am attending has a list of companies who hires there students. So I havnt seen the list yet.
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I'am planning on starting school this nov. my trainning for school will be 6 weeks then out 8 weeks with a company of my choice, I'am as green as they come as far as driving a rig, but I know how to drive a manual trans. Also drove a box truck and put about 400,000 miles making delivery. I'am excited and nervous about this new adventure in my life. just could use some advice if I ever need it. I was thinking about getting a cdl permit book to study ahead of time would that be a good idea.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: