Class-A CDL Holder In Training To One Day Become A Trucker
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Today I went to PennDOT and finished testing for all my class A CDL endorsments. I'm now three weeks into my Trainning at LCCTC's CDL trainning program. This past week I have spent going out on the road with two students and a instructor and if you spoke to me Tuesday I would have told you that I may have gotten into a career path that was to much for me to handle. I had gone out on the public roads for my first time behind the wheel of a tractor trailer and all I can say is that all the practice in the yard shifting and backing into the loading box everything went right out the window. It wasnt that I forgot how to double clutch or down shift I think I became so overwelmed I messed myself up overthinking everything. I didnt risk anyones life or have any close calls I just did alot of dumb mistakes like shift up from 6th to 9th and let out the clutch with my foot still on the brake making the tractor stall twice I might add. So yea after school tuesday I was definitely questioning if im the right person to become a steering wheel holder let alone work to become a trucker. So that night I said to myself I need to just relax and take it one trip at a time if I show im making progress ea h time behind the wheel then ill be happy. So the next morning we go out do our pre trip inspection then air brake test and then back out on the road we went. I guess the talk I had with myself worked. I was geting my shifts in both up and down and the couple times I didnt get into a gear I was able to quickly correct myself and get back into a gear. My turns were good and every day since ive progressed. I need to fine tune my shifting but for the most part im alot more confident and excited to progress thess next two weeks test out and go on and train with a trucking company that I have applied with. hopefully this coming week ill hear from those companies and know what companies I have pre hires with. Ive been reading aall the blogs and trucking company bios on here as well as for the past six months while waiting for the funding to attend school the high road trainning program on here really prepared me for my permit test and my endorsements. Im really glad I founs this site and I am planning to begin with this being my first post document my start at becoming a truck driver. I welcome anyone to reply with whatever feed back you may see fit positive or negative. I definitely know im far from calling myself a professional trucker however my goal is to one day have the knowledge skills and experience to call myself one.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
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.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.