Been Gone Awhile At Trucking School Now I Need Some Advise.
Topic 6408 | Page 1
You can still make decent money driving straight trucks. I drove box trucks and straight trucks before I got my CDL. Plus if you want that OTR lifestyle I've seen a lot of straight trucks with full sleepers out on the road. Most are Panther and FedEx trucks.
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.
Hi Colleen,
I have some questions for you. How bad do you really want your class A CDL license? What were your goals or dreams when you decided you wanted a Class A license? If/when you leave are you going to have at least a Class B license?
I had a similar situation happen with me while I attended my county's vocational school. I did not grasp the basic skill maneuvers as quickly as the other five students in my class at the time. Therefore, I failed the basics skills test twice. I never even made it out of the yard for the road test.
My instructor advised that I can either get a Class B or pay extra money to start with the new class that began two days prior. I didn't even answer him. I got up and went straight to the guidance counselor's office and told him what happened. I also let him know that I didn't work my tail off doing massive overtime to save the money for the course only to leave with a Class B, I don't have access to someone's truck to practice and, I surely don't have a money tree in the backyard.
I refuse to let anyone tell me what I can or cannot do. My grandma used to say, "No one has the power to shatter your dreams unless you give it to them". I know what my strengths and weaknesses are. Therefore, it was only a matter of me getting extra practice in order to get the maneuvers right . Long story short, I didn't pay more money, I learned to do the maneuvers from a different instructor, made use of the extra time and, I got my Class A.
Please check with your guidance counselor to see what your options are before you leave. If possible, find someone with a truck that can help you. Recall a time in your past when you had to work through your fear. Mimic the energy you used to get through it then keep it moving! Cole.
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.
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.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.
Hi Colleen, I'm with ColeTrucker here. I went to Roehl's CDL school and they tried to get me to quit not once, but TWICE because I didn't catch on as fast as the guys. They flat out told me the day before testing I should save my $100 and not test because they didn't think my backing skills were good enough. I told them I was going to test because I don't quit, and even of I failed the sun would still come up the next day and the world would not end. I ended up passing the test with a perfect score in backing. Did that mean I didn't still need more help? Nope. I still needed to build my confidence in backing, but also in handling the truck in general. I was so afraid I might hit someone or something, that it affected my ability to drive. I had to put in extra training time with Roehl which I was glad to do, as it has really helped me gain confidence. I will be testing out this week so I can drive solo. Send me a pm if you like and I will be happy to help if I can. I hate to see you throw in the towel. Good luck with whatever you decide!
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.
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.
I've been enrolled at the local community college's CDL class A program for 6 weeks. Next week is the last week and the week after that I'm scheduled for testing at the MVA. Tuesday my instructor called me into his office and told me that he was going to cancel my appointment with the MVA because he didn't think I would pass. He told me that he thought I would be better at driving a straight truck or bus. I agree with him. I never got over my fear of the truck and I am too dangerous in traffic. I've read posts from experienced drivers before I started school that trucking isn't for everyone and now I know what that means. Does anyone know of a site that like this one for class B or bus drivers? I really appreciate the help and advise everyone has given. Thanks.
Hi coleen ,,as an Instructor at a Sage school in caldwell Id. for 5 yrs 2006-2011 / and another CDL school in idaho for 1 yr ""AS A MANAGING INSTRUCTOR ""..we NEVER told our students they COULDN'T PASS THE COMBINATION BACKING OR STREET TEST ...we took the extra time and taught the student the tricks in backing ""AND THERE ARE TRICKS ""
after 34 yrs driving OTR / regional ..line haul "doubles,, 'tripples /quads in nevada in the 80's ,, (for a power co. & crane trucks ) power poles ..I've done it all ,,,now on disability & still drive casually in northwest ...
""there is a 45 degree angle for your off set angle ..and in the parallel park ..."once you can see the middle of the landing gear on the trailer from the "WEST COAST MIRROR " you are @ you're 45 degree angle you immediately bring it back around to the other side's 45 degree angle ( same principle ) and you the straighten the unit out...then pull the unit up ... "2 free pullups " all states " or 1 point after that ) ..then pull back straight back ...it easier than you think !!....your only required to drive 9 miles ...over RxR tracks ..5 left turns 5 right turns .. 2 compormising traffic situations ,, fwy on ramp & 2 miles on fwy & off ramp ,,, I've done this w/ student's ...we did pre test w/ students ... you can use single /double clutch ..or float ...most times they dont care ....they know the co. you go to will give you alot more training ....and you ONLY ENTRY LEVEL ANYWAY ...
there are YOUTUBE examples for this ...look them up ..I used them for students ......
same principle for you're parallel park ..YOU HAVE A ****TY INSTRUCTOR !""" that's doesn't know what their doing !!!""
in the street there supposed to build you up ,,,and help you ....NOT be little you ....I helped students that other instructors gave up on ,,there driving class A trucks now for central Refrigerated in SLC ut . this was back in 2007 ...
I detest community colleges ! almost went to work for CWI in idaho ..I wont drop my standards to their level
your next best BET ..it go to a trucking Company ...(COMMIT TO A YEAR DRIVING AND TAKE THEIR COURSE "IF YOU REALLY WANT YOUR ""A CDL "
YOU CAN DO IT !!...CR ENGLAND ,,SWIFT ...ETC ..
I TRULY HOPE THIS HELPS !!
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.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
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.
Line Haul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.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.
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.
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I've been enrolled at the local community college's CDL class A program for 6 weeks. Next week is the last week and the week after that I'm scheduled for testing at the MVA. Tuesday my instructor called me into his office and told me that he was going to cancel my appointment with the MVA because he didn't think I would pass. He told me that he thought I would be better at driving a straight truck or bus. I agree with him. I never got over my fear of the truck and I am too dangerous in traffic. I've read posts from experienced drivers before I started school that trucking isn't for everyone and now I know what that means. Does anyone know of a site that like this one for class B or bus drivers? I really appreciate the help and advise everyone has given. Thanks.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: