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David P.'s Comment
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Hello everyone I just recently graduated from my truck driving school in oct.2014 I'm 20 years old want be 21 until June 6 any suggestions on what will be a good company for a new driver

Old School's Comment
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Welcome aboard David!

I'm guessing you already know you've got a problem due to your age, but I'm a little concerned that you may not realize that by the time you turn 21 you are going to have another difficulty in that too many months have gone by since you were in school. Once you've let about three months go by most companies will require you to take a refresher course, even though you already have a CDL.

The only way I see you avoiding this is to start your career at one of the trucking companies that offer Company-Sponsored Training . That way they will put you right with a trainer and pay you while you are getting trained. Prime has one of the highest pay rates for rookie drivers, and I believe they are paying 700 bucks a week for training. I hope this helps.

Also, while you are waiting on your birthday we've got a lot of great information here that will help you make the transition into this new career. You can get yourself off to a great start by reading through our Truck Driver's Career Guide. Follow all the links in there and you will learn a ton of things about getting started in this rewarding career. For some help with How To Choose A Company, then follow that link and you will gain some valuable insights.

Also, if you are interested in seeing what the lifestyle of an over the road truck driver is like, then make sure and read Brett's Book, it is a free on-line version and it's sure to satisfy your curiosity about what it's really like being a truck driver.

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.

Over The Road:

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.

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.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

David's Comment
member avatar

Hello everyone I just recently graduated from my truck driving school in oct.2014 I'm 20 years old want be 21 until June 6 any suggestions on what will be a good company for a new driver

Hey David. Congrats on completing school, I'm sure your aware that no company will take you until you are 21, if your not aware then you are now. Lol

You've only got a few months to wait, I'd recommend you work on getting Pre-Hires from Trucking Companies. You also may want to check out How To Choose A Company. Once you figure out the best fit company, start calling the recruiting department of each company you're looking at and Apply For Truck Driving Jobs.

You may also want to see if there are Truck Driving Jobs near you.

David

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.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

David's Comment
member avatar

Welcome aboard David!

I'm guessing you already know you've got a problem due to your age, but I'm a little concerned that you may not realize that by the time you turn 21 you are going to have another difficulty in that too many months have gone by since you were in school. Once you've let about three months go by most companies will require you to take a refresher course, even though you already have a CDL.

The only way I see you avoiding this is to start your career at one of the trucking companies that offer Company-Sponsored Training . That way they will put you right with a trainer and pay you while you are getting trained. Prime has one of the highest pay rates for rookie drivers, and I believe they are paying 700 bucks a week for training. I hope this helps.

Also, while you are waiting on your birthday we've got a lot of great information here that will help you make the transition into this new career. You can get yourself off to a great start by reading through our Truck Driver's Career Guide. Follow all the links in there and you will learn a ton of things about getting started in this rewarding career. For some help with How To Choose A Company, then follow that link and you will gain some valuable insights.

Also, if you are interested in seeing what the lifestyle of an over the road truck driver is like, then make sure and read Brett's Book, it is a free on-line version and it's sure to satisfy your curiosity about what it's really like being a truck driver.

Just a touch faster old timer lol. ..

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.

Over The Road:

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.

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.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

David P.'s Comment
member avatar

Thanks 4 the information

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