Napier Truck Driving Training....Hamilton, OH
Topic 701 | Page 4
Studying and working is hard, but so worth it. I commited to Shaffer/Crete today. I have an app in right now. They are processing it. If everything goes right I will be headed to Knoxville, TN when I get my cdl for orientation. I wanted to get the decision out of the way so I could learn the material and not have it hanging over my head. I am amazed at the professionalism I have received from the Shaffer recruiters. They have gone above sales pitches including thinking enough of me to call me once a week just to check on me. No other company has done that.
I test Saturday for my permit. 6 tests. General Knowledge, Air brakes, Combos, hazmat , doubles/triples, and tankers. In Ohio you have to pas General Knowledge first before any other tests. We have been testing in class all week and studying and I have been doing the High Road Series so I should be fine. Thanks for reading. Good luck and Godspeed.
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.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
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.
Sounds great!
And hey, do not form opinions of a company based on the professionalism (or lack thereof) of the recruiters. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the company. You could have easily gotten the recruiter that sits right next to yours who is lazy, hates her job, comes in hung over most days, and couldn't care less about calling you back. So don't let that influence your feelings about the company. In the end it doesn't mean anything.
The company's current drivers would be a much better indicator of what life is like at the company. They'll tell you how they're treated, how many miles are available, what they think of company policies, and things of that nature.
Your dispatcher is going to have a ton of influence on how happy and successful you'll be at any company you work for. But your recruiter won't have any affect.
Dispatcher:
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.
I know I will not see my recruiter again. But I come from a sales background so I judge all sales people on professionalism etc. I know it doesnt reflect on the company. Just something I am "trained" to notice.
We had Atlantic Foods come in today. Extremely small company. 25 tractors. Local food company out of Cincinnati. Seems like a great company. Have straight trucks and day cabs, but for me. I want OTR. Kept getting practice tests all day in preperation for permit test on Saturday.
Got a call from Crete/Shafer my application had been processed and they said they have a job offer for me. I qm so eleated. From what I read on their website they are an amazing company. Debt free for 75 years so they know how to truck. Tomorrow starts my favorite thing. Trip planning. Ever since I was a child I have been obsessed with maps. I have a collection of road maps from each state. I can tell you what major interstates run through each city. I used to listen to the late night truckers radio program out of Cincinnnati, still do, back then was trucking bozo, now americas trucking network. When truckers would talk about where they were I would find it on the map and dream about what it was like. That wad high school. I am 31. I still do it at times. Can you say obsessed. Lol. Just getting a chance to live my dream. I will say this. There are better drivers than me, but you would be hardpressed to find someone who wants this as bad as me.
Sorry for rambling. Good night and Godspeed. Via con dios.
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.
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
That definitely wasn't rambling. That was fun to read! That's the kind of stuff I enjoy.
Trucking is a whole world unto itself, and the lifestyle is nearly impossible to find anywhere else. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you're into it like I was and like you obviously are, it's an amazing life out there.
Congrats on the job offer!!! That's fantastic news. I wouldn't sit on just that one though. Keep applying for pre-hires. Try to get at least 3-5 under your belt. That way if one falls through, you have others ready to go.
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.
I have like 9 or 10 pre-hires sitting in my folder. My backup options are Werner and TMC. But I don't think that I will need one. I really hope that Shaffer works out. They have a program that as long as your kids (which I have none, but hope to someday) as long as they make A's and B's in college Shaffer will give them a full ride to the University of Nebraska. That is amazing. I have never heard of any other company doing that.
I took my permit tests yesterday. Of the six tests that I took, I passed five. I failed doubles/triples. Ironically, that is the only one I had not had time to study on the High Road Series. I take the test again Tuesday, which I will fully expect to pass. I just finished studying that section. Found out orientation will be 3 days in Lenior City, TN then on the road with trainer for 4 weeks as pat one of training. You will drive half and trainer drives half. You will drive 26 states during this time. Then home 3 to 4 days, then back out for 4 more weeks in which you will be running the truck as your own for most of the time. In this part you will be seeing 39 states. So, Shaffer doesn't play around. They will run you hard and expect you to step up to meet the challenge, which I will do. Then I have to go to Omaha, Nebraska for three days at headquarters to tour the facility and meet everyone and learn how the dispatching end works and I will also be assigned my truck at that point and be given a load that will take me near the house so I can get my stuff and my wife.
So, now that all that is in place all I have to do is focus and study and get my cdl. Once I will do that I should be off an running.
Oh, btw, you never read anything negative on Shaffer. I went to Trckersreport, rip-off report, and other sites and there is not one bad thing written. That means the company is running their drivers, and that the drivers don't have time to get on the computer and complain about anything, so that is good. Thanks for reading, take care, and God speed.
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.
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.
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.
Congratulations Buckeye! It sounds like things are moving right along for you. Training can be brutal sometimes, but I think you've got enough "want to" going on that you'll do just fine. Hopefully you'll get a great trainer, but even if you don't just hang in there because it's only a matter of weeks before your done with it. Keep us posted as you can - always enjoy reading your posts.
I took my permit tests yesterday. Of the six tests that I took, I passed five. I failed doubles/triples. Ironically, that is the only one I had not had time to study on the High Road Series
What can I say? The High Road CDL Training Program works great, except for the parts that you skip! 
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.
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.
LOL Brett, real funny. LOL J/K.
Today was a day off of school. Being where I am in Cincinnati, we have some students from over the river in Kentucky. Kentucky has their own rules and those applying for cdl permits can only test on Tuesdays. I don't know why, but that is how it works. So, us Buckeyes had the day off, assuming we passed General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combinations. We had to go test this morning, and for those who didn't pass they had to be at school this afternoon. Seeing as I passed everything but Doubles/Triples on Saturday, I didn't have to go in, but still was required to test for that one only. I did and I passed it. I missed one question. If you check my status, Brett, you will see that I did that section on the High Road Series before I tested. So, I have my permit. I then had to drive 30 miles in the other direction to get fingerprinted for my HAZMAT Endorsement so they can start the background check and have it ready by the time I get my CDL. So, while I wasn't in school I did get a lot accomplished.
Yesterday, Werner and TMC came in. They were my other two choices, and I got to say I am impressed with both of their companies. Werner lets you choose if you want a Kenworth, Peterbilt, Frieghliner, or International. Assuming they have one available you can have whatever you want. Me, personally, there is nothing better that a Peterbilt with a CAT. However, they have over 300 different pay options based on the company account you haul for. Too confusing. TMC's trucks come fully equipped with cbs, satellite radio, chains, hardhat, etc...all the bells and whistles, but they have the percentage pay and milage pay, and a sliding scale quarterly, where if you had a bad month you could slide back down to less than you were making before. Don't like that idea.
Tomorrow, is NTB (National Truck Brokers)....Not heard a lot about them and Schneider. Schneider will be impressive too, but just not for me. Though, the $8,000 sign on bonus for tankers is tempting. But reading Brett's book he says never start career with tankers, and I agree so I am not going to do that, though I could use the money.
Been keeping in contact with the Shaffer recruiter. They seem to have high standards, which I like because I like to be pushed. When I did my application originally, I wasn't sure if I had told them about my diabetes, and so I called to tell them. They are fine with it, as long as I can pass a DOT phyiscal, and I have passed two so far, so I should be good. But if not, I have ten other prehires to take advantage of. Only one other student, out of 17 in my class, already have a job lined up out of school. That shocks me. I don't know about them, but I need the money, so I want to get to work asap. Plus, once i finish training with Shaffer I will be on my own begining of October. I would like to get at least a small bit of time getting used to the truck before snow and ice. Well, off to bed, thanks for reading. God bless America and God bless the American (and Canadian) 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.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
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.
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.
Prehire:
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.
Prehires:
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.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.
Over the last couple of days we have been studying log booking and the Smith System. I got both of them down pretty well. We started pretrip today in preperation for going on range next week to get in the trucks. Tomorrow is final exam day and then we are going to learn about taxes and a few minor things.
Yesterday morning we were suprised with a local flatbed company, NLX. Seems alright but I dont want to do local. NTB was impressive but they only run 8 states. Schneider brought their A game but OTR is kept in Eastern half of US and that is not what I am looking for. Today was another local flatbed company. Dont remember their name. Tomorrow is Sewell and Prime. I like Prime but you have to team for 8 months or more and dont want to do that. Off to bed.
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.
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Oh, and I'll tell ya something - getting a choice of loads when you're empty is a very, very big deal. That is a huge perk and I would give that a pretty heavy weighting in your decision. Every driver has their own preferences - weather, terrain, scenery, driving style, etc. Getting to pick from a few different options will make life sooooooo much nicer out there.