Take Written CDL Exam

Please advise if I should get the permit in the near future here or wait until I choose a company and take the test where ever the school is based.

I am 100% sure this is the career I want. However I am waiting until my last child graduates HS this year before I leave.

I live in California. I have no interest in staying here but I have 6 months or so I have to stay. Can taking and passing the CDL exam permit here in California work for any state.

a little about me and plans. I will be doing a company sponsored school training.

I was hoping to get the permit soon and perhaps get the others as well, haz matt, air brakes, ect. I see in California its valid for 6 months and you can renew for another 6 months.

I am ready to go now but cant leave my child with no home. I will be taking a pay cut and will need to sell my home before going. Right now I have equity but a steep payment. (I have planned all along to move out of California prior to consider this career) My current job is a nightmare and currently unstable.

You're probably better off having a little firmer game plan in place - time-frame-wise AND where you're actually going to end up, both location and company-wise, before you go ahead and take your permit tests.

If you get a permit in CA, and then move elsewhere (before getting your CDL) you are likely going to have to return to CA to turn the permit into a CDL , then transfer it to your new home state. OR just dump the permit, and get them in your new home state (since companies either require you to have a permit in your home state, and return to upgrade it to a CDL - OR - get your permits in the state the trucking company trains in, test and get your CDL there - THEN TRANSFER it to your home state).

The last time I renewed my CDL (with HM, Tanker, Doubles/Triples & Passenger), it cost me around $200 with all the endorsements and the HM renewal. Not an inexpensive proposition, and certainly not something you would want to pay for TWICE.

Too many variables in the current early stages of your plan, to just go out and get your permits now - you may just be wasting time & $$. Federal law also mandates a DOT Medical Card on file with your state DMV - again - you don't want to pay for a physical/card - when you're just going to be getting one from your company anyways.

You WILL need to do air-brakes and general knowledge at a BARE MINIMUM for a Class-A CDL. While it varies from state to state - in some states you cannot take the HM, until you're getting your CDL, as you cannot actually haul HM until your background comes back and you actually HAVE the full endorsement. Many companies REQUIRE a HM endorsement.

What you CAN DO NOW - is go and get your TWIC Card - which many companies also require. There's no "test" for this, and the background is done by the same agency as the HM (TSA/Homeland Security). Having a recently issued TWIC card, will make the background check for the HM come back quicker. Mind took almost two months when I renewed it last year (they were re-doing their computer systems).

In the meantime - study the High Road CDL Training Program, right here on this site. It's FREE, and is better than the ones I PAID FOR 6 years ago when I took all my tests. Run through the course, and keep going back through it. That way - whenever/wherever you decide you're going, you'll just walk in and nail the tests cold.

I'm in a similar boat. Totally burnt out in my profession. Went to CDL school for 9 weeks and got my license 6 years ago. Kept everything current - but never used it. Now I'm considering bailing out of my business and home (think I might ACTUALLY BE FED UP ENOUGH to do it this time). BUT - I need to do a refresher - or start from scratch as a student at a company (minus the CDL tests, since I already have one). Need to be hired on within 30 days of going back to my school for a refresher - so - I need to have ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW - before I go in for the refresher. This means selling all my crap - storing what I don't sell but can't part with, etc. etc.

So - to reiterate. Get a little closer to your "jumping off point". Figure out which company you plan on getting on with, and find out WHAT THEY REQUIRE, as far as permits etc. STUDY THE HIGH ROAD TRAINING PROGRAM. Get relocated FIRST - so you don't have to pay to transfer stuff, and maybe have to take tests ALL OVER AGAIN (and pay for them).

Hope this helps...

Rick

You're probably better off having a little firmer game plan in place - time-frame-wise AND where you're actually going to end up, both location and company-wise, before you go ahead and take your permit tests.

If you get a permit in CA, and then move elsewhere (before getting your CDL) you are likely going to have to return to CA to turn the permit into a CDL , then transfer it to your new home state. OR just dump the permit, and get them in your new home state (since companies either require you to have a permit in your home state, and return to upgrade it to a CDL - OR - get your permits in the state the trucking company trains in, test and get your CDL there - THEN TRANSFER it to your home state).

The last time I renewed my CDL (with HM, Tanker, Doubles/Triples & Passenger), it cost me around $200 with all the endorsements and the HM renewal. Not an inexpensive proposition, and certainly not something you would want to pay for TWICE.

Too many variables in the current early stages of your plan, to just go out and get your permits now - you may just be wasting time & $$. Federal law also mandates a DOT Medical Card on file with your state DMV - again - you don't want to pay for a physical/card - when you're just going to be getting one from your company anyways.

You WILL need to do air-brakes and general knowledge at a BARE MINIMUM for a Class-A CDL. While it varies from state to state - in some states you cannot take the HM, until you're getting your CDL, as you cannot actually haul HM until your background comes back and you actually HAVE the full endorsement. Many companies REQUIRE a HM endorsement.

What you CAN DO NOW - is go and get your TWIC Card - which many companies also require. There's no "test" for this, and the background is done by the same agency as the HM (TSA/Homeland Security). Having a recently issued TWIC card, will make the background check for the HM come back quicker. Mind took almost two months when I renewed it last year (they were re-doing their computer systems).

In the meantime - study the High Road CDL Training Program, right here on this site. It's FREE, and is better than the ones I PAID FOR 6 years ago when I took all my tests. Run through the course, and keep going back through it. That way - whenever/wherever you decide you're going, you'll just walk in and nail the tests cold.

I'm in a similar boat. Totally burnt out in my profession. Went to CDL school for 9 weeks and got my license 6 years ago. Kept everything current - but never used it. Now I'm considering bailing out of my business and home (think I might ACTUALLY BE FED UP ENOUGH to do it this time). BUT - I need to do a refresher - or start from scratch as a student at a company (minus the CDL tests, since I already have one). Need to be hired on within 30 days of going back to my school for a refresher - so - I need to have ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW - before I go in for the refresher. This means selling all my crap - storing what I don't sell but can't part with, etc. etc.

So - to reiterate. Get a little closer to your "jumping off point". Figure out which company you plan on getting on with, and find out WHAT THEY REQUIRE, as far as permits etc. STUDY THE HIGH ROAD TRAINING PROGRAM. Get relocated FIRST - so you don't have to pay to transfer stuff, and maybe have to take tests ALL OVER AGAIN (and pay for them).

Hope this helps...

Rick

Wow that was alot of much needed info. I guess I will just study like you suggested for now. Thanks for the detailed information.