Cost Of The License (cdl)
Topic 7373 | Page 1
Hi i am roberto ramirez from puerto rico i want to know few things how much is the CDL ?? I have my heavy license of puerto rico how can i change ??
Not sure what it would cost you. you would probably be required to go back to school in the US which could cost around 5k. Though you may be able to do Company-Sponsored Training which wouldn't cost you anything. Sorry I couldn't help more. David
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.
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.
Puerto Rico "Heavy" licenses are NOT reciprocal with U.S. issued CDL's - since PR and other "US Possessions" are not considered "states".
As David hinted at - you would need to complete some kind of training and obtain a "State Issued CDL License" from wherever you are living IN the U.S.A.
You also may run into the issue of having to have a "regular operators license" (Class E) for a period of time in the US, prior to being able to get a CDL. You also might have to deal with some kind of "prior residency requirement", as far as employment goes, and as far as getting a TWIC/HazMat. You CAN GET a TWIC card in PR, and that will make it easier to get a HazMat endorsement here in the states once you get situated.
BEST WAY to find out - is to call a recruiter from one of the "training companies" (Prime, Swift, etc.), and see what the story is.
If you DO call - please DO post back here with their response - I'm sure members here are curious, and it will give us a clue what to suggest to people in the future.
Rick
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
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 i am roberto ramirez from puerto rico i want to know few things how much is the CDL ?? I have my heavy license of puerto rico how can i change ??
I know that my license dont mean nothing in USA what i want to know the procedure and cost of the license . I want to go to houston texas and i want to make sure what i need to do ..... Thanks
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.
Hi i am roberto ramirez from puerto rico i want to know few things how much is the CDL ?? I have my heavy license of puerto rico how can i change ??
I know that my license dont mean nothing in USA what i want to know the procedure and cost of the license . I want to go to houston texas and i want to make sure what i need to do ..... Thanks
Again - you would need to call a trucking company and ask THEM. Your PR license/experience is not going to help get a mainland CDL any faster.
Unless you have an "in" with a company that's going to hire you - you will have to go to SCHOOL or a COMPANY TRAINING PROGRAM in order to get a job here in the US with no US CDL.
The COST of the license is not that expensive - the COST of the TESTING can be a little expensive. A local school here in Florida - charges $300 to use their equipment and do the "skills tests" (pre-trip, yard skills, road test) if you aren't a student in their CDL Course.
You need to start looking at WHO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR - and then CALL THEM to see what procedure THEY are going to require, in order to hire you.
Rick
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.
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Foreign Drivers Getting Your CDL
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Hi i am roberto ramirez from puerto rico i want to know few things how much is the CDL ?? I have my heavy license of puerto rico how can i change ??
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: