Finally Getting The Ball Rolling On My New Career!!!
Topic 7687 | Page 1
D-Bird, it's great you involved your wife in this decision from the get go. Most OTR drivers get home only for a few days a month, so the missus will have to take care of things while you're gone. That's a big change.
I also recently went from an indoor job into trucking. I'm not looking back, either. Continue to hang with your TT friends here, and share the good the bad and the other stuff.
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.
Congrats on the beginning of your new career! My wife and I planned and discussed for close to 1 1/2 years before we pulled the trigger. Needless to say we didn't experience any surprises. That didn't make it any easier once I was gone, but nothing came as too much of a surprise.
You might have a favorite company now, only to change in a week. Keep your options open. I thought I was going to roll OTR for the beginning, being gone for weeks at a time, and then hope to get a weekly regional gig. Because of my location I was able to land a local job right out of trucking school. I was gone 3-4 days at a time in the beginning, and now I'm home every day. Point of the story is that you have no idea where you might end up, the more you research the industry and what companies have to offer. Schneider is a good company - they were on the top of my list at first too. I also considered Prime and Crete / Shaffer.
Educate yourself using the resources here. Read the entire Truck Driver's Career Guide. Definitely start on the High Road Training Program. Absorb everything you can on this website.
Figure out what kind of freight you wanna haul, that'll limit your choices and help you make a decision. You're not gonna have a problem of just having a few companies that'll hire you - you'll have a problem of narrowing it down! As long as you don't have any issues w/ your driving history.
I remember when I was still researching the industry, before I was even enrolled in trucking school. You reminded me of how excited I would get just looking at the rigs, seeing the familiar companies that run in the area, wondering what the inside of that cab looked like. You'll find out soon enough! It's a fun career, albeit extremely challenging. I'm not OTR, but I work 12-14 hour days on average. This industry doesn't have banker's hours. But it's extremely rewarding.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Welcome DirtyBird78!
I plan to start at TDI on March 16th for their 3 week training course and hopefully I will have a few companies to choose from to drive for by the time I am done.
There doesn't have to be any hopefully's. Make sure at least several of the major carriers hire from the school you're going to attend. They should be able to give you a short list and you should call those companies yourself from home to verify this. Not all companies hire from all schools. But if several of the major companies will hire from that school then you know they're legit.
Also, you can get pre-hires from companies before you even commit to attending a school. The companies will let you know if the school you're considering will qualify for employment with them.
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.
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.
I'm starting at TDI Sanford, FL on March 16th as well! Same program! 
Good luck dirty bird. I don't think you'll have to worry about offers. I am in cdl school in baxley and decided to start getting prehires yesterday. My phone burnt up today with responses!! scheider is at the top of my short list also and I had good conversation with the recruiter about otr tanker positions out of savannah. Wish u well with your decision for a new career. I grew up in bolingbroke just up the road from u and graduated from mary persons in forsyth.
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.
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.
TDI is a good outfit for what they do. They move you through fast, but their main goal is to find you a job. They are very good at it. If they feel you will be a good trucker, they will make sure you get a CDl and a job.
Good Luck!
I went to TDI in Christianna, TN
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.
So things have changed since my original post ... background check came back perfect and I am starting training tomorrow morning March 9th .... I will post regular updates about the training and how I am doing.
So things have changed since my original post ... background check came back perfect and I am starting training tomorrow morning March 9th .... I will post regular updates about the training and how I am doing.
WELLLL, That escalated quickly! Congrats on the new career! I am calling all my employers to get my employment dates tomorrow to get the ball rolling myself!
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
I have been going back and forth for a couple of years now about getting into the trucking industry. So on Wednesday March 5th I finally took the first step to my new career as a trucker. I put in my two weeks notice from a job that I was honestly just tired of. Dealing with the strict dress code and just the overall requirements of working for a Fortune 500 company in an office environment. My wife knew that a career in trucking was what I really wanted to do, every time I would see one of those big rigs rolling down the road I would get excited. So we spoke about it and I finally took that first step and she was right there with me as I went and spoke to a recruiter at TDI in Forsyth, GA which is only about a 20-25 minute drive from where I live. After speaking with the recruiter and my wife and I went and had lunch and discussed everything. After about an hour or so we went back to TDI and got everything going. First step was getting the background check done, well I found out that everything is clear there ( which I didn't have any doubts it would be). I plan to start at TDI on March 16th for their 3 week training course and hopefully I will have a few companies to choose from to drive for by the time I am done. I am hoping for Schneider as of now but I am still researching other companies as well. I will definitely make use of any and all of the great resources offered by TT. I am super excited and anxious at the same time, any pointers and advice would be appreciated.
Safe Trucking!!!
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.