What Did You Do Before Becoming A Truck Driver?
Topic 7924 | Page 25
Patrick wrote in response to Johnny:
Welcome Johnny and good luck. You can shotgun your resume out to a lot of different companies at 1 time from this site. I am sure Brett or OS will shoot the link up. Try to get as many prehires as possible. This can be done before you even start school. It will make the process a lot simpler in the end.
I think you mean this:
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
and this:
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.
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.
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.
Thank you for pointing this out! I am supposed to be done with school in late January but my son is having his 5th birthday party in the 1st week of February & I am determined to stick around for that before I start work & am gone for a few weeks. Is it too early to start applying if I want to begin employment around mid February?
Thank you for pointing this out! I am supposed to be done with school in late January but my son is having his 5th birthday party in the 1st week of February & I am determined to stick around for that before I start work & am gone for a few weeks. Is it too early to start applying if I want to begin employment around mid February?
Johnny it's not too early to send out pre-hire letters. The whole point is to line up employment opportunities before you actually graduate. The first three links I sent you focus on that approach.
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.
Recently I have been a local stage hand for various concerts and shows (Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Dysturbed, Def Leppard, etc)...also a sub teacher, and car delivery/retrieval for our local Ford dealership, as well as an actor in various TV shows and movies. Prior to that I was a senior company trainer for a large non-profit. During the last 4 years I also attended college and received my 4-year degree. Guess I got bored and wanted a challenge so I decided to do something I've been thinking about for a very long time (even my family has suggested it off and on for many years)...driving a Big Rig!
That dream will commend next Monday with Prime!!
Thank you for thee suggestions Patrick & G-Town. I went ahead & used the link to fill out a pre-hire request. My application was apparently forwarded to 2 companies ( was hoping for more :/) can't complain too much though as it was pretty easy to do.
One company I would be highly unlikely to consider unless they change their stance on hair length (TMC). May seem like a trivial thing to write a company off for but they choose to have that policy & a lot of companies don't. I was already in the military and a small part of the reason I left was so I could have more freedom to be me. The other, Jim Palmer was definitely on my radar already.
I put down that I had an accident ( it was over 3 years ago but they asked for within 5) This is the only ticket or accident I have had in the last 10 years. Is it possible that this kept my application from getting forwarded to more places?
I live right by Des Moines and plenty of companies have regular lanes rolling through nearby interstates 80 & 35 so I doubt that would give me too many limitations.
Thanks again!
Patrick wrote in response to Johnny:
Welcome Johnny and good luck. You can shotgun your resume out to a lot of different companies at 1 time from this site. I am sure Brett or OS will shoot the link up. Try to get as many prehires as possible. This can be done before you even start school. It will make the process a lot simpler in the end.
I think you mean this:
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
and this:
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.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
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.
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.
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.
WOW . . . thats all I have for reading everyones replies ! Its just amazing at the variety we have here.
Errol heres 1 ya dont have yet . . . LOL
Went from HS to retail & odd cashier jobs. Turned 21 & teamed with my ex for Com-Trans for 9 months. Came off the road & went into a school bus. Went from there to driving an armored truck & did that for 3 years. Went back to the school bus driving special needs children & thats where I am currently but it just doesnt pay enough. BACK to trucking I go. Ive taught myself, tested out & have my Class A lerners & am waiting on word for schooling.
Special thanks to all that keep this site running ! You are a GREAT help 
I graduated high school in May of '93 and went to Navy boot camp a month later. I served for 4 years as an Avionics Technician. While I was in, I had a part time job busting tires at a Montgomery Ward. When I got out, I worked as a mechanic for a bit then decided to go to school to be a machinist. While in school, someone recommended I apply for a Fedreal job with I.N.S. and suggested I work at a corrections facility to see if I like working with criminals, so I worked at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola for about 6 months. I hated the job, missed my wrenches, and reignited my dream of being a racecar driver. Started at a community college and then transferred to Louisiana Tech University. Loved the school but hated small town life. I worked a co-op (intern) with Kimberly Clarke for 6 months before deciding to transfer to University of Louisiana at Lafayette. About this time, I started selling Pampered Chef products as a consultant. I then got tired of the engineering professor and student egos, had given up racing to concentrate on school, and then decided to answer the calling to serve my country in time of war. Went back in the Navy as an Information Systems Technician working in telecommunications. Did two sea deployments and a deployment to Iraq where I fell in love with photography. Got out the Navy, again, and went back to school at ULL, again. Absolutely loved it, but ran out of money and dropped out, again. Got a job in the oilfield and absolutely loved it. After almost 5 years, and surviving at least 6 layoffs, work slowed down too much and I couldn't afford to not work anymore. I left the oilfield in October and a month later I started school for truck driving and I am loving every bit of it!
Well where should I start? When I was 15 years old I worked as a farm hand at a family friends dairy farm where i helped erect two green houses and took care of the cows (60 I believe) and heifers and took corn to the towers, I then went from there to working at a apple orchard farm at 19 years old that job was also seasonal so then after about two or 3 months of no work I then heard about this hay farm out in Front Royal, Virginia, I was 20 years old when I worked there for the summer and then quite because of the lack of taking care of the land and never had a chance to spend time with my family and rarely had a Sunday to go to church. That is when I came to where I now work, which is a dealership, and I have to admit one of the worst jobs I have ever worked at in my life. Only paying $10/hr and I am 22 now and still have yet to get a pay raise and I have been with them for 2 yr. 2 months. I paid for one semester of college for engineering classes and realized that where I work at just won't allow me to even do online courses because of the lack of income for even bills and repairs to my car.
So after walking through our workforce solutions building one day I saw to my left slightly a sign that said CDS CDL Training. I didn't think to much of it at first and then swung around and signed up for the grants and the class where I am still in training; soon to join the brothers of the highway. I know that it was not a coincidence that I saw that, God showed me a way out of this DEAD END job and now I can't wait to get started in my new career. I have been dreaming of being a truck driver since I was 10 years old. Finally going to be able to fulfill my dream!! Must be the Lords will, cause I already got my Class A permit just so excited!
That is my story and I am sticking to it my friends!!
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.
Dm:
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 have been all over. Been a butcher, dept. manager at Wal-mart, managed a firework store, drove a shuttle truck for UPS, and lately I have been a CNA for the past few years. Economy in this town in Wyoming is in the crapper since Manny of our coal and oil sites have shut down. So just waiting for tax season so the gf can pay off the van so I can hit the road and not leave her with 100% of the bills for the first 3 months. I am going to join Prime Inc, since they have a training facility in Salt Lake City, which is very close to home for me, and the training I hear is excellent so I won't be out of $5,000 for school and I have to get my 1 year in anyways for expierence to move on, so why not just work for the company for a year, and leave on good terms.
I want trucking not technically OTR to be my career, nothing has stuck with me in my work life, driving for UPS was amazingly fun and I remember going on runs with my dad as a boy to get cement for his belly dump and it was a lot of fun to be with him doing that. I grew up around trucking so it is nothing new to me...
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.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Becoming A Truck Driver Changing Careers Military Veterans In Trucking Older truck drivers Photos The Economy And Politics Truck Driving Stories
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
Welcome Johnny and good luck. You can shotgun your resume out to a lot of different companies at 1 time from this site. I am sure Brett or OS will shoot the link up. Try to get as many prehires as possible. This can be done before you even start school. It will make the process a lot simpler in the end.
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.