Testing out tomorrow! Although I am looking forward to getting out on the road, it looks like my first big rig is gonna look a lot more like a fork-lift. I am going to try to find a hauling job 1 or 2 days a week to keep me shifting. Starting pay on the docks is excellent. I figure if I turn down Fed-Ex now, I might not be able to get in later. At 49 I think this is my best option. I am joining with my CDL A, hazmat , twic , tanker, doubles/triples, so my hope is they can fast track me from within. I hope they realize how serious I am when I install my dash-cam and CB. I am a little apprehensive, but I have to trust it will work out. I am thinking, worst case scenario, I will have to take a 40 hour refresher down the line. If it works out like I anticipate I can catapult pretty quickly. If i am missing anything, please let me know, 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.
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.
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.
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
Testing out tomorrow! Although I am looking forward to getting out on the road, it looks like my first big rig is gonna look a lot more like a fork-lift. I am going to try to find a hauling job 1 or 2 days a week to keep me shifting. Starting pay on the docks is excellent. I figure if I turn down Fed-Ex now, I might not be able to get in later. At 49 I think this is my best option. I am joining with my CDL A, hazmat , twic , tanker, doubles/triples, so my hope is they can fast track me from within. I hope they realize how serious I am when I install my dash-cam and CB. I am a little apprehensive, but I have to trust it will work out. I am thinking, worst case scenario, I will have to take a 40 hour refresher down the line. If it works out like I anticipate I can catapult pretty quickly. If i am missing anything, please let me know, thanks!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
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.
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.