cdl testing& life

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VDART

VDART

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just got a call today that I'm next for the cdl over the road driving-- anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

in the company I work for this is the preferred job with out some of the politics of the daily stuff..

i have little to no experience with backing a trailer let alone a big rig--- I've been given a booklet for the testing & some websites to practice on-- this all has to happen before April 5,2014.
Lawrence
 
The problem with getting your CDL is that it takes you into a whole new world. There are so many different jobs and situations and most new drivers don't have a clue.
Here are some things you should know:
How are you paid. hub miles, postal code miles, shortest route(maybe not truck appropriate), by the hr, by the day etc. When are you paid. Benefits? Do they cover your expenses when you need to get a motel because the truck broke down?
Are you ready to work up to 70 hrs or more a week for maybe $8/hr?
What are you going to eat and how much will you spend?
What happens when you get DOT'd and fined for defective equipment- who pays?
What about your family life . Do you mind missing your kids soccer game, school pagent or birthday party? or some all nighters with your wife?
Do you care that the highway is closed and you have to sit not earning and not home?
Do you care that a speeding ticket at work will affect your personal insurance ?
Can you work with a camera facing you 24/7?
Do you really believe the recruiters that blow sunshine up your butt?
Will it bother you when people cut so close in front of you that you can't see their taillights. Will you have patience to follow a driving school car down a winding highway for miles without being able to pass?

I'm an old guy,retired, empty nester and always have enjoyed equipment. I drove for almost 500k/ over two years and loved it. I had a new Pete 389, pulled wide and heavy, worked over 140 hrs over two weeks, took time off when I wanted, was really good at my coloring book and pulled down the best MPG in the company. I had 7 random level twos with out incident, one warning for speeding and one near death close call that caused me to decide to park the truck and get back to my toys and retirement. Its one thing to see accidents on tv but to see people killed around you and realize that it could be you makes the job really suck- especially if the kid at Mcdonals is making more per hr than you.
You better get off this forum and do lots of reading on the truckers forum because there is a lot that you need to know.

Another thought- go to a local truck stop, have lunch, sit in the drivers lounge and look at how life and good health is passing by a lot of these drivers. Oh and go and sit in the can and lsiten to your neighbors trying to drop their load, or the new citizen having a shower in the sink.

Trucking can be fun but go into it with your eyes wide open
 
If you have no experience take a school. My buddy is an instructor who.taught me. It took me 3 times to pass. Backing up wasnt too hard, I was lucky and used a flat deck. If you can use flat deck for your test. Congrats n good luck!
 
H20loo said:
The problem with getting your CDL is that it takes you into a whole new world. There are so many different jobs and situations and most new drivers don't have a clue.
Here are some things you should know:
How are you paid. hub miles, postal code miles, shortest route(maybe not truck appropriate), by the hr, by the day etc. When are you paid. Benefits? Do they cover your expenses when you need to get a motel because the truck broke down?
Are you ready to work up to 70 hrs or more a week for maybe $8/hr?
What are you going to eat and how much will you spend?
What happens when you get DOT'd and fined for defective equipment- who pays?
What about your family life . Do you mind missing your kids soccer game, school pagent or birthday party? or some all nighters with your wife?
Do you care that the highway is closed and you have to sit not earning and not home?
Do you care that a speeding ticket at work will affect your personal insurance ?
Can you work with a camera facing you 24/7?
Do you really believe the recruiters that blow sunshine up your butt?
Will it bother you when people cut so close in front of you that you can't see their taillights. Will you have patience to follow a driving school car down a winding highway for miles without being able to pass?

I'm an old guy,retired, empty nester and always have enjoyed equipment. I drove for almost 500k/ over two years and loved it. I had a new Pete 389, pulled wide and heavy, worked over 140 hrs over two weeks, took time off when I wanted, was really good at my coloring book and pulled down the best MPG in the company. I had 7 random level twos with out incident, one warning for speeding and one near death close call that caused me to decide to park the truck and get back to my toys and retirement. Its one thing to see accidents on tv but to see people killed around you and realize that it could be you makes the job really suck- especially if the kid at Mcdonals is making more per hr than you.
You better get off this forum and do lots of reading on the truckers forum because there is a lot that you need to know.

Another thought- go to a local truck stop, have lunch, sit in the drivers lounge and look at how life and good health is passing by a lot of these drivers. Oh and go and sit in the can and lsiten to your neighbors trying to drop their load, or the new citizen having a shower in the sink.

Trucking can be fun but go into it with your eyes wide open
Click to expand...

This sounds so negative! BUT....it is right on. Reality for sure. I love driving and have put many years in at it. But Even though I was told I would be home every night. Getting home after 10pm and being on the road at 4:00am was not that fun. I made good money but break it down hourly...and wow. It's tough and if I needed to I would do it again but read H20loo's response and think of and answer every question.
 
I hope it works out for you.

I don't know anything about trucking.
 
I wont' be an independant -- it will still be for the company I work for with dedicated bid routes-- I would be low man until I could get to bid a route-- up to 2 years.

just apprehensive about change, 2 guys did this last year & said I would be silly not to. Long story let's just say my job now is extremely scrutinized & has every waking moment gps'd & timed.

I do not get to see the soccer games now due to the nature of the job, you clock out when the work is done & they don't need help somewhere else.
I'm on road daily just not in a big rig.

thanks Lawrence
 
Years ago I hauled grapes from Erie to Pittsburgh during Harvest season. The driving and backing of the rig is the easy part.Life on the road was very different then than it is today. Above, you have read the rest of the story. Good luck and be safe .
 
you can make more working on them.I got cornholed the other day 751 for front drums and shoes for a dot yearly inspection
 
That's all good advice given so far. I have 38 years experience but have been off the road now for the last 17 and just do yard jockey work. While driving down the road is important I think backing up a truck is more important. I would spend more time learning how to do that. Learn how to back in as square and centered as possible to the dock. So many guys that come into my work place are so off center at a dock that they take up the space of a dock next to them and often make it impossible to get another truck into that spot, and they seem to think that there is nothing wrong with that. Where I work we have tight spaces getting into our docks, and it's unbelievable to me just how many guys have no clue on how to back into these tight spaces. There were two guys already this week that said it was impossible to back into these docks,even though there were already other trucks of similar size parked there. I had to take time from my other duties to back one of these guys trailers into the dock for him. And to top it off after he hooks back up he tells me that he won't be able to get his truck out from the dock because of the tight space. I flat out told him that I'm not pulling his trailer out for him and that he will have room to do it, and he hasn't been the only guy I've done this for.. Needless to say I have little respect for guys like this as a driver and have more respect for the guys who at least try to back in, but some of them still have a hard time. So I think it's more important to learn how to back up a truck, and one more thing, practice how to blind side back. It's a skill you will need from time to time! Sorry it's so long but I feel this is important and it's just my 2 cents.
 
Just like riding bike it il all come back 25 year teamster truck driver i work 4 big super market in pittsburgh pa im goin backwards more thanforward hitting docks you will do fine take your time get out and look if you have to GOOD LUCK HAMMER DOWN!!
 
4spdragtop said:
If you have no experience take a school. My buddy is an instructor who.taught me. It took me 3 times to pass. Backing up wasnt too hard, I was lucky and used a flat deck. If you can use flat deck for your test. Congrats n good luck!
Click to expand...

...and make sure it's NOT a spread-axle. They swing funny while backing up. :)

Class B license here, trained and road tested in a ratty old Ford L8000 soda truck...ex-Pepsi truck with a gas 370, 5.89 gears, steel springs, and no radio. Total *bleep*-box, but got me my CDL.

OTR pay is crap, sadly. :( Though, I have heard that Roehl treats drivers pretty well.
 
Bigdummy said:
you can make more working on them.I got cornholed the other day 751 for front drums and shoes for a dot yearly inspection
Click to expand...

Dang! Needed new drums?

Are you like my uncle, where you always use the Jakes unless you're actually stopping?
 
Driving OTR is a love it/hate it thing. It's not an easy job by any stretch, but I know people who have been doing it for over 25 years, and would never consider doing anything else. I also know people who have given in to the demands of driving.

I drove OTR for 2 years back in the 70's for a leasing company. I essentially had the same 2 runs from Brooklyn to St Jose, Calif. and them a return run from San Diago Calif, to Shrewsbury mass, and a short hope from Shrewsbury to Mommoth, NJ. I was living in Jersey at the time, so I used to end up about 40 miles from home. That was before the interstates were completed all the way across the country,

Sometimes I'd run the NY to Amarillo to Charlotte and back to NY.

I did it for 2 years. I was single at the time, and made enough money to pay for college. I knew after the first 2 or 3 months that it was not how I wanted to make a living, but, I also remember meeting a lot of good people, and having a lot of fun while doing it.

It was a vastly different experience back then. No GPS, no mickey Mouse in the cab, no cell phones, quite a few incomplete interstates, and truck stops were not nearly as nice, as well equipped, nor as abundant as they are now.

Rt 66 was still the best road across CA. AZ, NM, TX, OK, and into Missouri, The Will Rogers turnpike was a premier road of the time, cops were just learning about radar.

When I first started long haul, the rig was a Mid 50's Mack "H" model, similar to the ones in the links below but the twin screw version. No auto trans, no a/c, and no power steering. I drove those things for about 14 month before I saw a tractor new enough to have 4 headlights. lol

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaPD2eT7r2k"]Cabover COE 1954 H-63 Mack Truck Tractor Diesel 673 Duplex - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s720maiWm0"]1962 H 67 Mack tow truck 673 diesel duplex - YouTube[/ame]

As I look back some 40 plus years, I remember more good times than bad ones, but I also remember the summer heat, and the winter cold, and the 68 mph top speed on a flat plane. lol Driving across the country back then involved going through the Rockies, very often on 2 lane black top, and not very quickly.

I wish you all the luck, and I hope you're the type who truly enjoys the work. It could be a real good life.
 
update!!! passed the state cdl today!! Class A with doubles/triple endorsement!!! Will be changing out between jobs sometime this summer!! This is the first relaxing day in 3 weeks--- tests are all passed-- now the real training begins!!!

hopefully in 2 years it will be worth the change.
Man!! does the beer taste good now.
Lawrence
 
Ah the CDL got mine in 93 I do not drive commercially anymore ,
But I will not let my CDL go I have had to fall back on it at times when i never thought I would !
Congrats !!! It is a good thing to have !!
Don't ever forget the responsibility you have while driving !!
Always always always keep you head in the mirrors when changing lanes , or taking corners and learn to read other drivers so well , you know what they will do before they do !!
Best wishes !!!
I will say a prayer for you !!
Jim
 
jimmer said:
Don't ever forget the responsibility you have while driving !!
Click to expand...

I don't drive that much, anymore, but every time I hop on the freeway I see some damn cowboy in a truck who does not understand this
 
VDART said:
update!!! passed the state cdl today!! Class A with doubles/triple endorsement!!! Will be changing out between jobs sometime this summer!! This is the first relaxing day in 3 weeks--- tests are all passed-- now the real training begins!!!

hopefully in 2 years it will be worth the change.
Man!! does the beer taste good now.
Lawrence
Click to expand...
It's a good feeling no doubt!
Here are a few more thoughts-
You now have a license to learn to drive, you have a CDL but you are not a truck driver. That comes with experience and at some point down the road you will say "damn, I AM a driver!!" And at that time, slow down and be careful because over confidence can bite your ***.
Eat healthy from the start and stay out of fast food pits. It will save you money and allow you to see your grand children grow up.
I always went for a walk, a long walk at the end of every day. It's important to keep good blood circulation when you have been sitting for maybe 14 hrs. If I could have I would have gone jogging. I do take a bike with me in the summer. It allows me to get to areas where the scenery is good, or to the local speed shops or car handouts.
Get a TRUCK GPS with lifetime maps. It will possibly keep you out of areas you shouldn't be and off bridges that could cost you tens of thousands in fines.
And my favorite thing is my lunch box oven. I take frozen food along and cook homemade food in it. Nothing like being as far from home as you can get and warm up some of your regular home cooked dinner.
BTW- do you know that in most states your blood alcohol limit has been reduced- even in your personal car.
Having said all that, I hope you get a truck you are proud of and you enjoy driving. It's an amazing experience.
 
Update!!!
start @3:45 am 6/16/2014-- 5 day ride with the trainer pulling doubles--- up & back from Wichita Ks to Oklahoma city for the week. Will update as the week progresses. looking forward to the new chapter/challenge for my family & myself.
Lawrence
 
VDART said:
Update!!!
start @3:45 am 6/16/2014-- 5 day ride with the trainer pulling doubles--- up & back from Wichita Ks to Oklahoma city for the week. Will update as the week progresses. looking forward to the new chapter/challenge for my family & myself.
Lawrence
Click to expand...

I am headed north on Thursday so we may pass each other on I-35.
 
VDART said:
Update!!!
start @3:45 am 6/16/2014-- 5 day ride with the trainer pulling doubles--- up & back from Wichita Ks to Oklahoma city for the week. Will update as the week progresses. looking forward to the new chapter/challenge for my family & myself.
Lawrence
Click to expand...

Stay safe, keep it between the lines and don't let the wind whip you to death!!! Good luck on the new chapter in life!
 
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