CDL License

According to recent statistics the trucking economy is slowly improving. Spot freight in December increased 11 percent over November and was more than double the amount for December 2008, based on the TransCore Freight Index. December is typically weak for spot freight but it was the highest level for all of 2009.

So things are getting better out there. The trucking economy is showing some signs of picking up. Maybe not as fast as we would like, but the trend is now going in the right direction which means soon more freight will need to be shipped and trucking companies will start to hire truck drivers again. And when they do they just might find that there aren’t enough drivers out there.

When the economy picks up and stabilizes, experts believe there will be a shortage of drivers as more freight is shipped again and as more and more Baby Boomer drivers retire. Many carriers are concerned about the driver shortage, but are not yet willing or able to hire more in anticipation of the coming shortage. But they do anticipate the need to find qualified and responsible drivers. Carriers know they have a very short window of opportunity to recruit the drivers they need when the need arises. Will you be ready?

If you have been sitting on the couch, wondering what to do with your career, now is a good time to think about truck driving school. Driver Solutions offers a unique program that matches entry level truck drivers with trucking companies providing a company-sponsored truck driver training program.  There will always be a need for truck drivers. Freight will always need to be shipped. Having a CDL license is insurance in tough economic times. Hopefully there won’t be another recession soon, and especially not like this one, but if there is, having a CDL with proper truck driver training can mean the difference between sitting on the couch waiting for a job, or driving the open road, making your own hours, and having a steady paycheck.

If you live in Los Angeles and are considering attending truck driving school, check out the opportunity with USA Truck.  The trucking company has expanded it's freight lanes and is adding Los Angeles-based truck drivers to its ranks.  The trucking company is providing company-sponsored truck driver training at a well-known truck driving school.  This is a great way to obtain your CDL license and get a great job in trucking.  You can save thousands of dollars in truck driving school tuition and there's no need to go out searching for a job.  USA Truck is committed to help new truck drivers succeed in their trucking careers.

For more details about the CDL training program, check out the USA Truck job posting on the the Driver Solutions website.  

I think a lot of people believe all the need to do is learn how to drive a big rig and they can get any trucking job they want.  While there are a lot of job openings in trucking, this approach is not the best route.  It's important to learn about all of the rules and regulations that are intended to keep both the truck driver and those he shares the road with safe. 

A lot more goes into truck driving than getting a CDL license and hitting the road. It's a tough job. Some people can handle it, and some people can't. What traits do truck drivers need to succeed & excel in a trucking career?

Pass the DOT Physical
At a minimum, all truck drivers must pass a basic Department of Transportation (DOT) physical. It's a requirement for your CDL license and a must-have for employment with any trucking company. Why? Because an unhealthy driver is an unsafe driver.

Meet Employer Health Requirements
Some truck driving companies have minimum health requirements that go above and beyond what's required for the basic DOT physical. For example, there may be a BMI (body mass index) limit or a stricter blood pressure requirement. The main reason individual companies have stricter requirements is because of insurance — the healthier their truck drivers are, the lower their insurance costs will be.

Be in Decent Physical Shape
Aside from passing the physical and meeting basic trucking company health requirements, you need to be able to get in and out of a truck 8-10 times a day. You should also be able to load and unload a trailer when & if it's needed.

Be Willing to Spend Time Away From Family
The first year on the road, when you're getting your over-the-road (OTR) experience, is tough. A lot of new truck drivers are gone anywhere from 2-3 weeks at a time and if you have young children at home, that can be really hard on a family. It's really a lifestyle change & successful truck drivers have to be willing to ‘put in their time’ during that first year. Once you have some driving experience under your belt, better truck driving job opportunities will become available.

Jason Cox, from Truck Drivers News, has stated that he thinks truck driving schools get by teaching the bare minimum. In a recent piece on the website, he says:

Students have been rushed through the CDL schools and some are only really taught how to shift gears and back up. A lot of schools last from two to four weeks, after which the students are rushed into the industry at companies without enough existing drivers qualified to mentor and further train the newcomers.

Some trucking companies only require a truck driver to have six months total driving experience in a commercial vehicle in order to become a truck driver trainer and begin training new drivers. Six months is simply not enough experience to be considered qualified to train new truck drivers.

I can't help but disagree. He himself went to a truck driving school, so I don't know why he's so against them now. And we do so much more than simply train a new truck driver to shift gears and back up...

Driver Solutions’ students are trained the basics in a classroom for one week, are on the driving range for another week, and then are on the road, with a trainer, for yet another week before they get their CDL license. After the student gets their Class A CDL license, they drive with a company driver trainer for another four to six weeks.

At Driver Solutions, we train our students to enter the highway with confidence, how to properly perform a pre-trip inspection, how to use the technology in the truck, as well as the common sense that goes with using new technology.

It serves no one to be a CDL mill, rushing students through the training just so they can get their CDL license. Driver Solutions provides students with superior CDL training & provides trucking companies with well-trained, quality truck drivers.

Since November 8, 2009, the Florida Turnpike has been switching over to a cashless toll system or ‘Toll-by-Plate’ system. The new toll way system uses high-speed and high-resolution cameras to capture a picture of the vehicle’s license plate and then sends a bill to the registered owner for the toll amount. The conversion began on a 26 mile stretch in Miami-Dade County and tollbooth removal is expected to be completed by February of 2011.

Truck drivers and their carriers, not to mention regular drivers, are excited about the Toll-by-Plate system because it means they can coast through the area without waiting in traffic that gets backed up by people stopping to pay tolls. The conversion to a cashless system will likely save truck drivers a considerable amount of time, money, and fuel since they will no longer have to stop in the 26 mile section of Miami-Dade County.

One has to wonder if there are going to be any bugs in the system that need to be worked out before all vehicles are running smoothly on the turnpike. When a system is automated, it can save the state money. The cost of the tollbooth operator salaries’ alone will be a substantial savings. But will that savings in salaries end up costing the county more in administrative costs?

What happens when the camera shoots a picture of a license plate that is obscured by a cover? Can the system read it properly to ensure that the bill is sent to the right person? What about people who unlawfully try to obscure their license plate or worse remove it through the tolls? Will the county have to have extra patrols on the road to make sure that drivers aren’t unlawfully removing or hiding their plates? It would be wonderful if traffic could flow more smoothly, but if plates are being misread or not read at all, revenue could actually be lost in lost tolls and increased administrative costs due to fixing errors when plates are misread.

I'm cautiously optimistic about the new system, and hope that the Florida DOT has considered these questions and are able to prevent the abuses of the system. But this could be an unbelievable breakthrough for truck drivers, trucking carriers, & the trucking industry in general, so I hope it all works out & other states follow the same path.

Only time will tell with regard to these questions but it will certainly be interesting to see how the new Toll-by-Plate system works. Once the bugs are out of the new system the drive through the Florida Turnpike could become a pleasure rather than a pain. What do you think about this new cashless toll system? Think it will work?

The biggest question on the minds of our soldiers coming back from the war is “What am I going to do for a job?”. Many ex-military are coming home to find that it’s kind of difficult to land a stable, well-paying job these days. Well, the search won’t be that hard! The trucking industry is one of the best career opportunities available to former soldiers and ex-military personnel. And it’s fairly easy to get started and begin driving in about a month!

Many trucking companies are hiring experienced truck drivers, but very few are willing to help those without experience break into the trucking industry, unless they’ve got about $5,000 & can pay for their own CDL training…

At Driver Solutions, we pride ourselves in helping those who just want a chance to start a new, great-paying career without getting a college degree or spending a lot of money they don’t have. In less than a month, we can help you obtain a Class A CDL license & be on your way to a great career in the trucking industry.

While fighting for our country overseas, soldiers have been exposed to operating all kinds of heavy machinery, which, in a sense, prepared them to do the same back home. And a career as a professional truck driver is one of the most stable, both professionally and financially, in our country today.

Go talk to a truck driver to see if a career in the trucking industry is right for you. Then fill out an application on our website to get on the road to success as a professional truck driver.

I read an article in my hometown newspaper the other day about locals, along with others across the country, being worried about the economy & especially the job market. The article talked to some people who had jobs & felt lucky, some who had jobs but not in the field they have a degree for, and some who didn’t have jobs at all & are having a hard time finding one.

My state isn’t the only state that has seen a decline in available jobs and an increase in unemployed workers. The entire country has felt this crunch, but there’s still one industry with job opportunities throughout the U.S. that is still, and always will be, hiring new employees. Can you guess which one? That’s right…the trucking industry. Truck driving jobs are plentiful & trucking is a great-paying, stable industry that this country will always rely on. Ever heard the saying ‘If you got it, a truck brought it’? It’s so true! There aren’t many products today that only ship via railways or water. Some, yes, but not a lot. So this just means that with a CDL (commercial driver’s license), your job market will always be growing & hiring, which is great for you!

One thing many people don’t know is how to get a new career started in the truck driving industry. Well…let me tell you just how easy it is! Many trucking companies want you to either have truck driving experience or they want you to attend a CDL training course. And good, quality CDL truck driver training can get pretty expensive. Not to mention, you’ve got to find your own job. One company that has taken all this into consideration is Driver Solutions.

Driver Solutions & their network of trucking companies and CDL training schools have created a unique program to help new truck drivers break into the trucking industry. Once you’re qualified with the Driver Solutions Network, they will set you up to attend an approved, top-notch CDL training school and secure you a job offer with a well-respected, stable trucking company. Of course, this is all contingent that you pass the required DOT physical and drug screen.

So if you’re down & out or just lucky but not really happy, check out a career as a professional truck driver. It might just be the opportunity you’re looking for!

The Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program has been in place since 1986 to ensure that drivers of large trucks and buses are qualified to operate those vehicles safely. A CDL is issued by each state, but there are established minimum national standards set by the federal government. Basically, the Department of Transportation is in charge of CDL licenses, but you'll visit your local BMV to actually get it.

Drivers need a CDL if they drive a Class A, Class B, or Class C commercial motor vehicle.

• A Class A vehicle is a combination vehicle, your typical truck and trailer, that weighs more than 26,000 pounds. The kind you see out on the highway.
• A Class B vehicle is a single vehicle that weighs more than 26,000 pounds.
• A Class C vehicle is a single or combination vehicle that doesn’t meet the definitions of a Class A or Class B, but is designed to transport 16 or more passengers or is able to carry hazardous materials.

To receive a CDL, you have to pass knowledge and skills tests administered by your state. To pass the knowledge test, you must correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions. To pass the skills test, you much successfully perform all required skills for the type of vehicle you expect to operate.

The minimum age to hold a CDL is 18 years old. However, federal law says you must be 21 to drive across state lines, transport hazardous materials, or transport interstate freight within the state. That means since most truck driving jobs you can get after driving school are OTR jobs (i.e. across state lines), you'll have a tough time getting one if you're under the age of 21.

When you attend a CDL truck driving school, you'll earn a CDL Permit during your first week. To get one, you'll need to pass the CDL general knowledge exam, as well as any other exams, such as air brakes & combination vehicles, for the vehicle(s) you want to drive. You'll learn how to do that at any truck driver training school.

Driver Solutions & their network of trucking companies have begun using online learning tools to help the students that go through their programs study for and pass the CDL permit exams. eGears, an online interactive learning resource, is used by all Driver Solutions students before they attend the CDL training school, and the results have been amazing! More students are graduating than ever before thanks to the use of the eGears products. eGears is just a simple tool to help students prepare for truck driver training by learning all the basic knowledge that's needed to succeed in a truck driving career. To learn more about eGears & their CDL learning tools, check out their website!

There's a new service on the market for folks looking to get their CDL license.  eGears is an online service that provides web-based trainnig for the CDL Pre-Trip Inspection, CDL permit, Haz Mat, and a whole lot more. The folks at eGears posted a video on YouTube. There's nothing else like this on the web for cdl training. If you are considering attending a truck driving school or getting your cdl license, you should check out the benefits of the eGears training.  The CDL pre-trip inspection training alone is well worth your time.  The video is all professional looking with a great quality, narration and editing.  This isn't some guy with a camcorder walking around a truck.  Trust me, if you are about to take a CDL skills exam, you need to check out eGears.  Visit the eGears website.

There are many things new truck drivers can do to make the transition into the trucking industry a smooth one, so I’ve listed a few things here to help you out. When you go through a CDL training school and begin your new truck driving career, there are basically three stages of the process: CDL training, OTR training, & becoming a solo, 1st seat driver.

CDL Training School Tips
During CDL training, you’ll be required to pass permit exams to receive your Class A CDL permit. Since you have to pass these tests before you even get in a truck, you’ll usually do the testing during the first week of classes, so PREPARE yourself. Get online and download the state CDL Manual, or check out companies like eGears who provide online interactive study tools. Also, make sure you PAY ATTENTION to the classroom instructor. This is where you’ll learn all kinds of stuff like trip planning, map reading, logging routines, etc.

You’ll also learn the basics of actually driving a truck on the range and street, learning skills like backing, turning, parking, and just how to handle that 40 ton piece of machinery. And remember, those instructors know what they’re talking about, so don’t take what they have to say for granted.

OTR Training Tips
Once you’ve completed the CDL training school and received your Class A CDL license, you’ll be ready to jump in a truck with a company truck driver trainer. Now this is where you’ll learn everything else you need to know about living on the road. Your OTR driver trainer will help you hone your truck driving skills, give you a heads up on the best truck stops to rest at, & basically prepare you to start driving on your own. And…two people, one truck. It’s going to be crowded, so pack lightly and be prepared to wear the same jeans for a couple of days. It’s tough for those first few weeks, but just LISTEN to everything your trainer tells you and you should be good.

Tips for 1st Seat Drivers
BE SAFE! By this point, you should be comfortable driving a tractor trailer and you should know how to complete all the necessary paperwork. The main thing you need to focus on now is being a safe & cautious truck driver, and just enjoying life on the open road.

Driver Solutions is not a truck driving school, we're more of a network of trucking companies and truck driving schools that helps to place new truck drivers in a CDL training program and an entry-level truck driving job.

Our role in your path to a CDL license and careers as a professional truck driver is to identify the best job opportunities available to you, conduct the pre-employment screening and approval process, and arrange for your CDL training at a Driver Solutions-approved truck driving school program.  We're also very hands-on in terms of the curriculum taught at our partner CDL training schools.

For example, we take a special interest in how the classroom time is taught, how much behind-the-wheel time is taught and whether or not these training programs are meeting the specific needs of the trucking companies that we also represent. So, if a trucking company has specific skills or needs that it wants emphasized, we can make sure its truck drivers get that focused training.

Simply put, if you are considering a career as a professional truck driver, Driver Solutions should be your stop.  Many have tried to copy us, but no one has more experience and knowledge in helping folks begin a new truck driving career.

Before you can become a truck driver, get your CDL license, or enroll in truck driving school (well, a good truck driving school), there are certain requirements that you have to meet.

Driving Record

First and foremost, trucking companies will look for a good driving record. They're going to verify whether or not you have a relatively clean record as a regular car driver. Why? Because this often demonstrates responsibility and respect for the rules of the road. Also, the better the record, the lower the insurance rates.

Criminal Background

Convicted felons cannot cross over the border into Canada in a commercial vehicle without a special waiver from the Canadian government. This is obviously going to be a big concern for companies who haul freight between the U.S. and Canada, which is very common in the OTR segment, particularly in the more Northern states. Alcohol-related offenses are also often a big no-no. Alcohol-related driving offenses are usually an automatic disqualification, but other alcohol-related offenses can also be a strike. Why? Because they can affect insurance rates and also be possible indicators of a history of irresponsibility when it comes to substance abuse.

Medical Requirements

For the most part, the Department of Transportation (DOT) oversees most of the medical requirements, however some companies may have stricter standards for their truck drivers because of safety concerns.

Before obtaining their CDL licenses, all truck drivers must go through a DOT physical. It's just your typical physical and they check for things like diabetes, high blood pressure, vision and other medical problems that could be an issue on the road. For example, if you're an insulin-dependent diabetic, you can't obtain a CDL license.

Medical requirements are often a gray area as waivers may be obtained from the DOT depending on the truck drivers' experience and specific condition. However, if you have questions about the DOT's Medical Program, I'd encourage you to check out their FAQ at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/medical/faq.asp.

Before you hand over that tuition check, here are 5 questions you should ask a truck driving school:

1. Do you pre-screen applicants?

At the very least, a truck driving school should make sure you meet the minimum qualifications to be a truck driver. There's no point in paying for and enrolling in school if you're either a) ineligible to obtain a CDL license or b) unemployable because you fail to meet certain qualifications in regards to your driving record, health, or criminal background.

2. What type of job placement assistance do you offer?

In today's economy, you want a truck driving school that's going to help place you in a job. Remember, a CDL license is no good if you can't use it to make money. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of schools out there more than willing to take your money without ever helping you find employment.

With Driver Solutions, we actually recruit truck drivers and link them up with an employer before they even begin truck driving school. That's the main reason our job placement rate is so high — nearly 100%.

3. How long have you been a school? What is your history?

You're asking because you want to make sure this isn't a fly-by-night operation. You want a school that's established, has a good history and isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

4. What sort of equipment do you use to train truck drivers?

If they're training you on outdated rigs, using paper log systems and old technology, keep moving. You want a school that's got good trucks, good equipment and excellent training schools. Why? Because that's what most truck driving companies will expect from new graduates. It's what they're already using on the road.

5. May I see your practice area?

Before you sign on the dotted line, actually go and look at a school. Do they have a paved driving range with clearly marked skills practice areas or is it little more than a gravel lot? Are they operating out of real offices or a trailer in a field? Going out to look at a truck driving school can give you a lot of insight into its overall quality.

Were you always fascinated with the size and power of a big rig? Did you ever dream of becoming a professional truck driver and traveling around the country? Well, now is a great time to turn that dream into a reality and provide yourself with a better way of life.

Recently, the trucking industry has become more competitive, providing the best truck driving job opportunities to those who have completed a CDL training course and obtained their CDL license. And even during these rough economic times, a few trucking companies are still hiring inexperienced truck drivers and providing them with the CDL training they need to start a new career in the trucking industry.

Driver Solutions works with a network of trucking companies that will sponsor the upfront tuition costs that come with CDL training. Not only that, but they’ll offer you a driving job before you ever attend the training school. Very few CDL schools can say they do that. So if you want to make your dreams come true, check out the Driver Solutions Network to see what truck driving opportunities lie ahead for you!

Here's a news article from a South Bend, IN TV station about how laid-off workers are coping with the changing economic times.  Many people are entertaining the idea of trucking careers and signing up for truck driving school.  Their hope is to land a truck driver job and replace the income that was lost with previous employment. 

There's an interview with a truck driving school representative that echoes the same sentiment I stated during an interview last week.  More and more people are looking at a cdl license as a key to new career with stability.  And there are still trucking companies hiring graduates of a cdl training program. 

One key consideration you should be concerned about as you consider a trucking career is job placement.  Some trucking companies are tightening their requirements and qualifications.  Make sure you attend a CDL training program that can secure you an employment opportunity after you complete the truck driving school.  Driver Solutions is a great place to turn to because we work on you qualifying you for a truck driving job with a trucking company that will cover the cost of your CDL training.

I saw this news story on the NBC Nightly News about the organization Feed the Children.  They were recently in a town devasted by the bad economy and double-digit unemployment rates.  It's a story of hope and of neighbors helping neighbors.  I wonder if these people ever thought some of the most important help they could ever receive would come from a truck driver. 

There's an interview with truck driver that helps deliver the food and donations to help parents feed their children.  It proves that a trucking career can do a lot more than just put money your pocket. A CDL license can deliver hope in so many ways. 

Watch the video courtesy NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#29623102

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Tim Ross, a truck driver trainer for P.A.M. Transport, and was able to hear his story of how he became successful as a professional truck driver.  Tim’s story started as many do, just looking for something better.  Before getting into the trucking industry, Tim served his country in the United States Army, was a supervisor, and a bodyguard for an entertainment security company.  It was time for a change.

 

The idea of being out on the open road with no one to manage but himself enticed Tim to take a look at a truck driving career.  After doing some research on the trucking industry, he realized he needed to get a commercial driver’s license, or a CDL, to get started, which is pretty expensive.  Tim came across the Driver Solutions Network and liked what they had to offer.  Driver Solutions has a network of CDL truck driver training schools and trucking companies that will cover the upfront costs of the CDL training and provide inexperienced truck drivers with a job offer before they ever attend the trucking school.  Tim found that the Driver Solutions CDL training program was the best fit for him and he signed up to attend the trucking school.  The CDL truck driving school provided Tim with the knowledge and skills needed to safely drive a commercial vehicle.  Once he completed the truck driver training course and obtained his CDL, Tim was ready to move on to the next step in his quest to become a professional truck driver, OTR training.

 

Check back soon for part two of Tim’s truck driving story.

I just posted a report I've been working on regarding the latest information about using the G.I. Bill for CDL training. It seems truck driving is a career choice for a lot of discharged or separating military personnel.  As these dedicated men and women return from overseas deployment, they are looking for good paying, stable careers with a sense of adventure.  And I believe that's a primary reason so many veterans contact Driver Solutions about our company-paid CDL training programs.  A lot of veterans get a taste of driving military big rigs. But they find that military driving experience and a military license don't translate directly into civilian trucking jobs. So veterans still need truck driving school to get qualified for a trucking career.  

Take a look at the my findings by reading the report "Jobs After The Military - The G.I. Bill And Career Development."

The trucking industry is still one of the five fastest growing industries in the United States, and it will always be an important part of our country's economy. Truck driving jobs are in high demand and professional truck drivers are needed more and more every day. Because there are so many truck driver positions that need to be filled, some trucking companies are taking an extra step in helping you start a truck driving career by providing you with CDL training. With the Driver Solutions Network, companies like P.A.M. Transport and USA Truck will help you obtain a CDL license from a professional truck driving school and you'll have a job offer for a truck driving position before you ever attend the trucking school.

A career in the trucking industry is extremely stable, both professionally and financially. Most products are moved across the United States by trucks, and trucks will always be needed to transport America's goods. This means that there will always be a need for truck drivers. So if you're looking for a career you can count on in the long run, check out the many truck driving jobs that are available and learn how you can easily start a career in the trucking industry today!

To continue my last topic, ‘How to Prepare for Truck Driver Training’, here’s what you’ll need to know.  To obtain your CDL permit for truck driver training, you must pass three different license exams.  These include General Knowledge, Air Brakes endorsement, and Combination Vehicles endorsement.  General Knowledge consists of basic facts about truck driving that have to do with turning, pre-trip inspection, etc.  The Air Brakes endorsement exam topics include the identification of air brake components, as well as the way the air braking system works.  The Combination Vehicles endorsement focuses on the combination of the tractor and trailer and how everything works together.  Make sure you study all three of these very well, because you have to pass all of these tests to graduate from CDL truck driver training and obtain your CDL license.

 

Driver Solutions has taken an extra step to make studying a little easier for the truck driver training course.  They have partnered with a company that created an online, interactive learning tool called eGears.  The eGears Learning Center provides multiple choice questions similar to those found on state CDL exams, as well as different learning resources to help you learn the material.  Apply online today and start studying right away!