I went to commercial driving school last year, got CDL class A with hazmat in March, went straight into D truck with inlaws leased on with FECC, father in law passed away and the business went under with his death. Now, we are looking to drive an E truck (t/t), but nobody wants to give us a shot since I only have experience with a straight truck. One O/O told us he would put us on with FECC in one but we would have to take refresher course at commercial driving school, which costs anywhere from $300-$400, per day each person. Has anyone got any ideas on how to bypass this "refresher" clause or an idea of where I can do refresher with no money?
How to get out of the D-trucks
- Thread starter peachese
- Start date
>I went to commercial driving school last year, got CDL class
>A with HAZMAT in March, went straight into D truck with
>in-laws leased on with FECC, father in law passed away and
>the business went under with his death. Sorry to hear about your in-law Now, we are looking to drive an E truck (t/t), but nobody wants to give us a shot since I only have experience with a straight truck. good for them One O/O told us he would put us on with FECC in one but we would have to take refresher course at commercial driving school,Even by doing this it isn't going to give you any time driving which costs anywhere from $300-$400, per day each person.So you would rather save the money rather than make sure you are doing the safest thing in a big truck. I guess our lives out on the road aren't worth $300 or $400 a day or so to make sure you didn't forget anything or maybe learn something you didn't at the other school??? Has anyone got any ideas on how to bypass this "refresher" clause? The only way to by-pass this SAFETY PRECAUTIONARY SHELTER is to not drive an E unit at all until you are deemed safe on the roads in the USA and Canada. Why would you even think you don’t need a refresher course? Pulling a $100,000.00 Tractor Trailer down the road isn’t as easy as those EXPERIENCED DRIVERS make it look. I hope and will pray that you can’t find a way to get into a T/T with out a refresher course!!!
>A with HAZMAT in March, went straight into D truck with
>in-laws leased on with FECC, father in law passed away and
>the business went under with his death. Sorry to hear about your in-law Now, we are looking to drive an E truck (t/t), but nobody wants to give us a shot since I only have experience with a straight truck. good for them One O/O told us he would put us on with FECC in one but we would have to take refresher course at commercial driving school,Even by doing this it isn't going to give you any time driving which costs anywhere from $300-$400, per day each person.So you would rather save the money rather than make sure you are doing the safest thing in a big truck. I guess our lives out on the road aren't worth $300 or $400 a day or so to make sure you didn't forget anything or maybe learn something you didn't at the other school??? Has anyone got any ideas on how to bypass this "refresher" clause? The only way to by-pass this SAFETY PRECAUTIONARY SHELTER is to not drive an E unit at all until you are deemed safe on the roads in the USA and Canada. Why would you even think you don’t need a refresher course? Pulling a $100,000.00 Tractor Trailer down the road isn’t as easy as those EXPERIENCED DRIVERS make it look. I hope and will pray that you can’t find a way to get into a T/T with out a refresher course!!!
Here´s a suggestion. Go to one of the companies that offer training, like North American Van Lines, or Swift etc. There are many companies out there that have paid or inexpensive training. Take thier course, and learn how to do it the right way, and then work for them for awhile. You´ll get valuable practical experience, and make some money too. Some of them also have truck purchase plans, where you can purchase your truck through them and work for the same outfit, if you´re willling to make the committment.
>Here´s a suggestion. Go to one of the companies that offer
>training, like North American Van Lines, or Swift etc. There
>are many companies out there that have paid or inexpensive
>training. Take thier course, and learn how to do it the
>right way, and then work for them for awhile. You´ll get
>valuable practical experience, and make some money too. Some
>of them also have truck purchase plans, where you can
>purchase your truck through them and work for the same
>outfit, if you´re willling to make the committment.
Thanks for the advice. The above post wasn't about you.
>training, like North American Van Lines, or Swift etc. There
>are many companies out there that have paid or inexpensive
>training. Take thier course, and learn how to do it the
>right way, and then work for them for awhile. You´ll get
>valuable practical experience, and make some money too. Some
>of them also have truck purchase plans, where you can
>purchase your truck through them and work for the same
>outfit, if you´re willling to make the committment.
Thanks for the advice. The above post wasn't about you.
>You don't have to be rude! If I had the money for the
>refresher course, I would be more than happy to do it, but I
>don't.
>If I had known that this was the kind of rude response I
>would get from this site I would never had signed up to post
>here. THANKS ANYWAY!:-(
I don't beleive you GOT a rude response.. you got an honest response.. BIG difference.
Teacel's point was.. you said yourself you went straight out of school into a straight truck.. so you want to go into a Semi, driving high dollar emergency freight.. with NO experience in a big rig?
Think of your own safety, and those around you. No way should you even consider risking it, without more time behind a wheel.
You may not always get the answer you like here, but you will get an honest answer.
Dreamer
>refresher course, I would be more than happy to do it, but I
>don't.
>If I had known that this was the kind of rude response I
>would get from this site I would never had signed up to post
>here. THANKS ANYWAY!:-(
I don't beleive you GOT a rude response.. you got an honest response.. BIG difference.
Teacel's point was.. you said yourself you went straight out of school into a straight truck.. so you want to go into a Semi, driving high dollar emergency freight.. with NO experience in a big rig?
Think of your own safety, and those around you. No way should you even consider risking it, without more time behind a wheel.
You may not always get the answer you like here, but you will get an honest answer.
Dreamer
I really have to agree with Dreamer. You got an honest response, but maybe you could not see where it fit you, as you have been safely driving a D truck.
My experience. I graduated from truck driving school at the top of my class. Finally got a job driving flatbeds, except I was being trained. A good thing too, as it did not take long to discover that the knowledge I had from school was enough to make me dangerous. In reality, I was only qualified to be trained by an experienced driver, whose sole viewpoint was to make me the kind of driver who would be safe around the motoring public.
I say this to remind you that after you ae refreshed, you still need to be trained over the road by/with a good driver. No one with any sense will hire you to drive their truck without some real experience on the road in that kind of truck.
I do understand the lack of money thing. Many carriers have programs to train newbys in their system for free, providing you give them a year at beginner's pay. No, it won't be the kind of money you could make expediting with an E unit, but it is all you are qualified to do other than drive another D truck.
Good luck, and stay with it.
Vernon in C2197
My experience. I graduated from truck driving school at the top of my class. Finally got a job driving flatbeds, except I was being trained. A good thing too, as it did not take long to discover that the knowledge I had from school was enough to make me dangerous. In reality, I was only qualified to be trained by an experienced driver, whose sole viewpoint was to make me the kind of driver who would be safe around the motoring public.
I say this to remind you that after you ae refreshed, you still need to be trained over the road by/with a good driver. No one with any sense will hire you to drive their truck without some real experience on the road in that kind of truck.
I do understand the lack of money thing. Many carriers have programs to train newbys in their system for free, providing you give them a year at beginner's pay. No, it won't be the kind of money you could make expediting with an E unit, but it is all you are qualified to do other than drive another D truck.
Good luck, and stay with it.
Vernon in C2197
It is really going to be difficult to get into a big truck. I don't think you will find anyone that will let you drive with out verifiable experience in a big truck. Not only from a safety stand point,but most insurance comapanys would never cover you. I agree with the others. Your only way to do it, is to sign on with a company that has a student driver program. Get the experience there and then go where ever you want to go. Why not,find a owner with a D-unit and drive for her or him. Just a suggestion. I have a Class A with all the endorsements. And I personally,would rather drive a D-unit. Then drag a trailer all over the place. From a revenue stand point I don't see a significant difference. But that is just my opinion. But to answer your question. I don't see anyway around some sort of training. No substitute for real world training. When it comes to going down Cabbage or Donner grossing 80,000lb. Good Luck to You!!
poopookitty
Expert Expediter
Although I admire your enthusiasum. You REALLY should listen to these responses even if they are not what you were anticipating. My partner and I went from tractor/trailer to a D-Unit. You are seriouly misguided and misinformed if you think you could just take a refresher and jump into a t/t and go down the road. It's just not gonna happen without considerable loss of money and/or bloodshed. You need roadtime with an EXPERIENCED trainer.
Which leads me to my next piece of advise (based on experience): Swift and other similar "super carriers" make thier money off of new hires. They most likely will still make you take at least part of their driver course (at your expense of course) before actually training you over the road. Because they rely on new hires for cheap labor their driver turn-over is extremely high. Are you following me yet? Very few drivers there have enough experience to be training. Point in case. It takes six months for a new driver to be eligible to be a driver trainer. And last but not least, driver-trainers make money off of your miles as well as their own, while you make training salary. Consequently, they use you for miles and don't bother training you on things of necessity, such as backing!
Bottom line: Find a company with low turn-over and remember the money you spend is not just a financial investment. It's an investment in your safety, my safety, and everybody else that may come within 50 foot of your truck.
Have A Poopy Day!:7
Which leads me to my next piece of advise (based on experience): Swift and other similar "super carriers" make thier money off of new hires. They most likely will still make you take at least part of their driver course (at your expense of course) before actually training you over the road. Because they rely on new hires for cheap labor their driver turn-over is extremely high. Are you following me yet? Very few drivers there have enough experience to be training. Point in case. It takes six months for a new driver to be eligible to be a driver trainer. And last but not least, driver-trainers make money off of your miles as well as their own, while you make training salary. Consequently, they use you for miles and don't bother training you on things of necessity, such as backing!
Bottom line: Find a company with low turn-over and remember the money you spend is not just a financial investment. It's an investment in your safety, my safety, and everybody else that may come within 50 foot of your truck.
Have A Poopy Day!:7
shade_tree
Expert Expediter
Some trucking companies (non expedite) want at least 6mo to 1yr verifiable but they only check you’re past logs to verify it. Your logs don’t say D unit 10-4?
But the responsible answer would be for you to take the refresher course and make sure you aren’t going to hurt yourself or anybody else. Beg, barrow, or better yet ask the owner to pay for it and take it out of your check. But get the money somehow and take the course it is well worth it for piece of mind.
But the responsible answer would be for you to take the refresher course and make sure you aren’t going to hurt yourself or anybody else. Beg, barrow, or better yet ask the owner to pay for it and take it out of your check. But get the money somehow and take the course it is well worth it for piece of mind.
Jack Jackson
Expert Expediter
Save your money and your time. You have a good start with a driving school education where you learned some things you might not have learned for a couple of years on the road by yourself. Now is not the time to stop asking other truckers questions. Most are willing to share, here, and the counter at the truck stop, if you can find the end away from the blowhard that wants everyone to know his business. Better to ask the guy thats friendly, but not saying much.
If you want to make the best money, stay in expediting and put all your energy behind getting into FDCC White Glove Services. You will make more money there than anywhere else in expediting. You might be able to get hired by a White Glove fleet owner as trucks become available. After that it's a short year or two before you have enough money to buy your own truck. I drove 18 wheelers for a long time, and got out of it because of all the unpaid time, loading, unloading in freezing warehouses, and putting my palletized freight on their pallets. Check out the classifieds and also check with White Gloves as they sometimes know about a fleet owner that is looking for a good driver. Good luck.
If you want to make the best money, stay in expediting and put all your energy behind getting into FDCC White Glove Services. You will make more money there than anywhere else in expediting. You might be able to get hired by a White Glove fleet owner as trucks become available. After that it's a short year or two before you have enough money to buy your own truck. I drove 18 wheelers for a long time, and got out of it because of all the unpaid time, loading, unloading in freezing warehouses, and putting my palletized freight on their pallets. Check out the classifieds and also check with White Gloves as they sometimes know about a fleet owner that is looking for a good driver. Good luck.