Starting out for rookies

Class A CDL is for commercially pulling a trailer that weighs more than 10,000 lbs. So if your trailer with 3-4 cars on it weighs more than 10,000lbs and you are "for hire" then I think you had better look at truck driving schools.

 

Gross Value weight is the weight of your truck and trailer....GVWR (gross value weight rating) is your total weight of shipment. For example and this example only:

Gross Value Weight
Front Axle: 13,000
Rear Axle: 25,000
Tandums: 36,000
================
Total weight 74,000

Gross Value Weight Rating
Front Axle 13,500 (with full tanks of fuel)
Rear Axle 26,000
Tandums: 37,500
===============
total weight: 77,000

Second weight loaded 77,000
First weight unloanded 74,000
=====================
total weight of shipment 3,000 lbs.

I would suggest that you get a full understanding about everything that is required by DOT to haul, and that you understand all of the insurance requirements.

 

Yep! Very good advice.

 

there are quite a few trucking companys out there both good and bad. my suggestion is dont jump at the 1st job offer look long and hard and dont be afraid to ask important questions, what exactly is your get home policy and how much am i really going to make. dont become a job jumper that looks bad.
if you are married make sure spouse is understanding off all the aspects. jon

 

I and my wife want to get CDL's and drive together. We have discussed all the variables and we have questions. The main one is, are there any companies who let husband and wife train together through the whole process, until they can go OTR together as a team? We don't like the idea of me training with some guy or gal, and her with a different guy or gal. We'd like to be together

 

Sorry to burst your bubble but I don't see that happening. How do the two of you pile into the trainer's truck and go learn the job? Maybe you do not understand just how difficult it is to operate an 18 wheeler.

 

Are you confusing a vocation for a vacation?
Other than wanting to be together, of what benefit would training together provide?
How much "together" time do you think you'll have when running as a team? One sleeps while the other one drives, so you'll "see" each other when you switch drivers, maybe have a quick meal together if all goes according to plan. Eating just before bedtime is known to cause weight gain though, but on the positive side, you'd both be gaining weight together.

A Big truck truckin' company is considered good if they can keep your wheels turnin' and earnin'. If you think sight-seein' on foot is possible when runnin' 800 to 1,000 miles a day, think again. You'll be confined to the sights seen from the interior of the Big truck while it's moving, when you're driving. Whichever of you is tryin' to sleep while bein' bounced around the bunk will miss those sights. And while on the subject of sleeping, if you can sleep while someone is shaking the bed that you're sleeping in while telling you to go to sleep, you're one of the few who can do that. Good team drivers are smooth drivers. NewBee drivers generally aren't, ....... yet.

Going to bed tired is one thing, waking up tired is another thing. Tired becomes fatigue and fatigue is a cause of mistakes and crashes. How well can you sleep knowing that your co-driver is sleep deprived? How will that affect your moods? By then, separation will sound good to both of you, --- as in separate trucks runnin' solo. So much for bein' together.

Be careful what you ask for, you just might receive more than you bargained for.
There's a reason why the divorce rate is so high in the Big truck truckin' industry.

On the flip side of the coin, married team drivers can earn $80,000 or more if they can cope with what's necessary to make that happen. Saving money shouldn't be too difficult as you won't have a lot of spare time to spend it. You can fit only so much in a Big truck, and you won't have much time to enjoy anything that won't fit, as your "off time" will be spent in a moving Big truck.
Sound romantic?

Then again, consider the possibility that a trainer who trains both of you isn't very good at training, --- and upon graduation releases two inadequately trained Big truck truck drivers that plan to drive as a team. The blind leading the blind, sight-seeing in Braille?
If training together is your only hangup, I urge you both to reconsider the potential consequences of where that could lead in the end. Not everyone is cut out to be a Big truck truck driver.
There's no shame in that, unless they ignore the writing on the wall.
That would be a shame.

 

Well said. That is exactly correct.

 

You're very rude ya know. Why don't you check out TransportHER and see how they were able to train together and are doing quite well as Team drivers. You have lots of opinions and no help. If you aren't here to help then don't answer the question.

 

Rude? If you are that thin skinned, the trucking industry is not for you. Those are not opinions...they are true fact. If you just want to hear what you want to hear, OH Well.
I don't know what else to tell you. Have fun in your new career as rookie team drivers.