Got my cdl in 2001 and haven't driven since then. Now I'm wanting to jump into the oil field. My question is, how should I go about getting a refresher? Should I train with a mega carrier? I'm really not digging the idea of OTR for a year
If you have enough time with a 18 wheeler back then it's like riding a bike. The actual doing will come flooding back to your memory when you clear the rust and cobwebs as you do your first backing or shifting up through the gears. It will show that you have done it before. You will need (I do too, if I get back into this. Im working with a team of doctors rebuilding my body where necessary to where it's possible to do a very limited trucking under Tier two) to learn the current hours of service and ELD operations as well as a number of other new things like APU operations and Regenning, Emissions and possibly auto transmission. Whatever you do... commandment 1 Test at the DMV in a MANUAL 18 wheeler for your CDL. Seek out a community college for a refresher. You might get some quality work in both class, yard and road that may be beyond what a average gravel lot school will have. Good luck to you. Remember save up the money, pay the tuition yourself. Never indenture yourself to a carrier because this industry is NOT stable employment. You probably 8 times of 10 will not make it the first year with a carrier long enough to see the company "Pay" your tuition.
How much experience do you have? Are you comfortable jumping in a truck on your own? If you don’t have driving experience you may have to go OTR. If you have a few years experience there are local companies that will give you a chance. Start calling around. I didn’t drive for 12 years and found a local job without a refresher, but had 14 years experience and was comfortable driving a truck.
Yeah, I have only a couple months experience. I talked to Swift and they told me I'd have to go through the academy again if I failed their road test.
Here's one I read about, but don't remember the details. WAVSYS - www.WAVSYS.com - oil field - only need cdl permit and they help you get a full cdl. Oil & Gas Wavsys constructs a full range of oil and natural gas pipelines and transmission systems, from the wellhead to the end user. Our engineers and construction crews stay at the forefront of software, equipment and training to ensure the most effective design and construction of processing, oil and natural gas pipeline systems.
