DOT says I have to go back to driving school...HUH?!

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by zx150, Oct 17, 2013.

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  1. Oct 17, 2013 #1
    zx150

    zx150 Medium Load Member

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    Been driving truck for a few years now with many, many safe accident free miles but I've taken the last two years off due to a pretty serious illness. I call up the carrier whom I last worked for in response to a job posting and was told I'd have to go back to school to take a 48hr refresher course due to a new DOT law.

    Anybody else heard of this? I just find it sort of funny that other companies would take me on no questions asked yet there is this phantom regulation that hovers over one in particular.
     
    zx150, Oct 17, 2013
    zx150, Oct 17, 2013
    #1
    Chinatown Thanks this.
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  3. Oct 17, 2013 #2
    saddleup

    saddleup Light Load Member

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    its all about money now, no more popping in and out of the trucking world like the old days, you can thank all the schools for this.
     
    saddleup, Oct 17, 2013
    saddleup, Oct 17, 2013
    #2
  4. Oct 17, 2013 #3
    Blue02celi

    Blue02celi Road Train Member

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    dont most carriers require you to take the refresher once you've been gone that long?
     
    Blue02celi, Oct 17, 2013
    Blue02celi, Oct 17, 2013
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  5. Oct 17, 2013 #4
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Most companies require this refresher now. You might find a few that don't. Many companies will hire you, give you the refresher and keep you employed afterwards. For some companies the refresher is just riding with another driver for a week or two. Some companies may take advantage and drag it out a month or two in order to get a team in the truck. Just pick & choose for which is the best fit for you.
     
    Chinatown, Oct 17, 2013
    Chinatown, Oct 17, 2013
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  7. Oct 17, 2013 #5
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Some even require it if you've been off for 90 days.
     
    Chinatown, Oct 17, 2013
    Chinatown, Oct 17, 2013
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  8. Oct 17, 2013 #6
    Victor_V

    Victor_V Road Train Member

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    Sounds more like a company policy not a DOT reg. Some States have considered CDL refresher requirements, not sure any States may have passed it and made it a requirement. Insurance may require. What's your location? As long as your experience shows up on your DAC (3 years) it will help you with some self-insured companies, like Gordon. That plus a good MVR, that is.

    See: http://www.ehow.com/list_6759877_required-cdl-refresher-courses.html
     
    Victor_V, Oct 17, 2013
    Victor_V, Oct 17, 2013
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  9. Oct 17, 2013 #7
    markealy

    markealy Road Train Member

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    I work 6 months on 6 off never had problems but he took 2 years off
     
    markealy, Oct 17, 2013
    markealy, Oct 17, 2013
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  10. Oct 17, 2013 #8
    zx150

    zx150 Medium Load Member

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    Locale would be Wyoming for me. Absolutely spotless DAC & MVR. The company in question did say that I could go elsewhere for 3-6months to get around the refresher.

    Up until now the only company I've ever heard of that wanted a refresher was either Knight or England and that was even if you came straight out of a 30yr driving job.
     
    zx150, Oct 17, 2013
    zx150, Oct 17, 2013
    #8
  11. Oct 17, 2013 #9
    zx150

    zx150 Medium Load Member

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    Not like it was a vacation or trying to catch another job either. I know folks that have taken 10 or more years off, kept the CDL current and hopped right back in with no issues.


    Thanks for the info guys.
     
    zx150, Oct 17, 2013
    zx150, Oct 17, 2013
    #9
  12. Oct 17, 2013 #10
    Victor_V

    Victor_V Road Train Member

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    Well, don't sign up with an outfit because they're just 'bad enough' to take you with that time off. Get in with a company with a good track record, good CSA score and hopefully a little money thrown in for good measure. Stay away from the BTFs (bottom feeders). That won't help you get a better job later.

    Check CSA scores here: http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Data/Search.aspx

    (Some companies make it diffiuclt to get their CSA by advertising under name that won't show up. You can usually Google '[company name] dot number' and find it. Then use DOT number instead of company name.)

    I part-time with a Haz outfit in Indy as much to keep my CDL warm as for the good $$$ for tanker and Haz in vans. Hooked up with Gordon after I took 18 months off. Oops! Low pay but got me back in the stream.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2013
    Victor_V, Oct 17, 2013
    Victor_V, Oct 17, 2013
    #10
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