3 Trucking School Tips By a Newbie Who Is Playing To Win

These Dr.'s are the only ones accepted by DOT.

https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/home.seam

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulatio...eport-commercial-driver-fitness-determination

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/medical/driver-medical-requirements/driver-medical-fitness-duty

Make sure your DOT Dr uses the NEW forms. Old forms are invalid after April 2016.

The Medical guide is in the process of being revised..

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/medical/fmcsa-medical-examiner-handbook

but you can see the older one here.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/downloads/fmcsa-medical-examiner-2014.pdf

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Your Credit Reports - You are allowed one (1) free each annual year from each of the three credit reporting companies. See link below on how to get. They can be looked at online and since they are an PDF, you can save them to your computer. Watch out for sites saying it is free only to have to pay.. This is the link from the US GOVT.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports

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You can go to your local DMV or normally off your States DMV and order an MVR for yourself.

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Hireright is usually for a DAC report, if you do not have an CDL then you are not in the system.

http://www.hireright.com/background...uesting-a-copy-of-your-background-report-file

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Another note - start gathering your prior 10 year work history. If any gaps such as no job then you will need notarized letters from friends stating such. If you do not have a 10 year work history, then what you have since the day you got out of HS.

 

Does the trucking school I attend have to be in the state where I live and have my drivers license? I live in SC and will be going to a CDL school when I retire from my current job. I am not too impressed with my selection of local schools.

 

There might be some exceptions for people using their GI Bill, but as far as I understand it you have to go to a school that does business in the state where you reside. I had to get an Illinois drivers license to get my CDL during my 4 years here even though I am not technically an Illinois resident for tax purposes. Just call a school in SC and ask, they should be able to tell you everything you need to know.

 

I thought one only needed three years of work history? That's what CR England's site says they need. Also, I have known one driver who had a recent bankruptcy on his credit report and had zero problems getting into a trucking school.

 

Good solid advice. Positive attitude + commitment + open to the trucking life = success!

 

I don't want to come off as the giant ahole but let me disagree respectably.

The industry was new to me. I was angry with our legal system when I got into this. My inspiration was the song Garden Party by Ricky Nelson. "If memories were all I need I'd rather drive a truck."

My school was Fort Scott Community College in Kansas City, Kansas. I think it is out of business at that location. The school was 4 weeks long and cost $2000. No company would touch me as I was a convicted felon actually on parole at the time. Prison does prepare you for be confined in a truck for weeks at a time.

You must provide 10 years of work history. The company must verify 3 years and all of your driving history out to 10 years. Also your residences. That is 3 years also.

As to the money you make. Companies will all pay you the very smallest amount they can. Everyone does that. If a Walmart opens up in town and they charge $100 less for the same thing that your best friends father does at his store, you are going to buy it at Walmart.

To make money in this business, like any other business, you have to work smart. You have to figure out how to be ready to roll when it is time to roll. You have to figure out how to get where you need to get to, ontime and safely. Plus you need to know how to suck up to management. (I lack that, so I won't tell you how to do it.)

You have an 8 hour clock, a 11 hour clock, a 14 hour clock and either a 60 or 70 hour clock. These clocks are both your enemy and your best friend. They are designed to keep your wages up and keep the company from overworking you. Learn the secrets of these and you can make money. Failure to do so will cost you.

 

Nope. You can go to school in any state you wish.

I'm a resident of MS, and went to school in UT. Of the 40 people in my class, only 2 were UT residents.