About to get Permit - A few questions

My school required me to pass the physical before I could be admitted to the program. I went to one of those occupational health places that are everywhere. Just tell them what it's for. You'll use that card for school and the company you hire on with will probably send you to their own place for a new one. Mine had you do a fitness test (not a big deal if you're in any kind of shape) as well.

I would get the physical first anyway because you can't drive without it. It's been so long I can't remember if you had to show a card to take the test?? I don't think so? I didn't get a permit until after I was in class. I figure that's their job to tell me what I need to do, but every place is different.

I think this is the order I did it.....DOT physical and pay the school....study for tests the first week of class and get permit.....drive in circles first ,then out on the road with instructor while 1/2 the class worked on the backing course and took that test.....then our 1/2 did the backing thing... then whoever was ready took the driving test and went down to DMV to do the writtens including any endorsments you wanted to get at the time and got the CDL....those who had CDL's could then team up with a driver with a permit and drive different routes around the state...towards the end of the course they had a day when 12-15 company reps came in for a job fair ...if you applied to one of them it was very likely you would get hired unless there was something seriously wrong with your record. The instructors made an effort to remain neutral about what company to work for. That's why I like the community college or independent school route.

 

Well I searched Texas web site and it happens to be one of the most uninformative sites I have been to.. hard to navigate as well... anyways

Here are the cost that the BMV will charge you..
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/dlfees.htm


Far as the DOT physical goes I know you will need one to drive a truck and to get your license.. It says nothing on the site anywhere about having to have it in order to get a permit.. I would call the BMV to ask if it is needed to get a permit.. I can show you on many other states websites where it says you must have one to obtain a permit just unable to find it on Texas web site..

 

I didn't have to get the DOT card in order to get the permit. Here the permit costs nothing and hazmat was only $2.60 to take the written. I would take any endorsements you want right away so you don't need to get a new hard card every time you add one. The background check and finger printing for hazmat was $89.25 and it takes 4 to 6 weeks to hear back from them, sometimes sooner. This is what is required of me to start training at the company I am looking at. They will send me for the DOT physical after I start and also pay for it. This is for Minnesota so thats just my experiance. If you feel you may fail the physical than I would do that on your own first....why waste your time on all this otherwise. Good luck!

 

Bump this thread.

 

in texas you don't have to have dot card to get permit, cost for permit is $16.00 bucks, and yes you need all endorsements for only what you will be driving while training, if you need others after you go to work you can go back and get them. tests are true false multiple choice, but if you fail one, questions will be different next day

 

You may or not need a physical card to get a permit but you will need it for sure if you get behind the wheel to use a permit . Most doctor's offices give DOT physicals . Check your blood pressure before the physical . If it is higher than 140/90 you will have to get it below that with medication and you will be required to have physicals every year rather than every 2 years .