AZ School is 5 weeks away...what to do in the meantime?

I would apply for the fast card right away, it took 5 months from when I applied till I had it in my hands and I don’t think thats uncommon.

 

You can only use the fast lane if your company is hauling fast approved loads, not if you only have the card

 

FAST, CDRP is something else, FAST is what everyone wants.

 

Correct, you use the FAST lane, if you haul CSA/FAST Freight, that has a lead sheet. You can also use it for MT moves, when you have a FAST card.

However, presenting the FAST card with normal loads, in the normal lanes, streamlines the process. Like I posted above, results in almost zero questions or hassles vs a passport.

 

Yes. Only certain ports have dedicated fast lanes. Detroit/Windsor, and port Huron comes to mind. To use a fast lane, the entire load must come from fast certified shippers and going to certified consignees. Basically only full car part loads are fast loads.

As mentioned, it streamlines your crossing both ways. Fast load or not.

 

I would just go get the AZ
If you decide later to do heavy equipment you can always learn it later. I know 2 people who got the full expensive course for AZ + heavy equipment paid for by second careers, they are both driving trucks and have never used the heavy equip.

 

Use your time to think twice about entering this ####ty industry

 

I know lots of guys running heavy equipment, or doing heavy haul equipment moving, maybe 1 has schooling for it. Its all about the AZ/Class 1 man!

Also, lots of ppl saying "don't get into trucking, this industry sucks, blah blah blah". Lemme tell you something, until you've done commercial construction or worked oil and gas in the field or office, you have no idea what a "####ty Industry" is. Yea trucking has spawned some real cesspools (Bison,TransX, Contractor Driver only companies, Every trucking company in Surrey, CPX, CNTL etc etc). But its also created some great trucking companies, like next level, top shelf, companies you can work for and get ahead. I know my Dad saved his house in the 70's/80's with trucking, and I saved mine in the 2010's. I've worked for the ########, and I refused to believe "that is how all trucking companies are". You just gotta put in the effort to be the kind of driver, the good places are looking for.

Also, if anyone thinks a "normal" job in Canada is 44 hours and not 70hrs/wk; you're kidding yourself. Everyone on Salary in white collar jobs paid for 44, working 70-100hrs. Guys on site, paid for 40, working 50+. Factory workers, that their payroll dates got shifted to Weds instead of Sundays (condensed work week I think they call it) 70-80hrs no OT.

At least with trucking, I can play my little games, make the money I wanna make, and not have some idiots in my face 12 hours day. Thats just my 0.05cents tho.