Cracker Jack box CDL

I don't recall "fair" being part of the equation.

 

The questions that the OP is posting has a lot to do with what type of company a driver works for. The CDL does represent to the company that you are legal to drive and what type of vehicle you can operate. But you can bet your money that a company will want to know where you got it and what type of school you went to. Maybe the lower standard companies are different, I don't know, but your knowledge and the training you received is judged when the hiring process begins.


I was in a very competitive part of the trucking industry and the company knew that since they paid better than most then they wanted the better drivers. That even includes any employees. They have recruiters at the Ivy League schools for business and engineer students and I have never seen them at a community college or even a state college. Sure you can still get a job with any degree but when it comes down to screening the resume's you can bet the better schools are on the top. That's only common sense.

It was posted before that the training and how a driver transitions into the industry begins at the first company. That's the way it should be but a lot of times it doesn't work out. When you have a driver trainer that's only been driving for 6 months what possible information could that person teach the new driver about being a professional?

What I believe is there should be another endorsement added to the CDL and that would be for "Driver Trainer" plus the companies would have to follow a safety program governed by the FMCSA. But that's an another issue. What you have now is an inconsistency on how new drivers are brought into the job. There are some companies that use anyone that steps forward to train and others that use their best.

As far as getting a job after you've done your time with just a CDL and no school sure there's plenty of companies that will hire you if your record is clean. But there's just as many that will not hire you due to their insurance company's restrictions. I never went to school and I got hired on but I had many years of driving and when I first started there were no schools. So if you can get by the first hurdle and start driving without a CDL school then your record will have to speak of your abilities. Once you get a few years in it does anyway but then again when it comes down between two applicants that are almost the same and one has a school will most likely be hired.

 

Good work Joshua very good questions.I have to agree with Roadkill 100% on this one no matter where or with who you get your CDL the real learning came when your alone.Is like riding a bike first you were teached balance and pedaling and off you went doing jumps,going down hills....until you fall and break your face same thing with trucking you will learn things the hard way but in the long run make you a better driver.

 

I just recieved in the mail a letter from my co stating now that ive been driving from six months i can now train. Umm, ill pass. Reason, my trainer had been driving for over 12 years and one million plus miles. How can i even think i know as much as him to teach another rookie. I think this is one of the biggest problems, rookies training rookies. I forget who and in which thread said all trainers should have over one million miles and 10+ years of experience to be able to train. Now i know alot more than i did 6 months ago, but compared to the old hands (said with respect), i dont know jack****.