Fmcsa tightens cdl documentation, testing rules

I have no problem "earning" my cdl as you put it but...2 years on a permit? Can you survive 2 years making permit pay? 6 months with a trainer making $300 a week or less....now you are talking slave wages. Im sure there is a need for tighter restrictions but your suggestions border on the retarded.

I think there needs to be a licenceing course for trainers to pass. Then a trainer gets an endorsement on their license to train someone with a probationary cdl. When this trainer feels that person is ready then that person can be on their own. The details can be worked out by people who know more than me but making someone slave for years to become a "real" driver is not the solution. I speak of people like myself, people who started driving a car when they were 12. I can learn to drive anything with wheels. I have been a heavy equipment operator for 13 years. If I can pick up my driving fast why should I have to suffer because certain regulations allow people to get a cdl permit with what amounts to a low to middle C grade on the test.

EDIT: sorry im crabby today. I hate my soon to be ex-wife

 

you messed that quote up bad lol


But thats fine with me, I'm a legal us citzen, i speak english, i can drive. I have a IQ higher then a dirty gym sock.....i'm fine test me.... lol


Lets see pedro and juan pass these test? what about alibaba with the towel on his head? i'm sure he'll pass




American Trucker

 

In CA you do have to pass the test in English, so at least they are comprehending. Sure would be nice if they all spoke English, since they are driving in the USA. I am not a huge school advocate, I think if someone is able to meet the requirements on their own, why should they have to pay someone/school to do it for them? As far as training...like any job, you learn on the job. Just because I learned at a young age how to balance a checkbook does not give me verifiable experience as an accountant. I would expect to learn those skills on the job.

 

Some of the safest drivers on the road have never attended a driving school. I have never attended a driving school and have over 4 million accident free miles. I have friends who also never attended driving school and have millions of accident free miles. Personally, I think drivers would do as well or better if they were put in a straight truck for a year or so and then put in an 18 wheeler. Many older drivers started in an 18 wheeler out the gate. Get rid of the distractions in a truck and it will make them more alert to what is going on around them. I think that schools are over rated as to training drivers to be safe. What would probably help more is to develop a personality test to check for common traits that would be present in all safe drivers.

 

Big trucks, come with automatics?????? Say it aint so!!!!! Never drove a truck with less than 10 speeds an the highest was 21.....oh an they all had clutches to.... I'v never burned a clutch out? only use it to start out with an to get in to reverse..yah i know i'm being a smartaxx...but it was fun for the moment

 

On the topic of automatic transmisions, when I was working for D.O.T if someone was going to get certified on the live bottom trailer (18 wheeler) they started them on an automatic to get the gist of driving one down before switching to a 13 spd which what you HAD to do to get the certification. The automatics may have served a purpose but, like my father told when I started driving at age 12, if you can drive a stick, (or a 3-on-the-tree like I had to) you drive an automatic. Not necessarily so the other way around You also had to have a class A before you could even begin.
As for the school part, when I got my class B 8 years ago, I did not attend school as my brother owned a lumber yard and I had plenty of time to practice with his trucks and to use them for my test. I'm upgrading to my class A and will be attending school next month. I don't have a choice on this because I have no access to a class A vehicle to practice with. I guess I could go to some company that has their own school but, it seems to me that they would be more interested in pushing you through as fast as they could just to start utilizing/abusing you.
In short, school, while not needed for those that have a clue are still needed by those that don't have access to equipment to learn on. That being said, there is no school that can prepare you for a life on the road which is why I have spent several weeks riding along with a friend who is an o/o (no, I cant use his equipment to practice with. He needs them to make money) and feel like I have a pretty good handle on it.

 

I drove a 13 and a 10 speed for over 4 years..just recently got my first automatic...the hell with that gear shift..lol

 

mashing the button is alot nicer..lol

 

After reading (skimming) thru all this, not all that many big changes are involved.

I'm not so sure Hodgie will comply anyways !!!!!


You can still go out, spend 1-5K for some good papers, and go getcha a cdl.

Just in the last month or two, a driver was busted for having 2 different cdl's, different names, but both were him........

When that gets changed, they'll be making progress !!!!

Until then, this is mostly "feel good regulations".