Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

I have everything I need. EXCEPT a CDL. HELP!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Mezzlar, Aug 12, 2014.

  1. Aug 12, 2014 #1
    Mezzlar

    Mezzlar Bobtail Member

    4
    2
    Aug 12, 2014
    0
    Hi, my name is Blaine and I own a septic business. My dad ran it before me and my grand father started it 40years ago. If I own my truck and business and I am wanting to upgrade my truck to something bigger that would require that I get a CDL to drive. What is the easiest, cheapest and best way to get my CDL? I really don't want to take classes because of the cost and hassle. If i have to take classes to get my CDL I would, however I'm hoping it is possible to just take some tests and get the CDL and start driving my truck. Please help any clues is welcome and will be helpful to me at this point. Thanks!
     
    Mezzlar, Aug 12, 2014
    Mezzlar, Aug 12, 2014
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Aug 12, 2014 #2
    Snowshoes

    Snowshoes Heavy Load Member

    878
    664
    Sep 23, 2012
    Pleasant Grove, Utah
    0
    Here in Utah, I took my written exams then paid a private examiner to do the road test, I think I paid him like 150.00 to do the test, and I was done, but then when I tried to go to work for a carrier that had any credibility, they wanted me to go to school and graduate from said school, since you already have a truck and job, you will not need to worry about that. This site has the best practice exams I could find anywhere.
     
    Snowshoes, Aug 12, 2014
    Snowshoes, Aug 12, 2014
    #2
    Mezzlar Thanks this.
  4. Aug 12, 2014 #3
    TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

    18,530
    129,777
    Apr 10, 2009
    Copied in Hell
    0
    All you have to do is go to the DMV and pick up a CDL book, study up on the test, and take it. They will issue you a CDL permit. Use your truck to take the CDL test, and they will had you the CDL license according to the class truck you test in. My guess is, it's a class B vehicle. Do you have air brakes? Take the general knowledge and the air brakes and you should be good to go. Can you drive the truck?
     
    TripleSix, Aug 12, 2014
    TripleSix, Aug 12, 2014
    #3
    Mezzlar Thanks this.
  5. Aug 12, 2014 #4
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,677
    12,240
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    You can buy the new truck, practice driving it on private property, get the manual from DMV to learn what they want when testing you, get your permit, then when ready to test, get the new truck to DMV office LEGALLY and do your test. If you pass, you have your CDL. I don't know if you can teach yourself to drive it, if not, you'll need someone to teach you. If you currently drive an automatic Honda Civic and have never been in a truck, you'll have to do this.
     
    Allow Me., Aug 12, 2014
    Allow Me., Aug 12, 2014
    #4
    Mezzlar Thanks this.
  7. Aug 12, 2014 #5
    Mezzlar

    Mezzlar Bobtail Member

    4
    2
    Aug 12, 2014
    0
    Thanks for responding! Yes class B is what i would be testing for, no the truck doesn't have air brakes. And yes I can drive the truck i have been driving this truck for about 8 years now. The upgrades I want to make to the truck and as part of any future truck would require CDL because of the amount of weight I would be able to haul vs. how much I can haul now. When I go onto the DOL website it lists a requirement of having to have a certificate from a school or another CDL driver in order to get my CDL. This requirement is what makes me timid about going in and just taking tests. I am hoping that its more simple for me than having to take classes.
     
    Mezzlar, Aug 12, 2014
    Mezzlar, Aug 12, 2014
    #5
  8. Aug 12, 2014 #6
    browndawg

    browndawg Medium Load Member

    676
    1,213
    Dec 20, 2013
    Rock Island, IL
    0
    if u can drive a U-Haul then u can drive any straight truck, if you need to get a larger truck with a higher GVWR find someone with a CDL and go rent a truck at ryder, this should not be a problem as u have a business already (for insurance purposes) while you are at it I would go ahead and rent one with air brakes just in case you need to buy a truck with em in the future. And oh yeah I once seen a septic truck with the words "TURD HEARSE" on the bug deflector and It was highlarious...
     
    browndawg, Aug 12, 2014
    browndawg, Aug 12, 2014
    #6
    Mezzlar and NavigatorWife Thank this.
  9. Aug 13, 2014 #7
    Mezzlar

    Mezzlar Bobtail Member

    4
    2
    Aug 12, 2014
    0
    I am getting a lot more confidence for my next step thanks to the helpful answers i'm finding here. My grandad always told the customers "Satisfaction Guaranteed or double your sewage back" we have never had a disgruntled customer in over 40 years!
     
    Mezzlar, Aug 13, 2014
    Mezzlar, Aug 13, 2014
    #7
    NavigatorWife and Snowshoes Thank this.
  10. Aug 13, 2014 #8
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,677
    12,240
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    OK, to clarify, class "B" is for air brakes and twin screw bobtail, no trailer. I suppose you could require a class"B" for a single screw air brakes bobtail, not sure. Depends on GVW. If the vehicle you are talking about has vacuum brakes, you don't need a class "B". And I'm curious as to how you would enable it to carry more weight ? What would be the upgrades ?
     
    Allow Me., Aug 13, 2014
    Allow Me., Aug 13, 2014
    #8
    Mezzlar Thanks this.
  11. Aug 13, 2014 #9
    Mezzlar

    Mezzlar Bobtail Member

    4
    2
    Aug 12, 2014
    0
    Bigger tank. The bigger tank would enable me to do 2 jobs at a time instead of 1 = hauling more weight. That would put me over the 26,001 lbs that, as I understand it is the line that once i'm over requires CDL to haul.
     
    Mezzlar, Aug 13, 2014
    Mezzlar, Aug 13, 2014
    #9
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.