Ok im very new to trucking, with my previous employer I have driven large tanker and combination vehicles (practicing). Currently I am not employed, and am not collecting unemployment. I live in Maryland, and I have a wife and she cannot work, I currently have CDL A permit with hazmat , doubles and triples, tanker. And TWIC card. The permit runs out in 6 months. Ive researched trucking companies and training companies, although they do not pay what is needed for me just to keep a roof over our heads,.. local companies are willing to take a chance with me ... Although I have to have my license in hand. With my situation I cannot afford a $5000 school and realisticly all I have to do is just take the driving test but dont know anyone with a truck..... just seems like a huge "catch 22". Any sound advice would be greatly appreciated? ??????????????????
Good advice; you may qualify for WIA grant through the unemployment office. They pay for CDL school. Either that or attend a trucking company CDL school. Roehl has Northeast regional. Prime tanker division has Northeast regional. Earl Henderson Trucking provides hotel and meals during school. US Express has their own school and can make big bucks running teams there. Millis Transfer is good; make $50K or so and just run Eastern states. There's plenty more that also provide hotel room and meals.
With your practice, did you do enough to feel comfortable backing? Manuevers and road test? If so, see if there are any 3rd party testing centers in MD. They will likely rent trucks for testing. See what's involved in the testing maneuvers, study the book and take the test. Also, see if you can find someone to help you with pre-trip insp,, possibly a student going thru school now. A guy I work with did just that,, except the pre-trip practice part (he failed it 4 times before passing). He finally got his CDL and got the job. Never ran the big roads, he'll be home every night, great bennies, 5 day work week and good pay.
The pre-trip is the hardest part of getting a cdl. Check YouTube; I understand there's some pretty good videos about pre-trip inspections. Many drivers flunk the pre-trip inspection at the DMV even though they can easily pass the driving/skills tests.
I went the WIA route and unemployment told me that I did not qualify because I made too much on my last job
Not long ago I saw an outfit in Texas which actually rented trucks for CDL testing. I don't know how widespread that is (I'm guessing it's probably not) but maybe there's something like that in your area?
Also, contact any nearby (non company affiliated) CDL schools and ask if any of their instructors are state certified examiners, if so, that will get you a test vehicle and the examine required for your CDL A license.
