What qualifies as experience?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Sprinks, Sep 18, 2010.

  1. Sprinks

    Sprinks Light Load Member

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    Sep 10, 2010
    Minneapolis, MN
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    I took another route to obtain my CDL;
    Applied and was trained by a school bus company to start - Class B with passenger, school bus and air brake endorsements. Worked for the bus company for a year.
    Took the test for my Class A permit, rented a Class 6 truck and trailer to qualify for my Class A behind the wheel test. Passed all my endorsements; doubles/triples and tanker/hazardous materials.
    Found a very small local trucking company (two trucks) drove a dock truck all over the upper mid west (6 states). Out 2 to 3 nights, about 80,000 miles a year. About a year ago we purchased a tractor-trailer unit and started driving semi 60% of the time and the dock truck the other 40%. To date I have accumulated 150,000 miles, of which 50,000 miles are in the tractor-trailer.
    My questions:
    Is my OTR experience 150,000 miles (?) even though only 50,000 are tractor-trailer miles?
    I will be moving on at the end of the year because the trucking company is closing. I will have had my CDL for almost 3 years and have more than 60,000 tractor-trailer miles by then. How will trucking companies view that experience.
    Thanks in advance for your feedback.
    Sprinks
     
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  3. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    That's not very many miles. The insurance companies are going to want to see you went to an accredited school. This is a good question though. I am not sure how the companies will view it. Keep us posted though, I am interested in seeing how you make out! Welcome to the forum and good luck to you!
     
  4. Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

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    well you have about a years worth.........you wouldn't need to go to mega carrier. just try any place with what you have now, let us know. you can always find training at your new location, so i'll reserve myself and say, "save the money till later".........
     
  5. Boomer08

    Boomer08 Light Load Member

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    You might need written documentation of what you drove and what percentage of the time you drove it. I would think that would be enough but what do I know.
     
  6. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    One year driven OTR miles should be about 110,000 miles.

    60k on 3 years??? you were not going any great distance were you?
     
  7. Sprinks

    Sprinks Light Load Member

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    Minneapolis, MN
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    A lot of delivery work, 6 to 8 deliveries a day. OTR work has only been 21 months, 12 of those having a tractor trailer and only using it 60% of the time. Total annual mileage (both dock and tractor trailer) has been 80 to 90k, usually 1200 to 1800 miles per week. This is why I posted my original question.
     
  8. Sprinks

    Sprinks Light Load Member

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    Sep 10, 2010
    Minneapolis, MN
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    Thought it was time to post an update on my trucking trek. It's been two months since the original post and now I'm sitting here with 70k tractor trailer miles under my belt and a letter in my hand congratulating me on being accepted for employment with a large trucking company as an experienced driver. Starting orientation on the 27th of December and should be in my truck by the end of the year. Looking forward to seeing more of the country. Thanks for the encouragement and advice, I'll keep you posted.
     
  9. Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

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    very good for you..!!

    best of luck, and keep us posted from time to time.
     
  10. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Many OTR companies require you to drive 5 states or more to have qualifying experience. So you have OTR experience per say.

    On most applications they ask what kind of truck and miles driven.

    You shouldn't have a problem getting any job with a clean record.
     
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