Anybody here recently get a CDL?

[gregintenn]

I'm told that I need to get a CDL for work. I do not know why, but whatever. I know there is a written test, a safety check test, and a driving test. I am also aware that I need a "health card".

 

What all is involved in getting the health card? Is there any other possible stumbling blocks I should be aware of?

 

I've worked at the same place for more than 20 years, and have never seen the inside of a big truck cab. :shrug:

[vontar]

Maybe you are getting promoted to driver.

[gregintenn]

Maybe you are getting promoted to driver.

:rofl:

I work in an engineering office. We don't even have drivers.

 

Oh yeah, this is for a dump truck/trailer/tanker. I guess I'm gonna be volunteered for snow plow duty this winter?

Edited June 15, 2013 by gregintenn

[56FordGuy]

Medical cards are easy. Have to be renewed every 2 years, unless you have issues with blood pressure, and a couple of other things I don't remember. It's just a basic physical and a drug test. 

 

Testing is just like you said. Take the written test early if you can and get your permit. It's not required, but it makes your life easier. Once you feel ready, you'll have to call and schedule a road test. When you go for the road test, the examiner will do a pre-trip truck inspection with you and grade you on it. They will also want to see the current CDL driver that brought the truck down for you. If you fail your pretrip, either because the truck has issues or you forget to check things, they will not let you road test. I got points off for saying "Check alternator belt" and not physically pointing to it. Depending on the examiner, they can be picky. 

 

Once you pretrip, you'll do some basic maneuvers in the parking lot around some cones. After that's done, the examiner gets in the truck with you and y'all go for a drive. Nothing too stressful for mine, I went to the DMV on Hart Lane. 

 

I just got a letter the other day stating that I have to renew my medical card and submit it to the state by a certain date or lose my CDL. Always had to keep it up to drive the trucks, but never had to send it to the state before. 

Edited June 15, 2013 by 56FordGuy

[gregintenn]

What does the physical involve? I'm not a fan of doctors. On the odd occasion I need to go, I usually go to my friend's wife. I'm not comfortable with her checking a prostate, hernia, etc. You know what I mean?

[56FordGuy]

When I did my last one it was a basic drug test, followed by an eye chart. They did blood pressure, hernia, don't recall if they checked reflexes or not. Other than the hernia check, I don't recall anything terribly up close and personal.  

[TripleDigitRide]

56FordGuy gave some good info.

Unless you already know how to drive a truck and don't need experience, you will need to first go take the written test for your permit. Once you have your permit, you can drive with a licensed CDL holder. Once you're confident that you can pass both the driving and pre-trip inspection portions of the test, you will need to schedule an appointment at your local drivers licence testing center (not all centers do CDL testing), or you can pay a 3rd party (truck driving school) to give you the tests. That's what i did. 

 

If you will be driving a tanker, you will need to take an additional test for the tanker endorsement.

Edited June 15, 2013 by TripleDigitRide

[gregintenn]

Here's the thing, TDR.

 

I've never driven a truck. I do not have access to a truck. I'm not sure how they expect me to learn to drive one.

 

They just said "Get a class A CDL with an N endorsement. 57 restriction permitted."

[TripleDigitRide]

As far as the physical goes, they are becoming more strict. The big thing now is Sleep Apnea. They use your hght, weight, BMI, blood pressure, etc. to determine if you need to be tested for Sleep Apnea. 

Based on memory, they check your vision (simple chart), hearing (whisper from a few feet away), urine (sugar, protein, drugs, etc.). They usually have you bend over and touch your toes, check for hernia, and I've even had a couple of them make me jog in place for 1 minute. No one has asked me to do that during the last few I've had. 

 

It's actually pretty basic.

[gregintenn]

Thanks.

[TripleDigitRide]

Here's the thing, TDR.

 

I've never driven a truck. I do not have access to a truck. I'm not sure how they expect me to learn to drive one.

 

They just said "Get a class A CDL with an N endorsement. 57 restriction permitted."

If that's the case, you will have to find someone with a truck or go to a truck driving school. 

[TripleDigitRide]

The truck driving schools are usually only 3-4 weeks long, but they aren't cheap. My father was an owner-operator, so I had access to a truck and instructor.

 

The problem is, without going through a CDL training school, finding anyone to hire you is nearly impossible these days. Because of insurance restrictions, 99.99% of trucking companies require drivers to have completed a CDL training course or have a minimum of six months to  one year of verifiable experience. 

 

Your company isn't giving you a reason for this hassle?

Edited June 15, 2013 by TripleDigitRide

[glock55]

Do you know if you need a class a or class b cdl. The only difference is the type of truck you will need for the road test. I would try to hook up with a third party examiner due to not having the hassle of going to DMV. On the med exam your blood pressure cannot be over 140/90. That is the cut off for passing. If your on blood press med you have to renew dot card every year. Were i work the company pays for med exam. I think you can down load the study guide from DMV website. Good luck

[gregintenn]

 

Your company isn't giving you a reason for this hassle?

 

Yeah. I work for TDOT. They told us they wanted a better qualified workforce, so everyone in the engineering dept. has to get a CDL, and everyone in the maintenance dept. has to get a GED. :shrug:

I suppose it might be in case of a severe emergency, I could help out with maintenance issues. I really don't know.

[56FordGuy]

The truck driving schools are usually only 3-4 weeks long, but they aren't cheap. My father was an owner-operator, so I had access to a truck and instructor.

 

The problem is, without going through a CDL training school, finding anyone to hire you is nearly impossible these days. Because of insurance restrictions, 99.99% of trucking companies require drivers to have completed a CDL training course or have a minimum of six months to  one year of verifiable experience. 

 

Your company isn't giving you a reason for this hassle?

 

 

A friend of mine took a dock job at Con-Way. They put him through their own driving school and he drives for them now. That's an option, though I really doubt Greg is looking to make a career change to get his CDL for the job he already has. :lol:

[TripleDigitRide]

Do you know if you need a class a or class b cdl. The only difference is the type of truck you will need for the road test. I would try to hook up with a third party examiner due to not having the hassle of going to DMV. On the med exam your blood pressure cannot be over 140/90. That is the cut off for passing. If your on blood press med you have to renew dot card every year. Were i work the company pays for med exam. I think you can down load the study guide from DMV website. Good luck

To determine which type of CDL (A or B) you'll need, you need to know what type of truck you'll be driving. 

 

Class A: Any combination (truck and trailer) of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GWVR) of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. 

Class B: Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.

[gregintenn]

They just said "Get a class A CDL with an N endorsement. 57 restriction permitted."

           

[TripleDigitRide]

Yeah. I work for TDOT. They told us they wanted a better qualified workforce, so everyone in the engineering dept. has to get a CDL, and everyone in the maintenance dept. has to get a GED. :shrug:

I suppose it might be in case of a severe emergency, I could help out with maintenance issues. I really don't know.

You'd think they would provide the training for you. If you have to pay for a CDL training course, expect to pay $3000-$5000, last i checked. That was several years ago, but I suspect it hasn't dropped that much, if at all.

[TripleDigitRide]

They just said "Get a class A CDL with an N endorsement. 57 restriction permitted."

Class A is the big dog, truck and trailer. 

[gregintenn]

Class A is the big dog, truck and trailer. 

I believe the 57 restriction is pretty much pulling a backhoe behind a dump truck.

Edited June 15, 2013 by gregintenn

[TripleDigitRide]

I have no idea what "57 restriction permitted" means. I've never heard of that. I did a quick Google search, and came up with nothing.

[gregintenn]

I have no idea what "57 restriction permitted" means. I've never heard of that. I did a quick Google search, and came up with nothing.

It means "except tractor trailer". Pulling a backhoe with a dumptruck is what they're after if I'm not mistaken.

[TripleDigitRide]

It means "except tractor trailer". Pulling a backhoe with a dumptruck is what they're after if I'm not mistaken.

Well, then I would disregard my advice until you find out the procedure for that. It may be what has been explained here, but it very well may be slightly different.

[Chucktshoes]

Those are some random arbitrary requirements to come out of the blue. I would be questioning if they took the burden of the expense and time of the training involved in this decision. Might be worth your while to send those questions back up the chain of command. They may rethink matters. Edited June 15, 2013 by Chucktshoes

[gregintenn]

Those are some random arbitrary requirements to come out of the blue. I would be questioning if they took the burden of the expense and time of the training involved in this decision. Might be worth your whole to send those questions back up the chain of command. They may rethink matters.

I believe they will make provisions for the driving portion of the test, but I will pay for the written test. Training, however, has yet to be explained.

 

I was mainly concerned about the health card.

 

Sounds like this is going to be one big pain in the rear. Anytime you deal with the DMV it usually is.

 

I'm not really upset about having to do it, I just wanted to know if there were any pitfalls someone could help me avoid. Sounds like it'll be pretty straightforward.

Edited June 15, 2013 by gregintenn