Ability to effectively interpret dot and fmcsa regulations. Occasionally driving such equipment on a public road to reach or leave a. The driver must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid commercial drivers license cdl, and speak and understand conversational english. Joe is a driver with a carrier specializing in intermodal transportation, most often working out of the port of long beach, california.
Also, if truck drivers are charged with drunk driving, even while driving their own private vehicle, their cdl can still be suspended for 90 days. To increase a drivers wage get into specialized work or obtain endorsements to have an advantage over other candidates. Hoursofservice rules rest breaks may drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since end of drivers. To get a cdl, you must pass knowledge tests, obtain and hold a commercial learner permit clp for at least 14 days and pass figure 1. The hoursofservice regulations are some of truck drivers mosthated. Hold your commercial learners permit for at least 14 days. This manual is not a substitute for a truck driver training class or program. Apply for truck driver training classes at one of many locations across the country today and start working towards that dream. For interstate drivers, the need for a dq file is based on the size and type of vehicle being driven. Ability to understand and follow maps and instructions. But yes when i was on the road for 6 years in a box truck over 10klbs i got randomly inspected roughly once every two weeks which i thought was a lot. Truck drivers must have a commercial drivers license cdl.
This affordable, 360hour program covers all aspects of professional driving, including preparation to pass your commercial drivers license cdl exam. Generally, truck drivers including independent contractors are required to have knowledge and comply with all the regulations. Interstate drivers otherwise known as over the road or long haul drivers often cover distances of. Welcome to hotshotting, if you dont want to go cdl and admittedly there are costs and drawbacks to a cdl, then you have to stay in your world. Cdl truck team driver pros and cons fmcsa dot regulations. This free cdl truck driver job description sample template can help you attract an innovative and experienced cdl truck driver to your company. When the cdl hearing requirements changed in 20, she moved to texas, enrolled at the amarillo college truck driving academy and got her license. This misperception has created confusion for many carriers. Otr means over the road, because truck drivers who drive long distances with their freight will be driving over the road instead of local driving. Cdl truck driver resume example dandy mite trucking ltl. The cdla professional truck driving program is a 200 hour program which prepares the graduate to enter the commercial driving industry as. Commercial truck drivers must obtain a commercial drivers license to operate vehicles over 26,001 pounds of gross vehicle weight, according to the u. In truck driver training, you are instructed in the knowledge and skills needed to safely get your class a or class b cdl, prepare for the rigors of the road and become a trucker.
The regulations limit how much time can be driven to ensure drivers are. All driver license stations require appointments for cdl testing. Truck driver career guide articles about trucking jobs. What are the requirements to become a truck driver. What is the hours of service rule for truck drivers. Federal regulations on when truck drivers can work are essential not just for drivers, but fleet owners to understand and follow.
Stress can be an inevitable factor and a unhealthy disadvantage of being a truck driver. Before joining the industry as a professional truck driver, there are a few requirements to become a truck driver that youll need to meet. Cdl truck team driver pros and cons fmcsa dot regulations e log factoring over the road trucker. After cdl training continue with otr over the road. Part 383 regulations section federal motor carrier safety. Operating large commercial motor vehicles requires specialized skills and training that must be learned. Total combined vehicle weight has to be less than 26k adding a trailer for 2k does not change anything, still put them 2k over a noncdl license. Acquiring a commercial drivers license cdl is the first step in becoming a highly qualified professional truck driver. This cdl manual is a general overview of truck driver regulations in the united states. If the driver has a suspended cdl in one state, other states have the option to refuse to allow the driver a cdl as well.
Eligible employees are offered trinitys standard company benefits package, which includes paid time off, tuition reimbursement, paid holidays, 401k with. A general overview of a day in the life of joe, a truck driver. Lets briefly discuss the basic levels of human interaction and objecthandling a driver must face on a single delivery route. Cdl truck driver dandy mite trucking ltl philadelphia, pa. Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating gcwr of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating gvwr of the vehicle being. Federal and state cdl requirements trucker country. New rules put brakes on truck drivers schedules listen 3. In light of the serious risks 18wheelers create on the roadway, federal and state regulations have been created to govern how trucking companies, and the truck drivers themselves, are required to operate. Interstate truck drivers guide to hours of service isri. Understanding the cdl requirements for getting a cdl commercial drivers license is essential if you want to become a truck driver. We make the hiring process one step easier by giving you a template to simply post to our site. The laws of the state from whence a drivers cdl is issued are considered the applicable laws governing that driver.
Minimum 23 years of age with valid class a cdl and a minimum 2 years verifiable over the road experience. Starting july 1, new regulations limiting the hours commercial vehicle drivers can be on the road will be enforced. Must be able to pass a dot physical and drug screen and must have knowledge of federal motor carrier safety regulations fmcsr. The cdl or dot medical card is valid for two years. A commercial drivers license cdl is a drivers license required to operate large, heavy, or placarded hazardous material vehicles in commerce. The department of labor has reported that between 2010 through 2020 there will be 330,000 otr truck drivers needed. Knowledge of federal motor carrier safety regulations fmcsr why join trinity. The first step is to obtain a commercial drivers license cdl from your state of residence, which comes with its own set of requirements. Commercial driver licensing montana department of justice. The current regime is a relic of the 1930s when unions wanted limits on trucker hours so employers hired more drivers. Hos law for truck drivers suspended for first time ever. Diesel truck driving training school classa cdl training. Trinity industries offers a comprehensive benefits program. Freight and trucking dot hours of service regulations.
Its frustrating trying to find regulations that are geared towards noncdl driver regulations any advice is welcome. Specifications for this vary by state, but the common factor is that the driver must pass a knowledgebased test, as well as an actual driving test to be qualified. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving. In its current edition, hos requires truck drivers to drive only 11 hours. A drivers qualification dq file is often thought to go handinhand with the commercial drivers license cdl. Commercial truck drivers must comply with rules pertaining to prohibitions of alcohol and drug use and periodic physical examinations with specific physical requirements. Become a professional truck driver and earn great wages while enjoying the freedom of the road in a matter of months through gateways new truck driving technical diploma. A truck driver is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck usually a semi truck, box. Apply to truck driver, over the road truck driver, delivery driver and more. Deadlines, delays, lazy shippers, bad directions, city traffic, living in a very small space, bad weather and a lack of there being enough parking spaces at truck stops and. Truckers income is affected by cdl, experience, the state you work in, or the company you work for. Fmcsa rules prohibit driving a propertycarrying cmv e. Because of my handson training at diesel truck driver school, i was able to get the class a cdl i have always wanted and land a job as a regional truck driver through swift transportation.
Once youve satisfied the requirements above and practiced on the road with a driver possessing a cdl license, you may then apply for a cdl. For current information, contact the center at 800 6824682. One major concern for longhaul truck drivers is driver exhaustion, which frequently results in accidents and death. Obtaining receipts and signatures for delivered goods. These rules are put in place for both the safety of the drivers and others on the road.
If charged while driving a commercial vehicle, firsttime offenders face a oneyear suspension of their cdl and multiple time offenders licenses will be revoked completely without even being able. This includes the information needed to pass the written exam, as well as the. Due to frequent changes in federal and state regulations, the michigan center for truck safety cannot ensure the accuracy of the material contained in the guidebook beyond the. Complying with all state, federal and company regulations. The current average driver age in the otr over theroad tl truckload industry is 49. There are many reasons for the current driver shortage, but one of the largest factors is the relatively high average age of the existing workforce. Since i have graduated i drove a 28 foot straight truck out of chicago. Employment of heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Federal regulations could worsen truck driver shortages. Once you have your commercial learner permit, use the online appointment scheduling to make your appointment for your. So make sure to mark your calendar to remember to renew the dot medical card. The program covers the pretrip inspection, backing maneuvers, and oneto. A cdl is a professional license permitting the holder of the license to drive those large commercial vehicles. These also apply to the clp or commercial learners permit, which youll have to get in order to train and before you get a cdl.
Do you have previous cdl driving experience, still maintain your cdl license and are looking to reenter the commercial trucking industry. Ability to understand rcra compliance standards and osha safety regulations and dot regulations. For more information about how to become a truck driver or help finding a school, call 844. This involves pairing new graduates from trucking school with qualified trainers. Make sure to add requirements, benefits, and perks specific to the role and your company. If the medical card expires, you will no longer be an eligible commercial truck driver until you get it renewed. These regulations put limits in place for when and how long you may drive, to.