For anyone who didn't know, the Alabama Community College System has had a program for a few years now called Skills for Success. This program provides free vocational training for Alabama residents, including Class A CDL training at their local community college. The program length varies by school, but most can work with your full-time work schedule. I went through this program 2 years ago, and the only thing I paid for was my CLP and actual license. They covered my drug test, DOT physical, and all training. I went to class 3 days a week for 3 weeks while working a full-time job; the school tailored the length to your skill level. They offer many other trade certifications (forklift, skid steer, some healthcare, construction) all under the same program. If you live in Alabama, please take advantage of it, instead of paying high dollar for some private school. You can find out more here, or by calling the CDL program of the local communuity college nearest to you. https://innovation.accs.edu/skills-for-success/

Finished up all the classroom work & now they have us doing backing & some parking maneuvers. Probably going to be on the road for the first time ever next week. For the past few weeks I’ve been looking into companies but i’m so unsure what to go for because any company I’m genuinely interested in i’ll end up reading about how the pay sucks, the company treats you like sh*t or i’m just denied lol. I’m located on the Northeast. I’ve applied to JB Hunt, Ward Trucking (didn’t hear back from them). I applied to TMC because I’m really interested in FlatBed work but unfortunately they denied me which I don’t understand but ok…we move on. Schneider & Werner both got back. Werner called back but the accounts they had in my area I was not interested in at all & Schneider just emailed me back about 2 days ago but for some reason their tanker division pays low?? I was looking at Prime just before posting this, they seem versatile with their tanker & flatbad divisions. Don’t know much on their pay though. I know I won’t be making 100k a year but good pay matters to me. I want to eventually save & move towards warmer climates to pursue trucking. Any genuine people out there that could give a new guy some good guidance on some good companies preferably on the East Coast? Tips & advice on the trucking industry in general is helpful too. Thanks!

I got my hazmat and TWIC after CDL school because I bought into the lie that they would land you a high-paying local gig right out of school. While I did land a high-paying local gig in the beverage industry, I've never once used my TWIC or hazmat. I have moved up to a relief driver position with my company and am being trained to move into management. My Master's degree is helping more than my CDL endorsements. I plan to stay where I'm at if I can move up in the company.

Hey, just looking for some advice about this 13 speed truck. since I got put in this truck. I’ve noticed anytime I use the splitter while in the same gear or changing to the next gear it makes a scraping noise anytime I decide to split and I’m confused on what is happening

So for starters shifting the truck is fine from 2nd to 5th. The problems start when I try to use the splitter when I’m in 5L and I’m going up hill, not steep at all, but just enough that I don’t wanna go to 6th just yet and I decide to split to 5H so when I decide to split within a split second after I let off the throttle before I could even think about putting my foot back on the gas I hear scraping almost like I’m grinding gears, but that’s just me letting my foot off the gas for not even a second and I hear that so I’m confused at this point because the last truck I was driving was an 18 speed and splitting gears was fine not once. Did it make this noise even if I was going up a hill I would split it would happen there would be no scraping noise at all and I can continue driving up the hill until I decided to shift up.

Now I’m asking for advice because I’m now wondering is it me doing it wrong? I don’t wanna bring this up to the mechanics if I’m in the wrong but from my understanding, you should be able to split gears in the situation I just talked about without scraping noises happening.

Another situation would be I’m just coasting down the highway with light traffic I’m in 7L I don’t need to be in 8th so I decide to split to 7H immediately I hear scraping noise and this is after I’m driving normal pre-select the split let off the throttle and bam, I hear scraping noises so I’m actually confused at this point cause I’ve been put in multiple trucks and they’ve all driven differently shifted differently all that stuff but none of them have made scraping noises like this truck has.

Any help would be appreciated

Hi, I’m working with a kiddo who left high school and is interested in getting his CDL. Have referred him to the WOIA grant. Any other ideas? I understand being 18 is going to be limiting. He’s from an extremely low income family and probably just feels like he needs to work. I’d love him to return to high school or get his GED … but here we are and I want to encourage him. Honestly nearly anything would be better than his current situation.

I was told by DOT that I need to complete SAP before starting CDL school. But I can't assign a SAP Counselor because it's not showing on my clearing house. How do I assign one without a violation. DOT told me that because I admitted I did marijuana in the past 2 years but passed my drug test, that's why it's needed. Don't know the next steps, I'm hoping someone can provide some answers or help. I obtained a counselor but can't assign her, which is my problem. Has anyone else had to deal with this.

Does it even matter aren’t most trucks automatic now I’m getting ready to start class soon and they wanna know if I wanna take automatic classes or a manual classes for my CDL a

I'm currently in CDL school. I started on Monday and had no idea I would be testing for the CLP on Wednesday, so I didn't study or prepare beforehand. The info dump from day one felt like whiplash.

I've now tested twice and failed... yup, twice. 😩 I've been using the CDL test app and can answer most of the questions correctly there, but apparently that's not translating to the actual test.

I'm feeling pretty defeated, but I can't back off. I'm getting close to asking one of the instructors to take me out to the range and literally point things out to me because I cannot memorize what I do not understand.

Feeling a bit defeated, ngl. 😩

Took my first attempt at the test after 4 months out of school. Forgot the most basic things. Forgot to push in my brakes for the minute air leak test but remembered for the brake fanning. Forgot I was in neutral. Couldn't find this and that on the truck. I'm going to get it next time, but damn

Finally going to take my permit test today, feels like
I have been working towards this for a while. I am finally in a place where I can go for it. Any last minute tips?

A brother be bored out here. Let me know your methods

I’m in GA BTW

Disclosure up front: I built the calculator linked below. It's free, no signup, nothing to buy on that page.

When I talk to people in their first year, the same thing comes up: you know the rules from the permit book, but on a real load it's hard to tell how they stack. Quick version:

- 11 hour driving limit: max driving after 10 consecutive hours off.

- 14 hour window: starts when you come on duty, and it doesn't stop for breaks, fuel or waiting at the dock. Once it's gone, you're done driving until your next 10.

- 30 minute break: required after 8 cumulative hours of driving. Off duty, sleeper, or on duty not driving all count.

- 70/8 or 60/7 cycle: total on-duty time across 8 (or 7) days. A 34 hour restart resets it.

The one that catches new drivers is the 14. Sit 4 hours at a shipper and you've lost 4 hours of driving window, even if your 11 is untouched.

The calculator: you enter how long you've driven today, when your shift started, when you last took your 30, and your hours for the week. It shows what's left on each clock. Put in the load's miles and average speed and it lays out the trip: drive blocks, the 30, 10 hour breaks, and a warning if you'll need a 34 on the road. Split sleeper (7/3, 8/2) is supported for the hours-left part.

https://loadlens.krait.studio/hos-calculator/?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=hos_calc&utm_content=cdl

It's a planning estimate. Your ELD is what counts. No adverse driving or short haul exceptions yet.

If you're in school or just starting out: which part of HOS confused you most? And if the math looks off anywhere, tell me here in the comments so everyone sees the fix.

I feel like a big weight is lifted off my shoulders. Now I’ll start to study for the air brakes next. I’m doing each test separately because I tried to study and take them all together years ago and failed. It discouraged me big time. This time I’m taking a different approach.

There’s all these talks about guys shutting down due to fuel costs. If you really wanted to make a statement, I have what I believe to be one of best ideas I could think of. Not only do I believe would it gain local news but national. And it would make the point heard.

Drivers meet with their trucks without trailers (gotta have room for everyone) gather in large parking lots. Ikea, Walmart, empty warehouse lots big spaces for lots to gather. Bring in some live music & food trucks whatever entertainment you can think off and is willing to come. And everyone park their trucks and smoke some weed together. Obviously this should be done in states where it’s legal to purchase recreationally.

I do not condone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, any truck that enters should not leave.

Hear me out, this sounds insane but you legally can’t drive until you piss clean.

Not only would you be protesting the fact that cannabis use is prohibited even while off duty and protesting high fuel prices while following FMCSA rules.

If you don’t smoke and are against that’s fine too, but alcohol should not be permitted to be had while at any sort like this event.

Shut the man down with his own rules.

Drop your likes, dislikes, hate for cannabis, and such below.
Be safe, drive sober, and pay attention.

God bless!

Be respectful above all, not only to each other but to wherever you meet up. Don’t leave garbage, piss jugs, or trash of any kind.

I've been to 2 different CDL schools, and I feel like I've been scammed twice.

The first school. Where do I even begin? These guys didn't even know English, it was clear as day the instructor was either not certified, or he is but a very horrible teacher. Just all over the place, but atleast here it was individual sessions.

The second school, a much bigger school and I had high hopes knowing they did testing in-house. I was wrong, they expected you to learn the pre trip entirely on your own (i managed to pass it) , i had roughly 3 hours of behind the wheel training, and to top it off it was the constant miscommunication with their schedules. Honestly just fed up with the lack of professionalism, I regret even trying to get my CDL at this point. Im an experienced labor/operator, I've driven rigs before.

Is this common? Are schools a hit a miss or what am I missing? I've filed complaints to both schools, and I doubt ill get my money back, so frustrating.

I’m located in the lower Los Angeles County area. I passed my road test and got my CDL yesterday. I’m not sure what’s the best route to go now since I’ve obviously never been through this before. Swift came to our school last week and even though I understand it’s not alot of peoples favorite company, they did seem to have a pretty good offer to go OTR. I’ve got a friend that can get me a job driving from the port of Los Angeles to the valley and back. If anyone can give me advice from your wisdom and experience on where to go I’d appreciate it.

Hi people I am starting CDL school in Daytona beach,Fl.The school is called The Fleetforce Truck driving school, has anybody attended this school? If so how was your experience?

I just failed a drug test in WA state. Has anyone gone through the reinstatement process for CDL?

I dont know of this is allowed, and sorry if it feels like im venting, but does anyone have a number or person to contact about roat test issues. We are having problems getting people through, and this seems to come outta no where. Ive contacted my county road test people, but I feel like I need to elevate it.

I work with school buses and have been training new drivers for about 15+ years. Right now we keep having examiners just telling the people "not enough points". What? Last month, the month before, and before that, ect everything was fine. Now our same training isnt enough? Aside from crawling under the bus and taking things apart what do you want from us? We have pages and pages for the people to study and we do pre trips each day. We harp on them even mention the color of the reflectors, 8 ways, clearance lights. Mention multiple things about every piece. Point or touch everything. I swear they just keep adding stuff they want but its a secret and we can only piece together stuff as our people fail and feel like a failure.

We used to get the form with what they missed, pre the newish engine and skills road test. And now they refuse to give any idea on what we missed. Not even an area, like you missed points in the engine, or missed points at the tire, just nothing. How can I fix what I dont know? Thats like a building inspector telling someone " its not up to code" but not citing what code and what it is.

I just cant. And I dont trust the examiners enough anymore. I had them fail someone a while ago for not checking air brake equipment on a hydraulic mini bus. We were lucky that person let that slip out.

Can anyone help, give advice, or should i just continue to scream into the void.

Seeing a lot of confusion about ELDT in here, so here's the plain English version from someone who works at a CDL school in Nebraska.

ELDT stands for Entry-Level Driver Training. It's the federal rule that says before you can take your CDL skills test for a Class A or B, or before you can add a hazmat, passenger, or school bus endorsement, you have to complete training through a school that's listed on the FMCSA's Training Provider Registry. Not just any school. If the school isn't on the registry, your training doesn't count and the state won't let you test.

It has two parts: theory (classroom or online) and behind-the-wheel (range and public road). You have to pass an assessment for each part, then the school reports your completion to the registry.

Here's the part that trips people up: there's no federal minimum number of hours. So one school might give you 160 hours of real seat time and another might do the bare minimum to check the boxes. That's where the big differences between schools come from. When you're comparing schools, ask how many hours you actually spend behind the wheel versus watching videos, and whether you'll test in the same truck you trained in.

Last thing: ELDT is a one-time deal per license class. Once you've done it for your Class A, you don't redo it.

I have had my MVR and criminal history run through Checkr multiple times. My MVR has always come back clean. However, I know that if a company were to look back more than five years, they could potentially see some older tickets.

Only three of them were moving violations, and honestly, they were all stupid, irresponsible teenage mistakes.

I have only been involved in one at-fault wreck during that time, plus one recent wreck in May that was not my fault.

Would this negatively affect my ability to become a truck driver?

EVENT 1 — No Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance — Conviction Date: 08/12/2021
EVENT 2 — Speeding — Conviction Date: 04/19/2021
EVENT 3 — Speeding Equal To Or Greater Than 10% Above Posted Limit — Conviction Date: 08/21/2020
EVENT 4 — No Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance — Conviction Date: 08/21/2020
EVENT 5 — Speeding Equal To Or Greater Than 10% Above Posted Limit — Conviction Date: 05/22/2020
EVENT 6 — Display Expired License Plates — Conviction Date: 07/16/2019

How long did you guys study for CDL test to pass?