Question:
I have had my cdl since oct of 04' and got them by learning in a friends truck.I have a regular non-driving job and drive part time log hauling and short runs.Some say my cdl is useless if I try to hire on with a major company.Is this true?

Answer:
Most truck co.'s want recent driving experience for insurance reasons or recent school grads. A lot of co. will not accept local driving.They are looking for OTR. A lot of drivers have come off the road and decided to go back and have had problems. Some have had to take refresher courses. Since you have not attended a school, chances are you will have to. Do some research first, check with co.'s that interest you and ask about their requirements. Good luck!

Answer:
If you try to sign on with a major company you are going to run into one brick wall after another.
As mentioned the insurance companies pretty much dictate the hiring requirements and one of them is 2 or more years of recent OTR (approx 5 state area) or driving school grad before they will insure a driver.
There were 2 guys in my class at driving school who had over 3 years of local driving and no one would hire them for OTR. They had to complete the school and then they were hired by one of the training companies.
Answer:
B.A.; you have a your CDL; if it is clean or maybe slightly tarnished it is good. You have experience driving a truck. You know what it feels like.. For otr companies to give you an opportunity to dirve their trucks; you're going to need the "show me" papers. There are many, many companies that hire student drivers or recent driving school graduates. Since you already have a cdl you will not need to test for one. What you will probably need to do is take a refresher course from a community or techincal school to get the "show me" papers to hire on with a truck company. The hiring company will take you on as a student-driver and send you otr with a trainer for four to eight weeks depending on the company. As the subscriber said it because of the insurance companies that you will have to do this. Check with trucking companies that are hiring out of your state that interest you. Talk to the recruiter and see what is required. Also see if there are any community or technincal schools that offer cdl refresher courses. Go safely; see you on the big road!
Answer:
Where Ya at in Mississippi?
Answer:
How can your CDL be useless when companies out there are paying for people to get theirs.
I would think that they would be more than willing to hire you and put you with a trainer just like someone out of driving school.
If you want to be paid for experience however, you will probably be out of luck.

Answer:
Thanks for the info guys.I have not made but a couple of trips out of state and have driven mostly log trucks local.I am no pro but log hauling is pretty nerve racking in certain situations.Don't have any plans to go otr but just wondered what if I had to thats all.Any way thanks again and I still will be getting local practice anyway.

Answer:

Your CDL is not useless. it depends on what you want to do. Since you live in Mississippi your opportunites are limited. Are located by a major city?
Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans?Ivey EnviroTech Services
Start Up date: 3/1/06

Answer:

Q in Sac,
What part of Sac? i'm in antelope area

Answer:
After driving for years lacol. I had to go to school to get a decent OTR job. It is sad when you are in a class with a cdl in your pocket and the other folks in the class have never even seen the inside of a truck.
I will say this. I could drive a truck, hit any dock you wanted.
Just OTR is very different then local work. It is a very different life style.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:

Q in Sac,
What part of Sac? i'm in antelope area
99 and Calvine. What company you work for?Ivey EnviroTech Services
Start Up date: 3/1/06

Answer:
Where in mississippi do ya live, Im here in jackson. I might know someone who can help you out.