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Considering a career change, any cdl drivers in here?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Wahayes, Jul 21, 2021.

  1. Sep 20, 2022 at 4:55 PM
    #61
    ScenicRoute

    ScenicRoute New Member

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    I have to wonder how the eldt requirement is affecting companies trying to hire drivers.
     
  2. Sep 20, 2022 at 5:56 PM
    #62
    TheBrit

    TheBrit Wrinkly member

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    I got my UK equivalent of a CDL (Class 1 HGV) when I was in my young 20's and did a few years as the equivalent of a UPS courier and as a plant hauler (not sure what you'd call it in the US, shifting excavators, backhoe's and other construction equipment). Customer interaction was limited enough to not get people overload, courier multi drop was the most strenuous work I've ever done and kept me really fit but it's not something anyone wants to get into after turning 40, loading and unloading construction kit was great fun - you haven't lived until you've had a 3T double drum road roller slide sideways and off wet steel ramps! :eek2:
    BUT the driving part, when one wasn't trying to mitigate the actions of asshole car drivers, was mind-numbingly, interminably boring, fair play to those who are happy with little more company than the radio and their own thoughts but it drove me nuts...and I can think of nothing better than working by myself but idle hands etc...
     
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  3. Sep 20, 2022 at 7:07 PM
    #63
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    After dealing with the banking world idiots both employees and customers for 16 years, it will be a welcome change. I don't want to talk to anyone lol
     
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  4. Sep 20, 2022 at 7:34 PM
    #64
    snoope

    snoope The Old Man

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    Welcome to your worst nightmare then....:rolleyes: Not really , there is BS in every profession..o_O I am Semi-retired from it after 43 years ...Just renewed my CDL A after passing my latest DOT... :hattip:

    BUT beware our great US Congress is now re-thinking the ELDT ;

    Latest update from www.truckersnews.com has small companies with under 9 CDL drivers exempt and have also increased the "exemption list" adding more onto it..

    Like all have said , Driving can be a career or a plain job... you choose how that works....:hattip:
     
  5. Sep 21, 2022 at 7:36 AM
    #65
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Luckily that eldt law change wouldn't apply to me. If everything goes to plan I'll be going to a large company but they're not primarily a "trucking company" they just happen to have a company need for drivers which from my understanding of the Industry is the kind of place to be to get treated best.
     
  6. Oct 23, 2022 at 7:18 AM
    #66
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Well just an update , I’m in cdl school now and everything is going well. I like 10 speeds. I do not like 13s lol should be testing out in a week or two. I kind of seem like I have a natural ability towards this. It has been enjoyable. I’ve not been stressed , even when doing my city driving days and I’ve been thinking to my self why the hell didn’t I make this switch sooner lol I know there will be crap that comes with it, but for me and my family, this was 100% the way to go.
     
  7. Oct 23, 2022 at 7:22 AM
    #67
    Blang805

    Blang805 New Member

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    Just dont forget to release your brakes before the start of your L.A.W.S. test :thumbsup:
     
  8. Oct 23, 2022 at 8:35 AM
    #68
    Canbeater

    Canbeater New Member

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    Congrats. It's a recession proof trade in which demand is unlikely to disappear.

    Just, for the love of god, get your manual endorsement. Maybe it's a restriction rather, but holy crap there are way too many CDL drivers now that can't legally drive stick.
     
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  9. Oct 23, 2022 at 8:39 AM
    #69
    ScenicRoute

    ScenicRoute New Member

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    Not everyone has access to a manual transmission CDL to test on. It’s crazy that’s what they get hung up on. Can drive a manual transmission car but unless you test with a manual transmission truck you have an automatic restriction.
     
  10. Oct 23, 2022 at 8:46 AM
    #70
    Canbeater

    Canbeater New Member

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    It honestly feels like a ploy from SWIFT sized companies to keep new drivers unable to switch to smaller companies with older fleets.
     
  11. Oct 23, 2022 at 9:04 AM
    #71
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Yes I am. The school I’m in does not have autos only 10s and 13s
     
  12. Oct 23, 2022 at 9:05 AM
    #72
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Having done both now, I can tell you it helps to know how to drive a manual car but they are not the same at all
     
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  13. Oct 23, 2022 at 9:11 AM
    #73
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Congrats. Why no love for the 13 spd? If you end up doing OTR driving, you will appreciate the extra gearing.

    Check into driving for Walmart. I have a buddy that drives in Missouri for them and does very well.
     
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  14. Oct 23, 2022 at 9:12 AM
    #74
    Canbeater

    Canbeater New Member

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    Training the "manual Honda Civic" out of our aspiring A-class drivers...
     
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  15. Oct 23, 2022 at 9:32 AM
    #75
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    That's awesome! I'm glad you're finding joy in the new path, and I hope it goes well for you.

    I got spoiled and fell in love with the 18 speed. Drove a 10 and 13 and they just felt so limited when under a load. Now, if an automaker would throw a 10 or 13 speed in an HD pickup... That'd be the most badass boat, hay, tractor, camper haulin' asskickin' full size truck ever. :drool:

    Anyway, what is it about the 13 that you don't care for vs the 10? Also, do you prefer to double clutch, float, or hybrid?
     
  16. Oct 23, 2022 at 9:51 AM
    #76
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    I actually have a lead on a hazmat company regional Otr. A buddy of mine works there and has the in for me. more lucrative than Walmart even with me just starting out. And he will be my trainer.
    As for the 13 , having trouble finding the 4th to 5th transition, it’s just weird that 1st and 5th are middle of the pattern, also struggle a little with the high gear splitter. I can actually drive it pretty well, but I get lost as to what gear I’m in.
     
  17. Oct 23, 2022 at 9:53 AM
    #77
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    So for the Utah test , I have to double on the up shift and downshifting is kind of a hybrid , clutch neutral and float the gear. As far as what I prefer, probably a hybrid … I can shift super smooth double clutching . I know how to float but am not as smooth on the up shift with it yet
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2022
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  18. Oct 23, 2022 at 9:59 AM
    #78
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    we have one right now that likes to single clutch , and feather gas and clutch on and off simultaneously……. One of the students got motion sick from his bang shifts hahaha to make it worse he says he understands what the instructors are telling him but then never does what they say. He should have already graduated but failed his dot backing test and didn’t even get the road test yet. In Utah you do pretrip- backing- road. If you fail one you don’t progress to the next
     
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  19. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:06 AM
    #79
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    I had to retake my test for the backing. I didn't really pull trailers a bunch before I got my CDL, and one thing the test does different than real life is the limited number of tries and limited times to get out and check. In the real world you can reattempt as many times as it takes and check it a million times, so long as you don't hit anything. :p

    My backing was weird when I started. One day I could back it 90° down an ally with an inch on either side, and other times I wouldn't be able to back it 90° into an open field. First test I couldn't get it, just was not happening. Passing test I rolled it in so perfectly centered on the first try you'd think I was an old pro. I got more consistent with time. Now I'm fairly competent, but once in a while I swear I'm cross eyed and just can't back for sh*t. :rofl:
     
  20. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:09 AM
    #80
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    I’m nailing the backing so far. (Knock on wood) the ve backed a number of short ass welding trailers over the years lol the 53s in comparison are easy. They don’t get out of shape fast
     
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  21. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:11 AM
    #81
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Really the only thing I’m still working on for the test is sequential downshifting (for the test we can’t skip any gears) before getting to my turns and getting halfway in the intersection before turning
     
  22. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:14 AM
    #82
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    That's not bad. Just stuff that takes some time to build the habit and get the feel for the truck. Put as many training miles in as you can, and have your trainer guiding when you start on the downshifts. You'll get there.
     
  23. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:18 AM
    #83
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Yea I need to get down to the gear I’m turning in before the turn. That’s where I get hung up. If I’m in the right gear I hit the turns right because all I have to think of is the turn. When I don’t get to the right gear before the turn I end up thinking too much about gears and revert to turning like a pickup and then have to correct on the fly which is no bueno
     
  24. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:20 AM
    #84
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    Man, all this CDL talk is making me miss driving. Not the job, mind you, but actually being in a semi and driving it.

     
  25. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:24 AM
    #85
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    I feel like there’s a bunch of cdl jobs out there that would suck. The job I have lined up I had an advantage bc my buddy has been in the industry 10 years and is helping me get in. I don’t think I’d work for a company that paid miles only, didn’t pay for weather , downtime from loading unloading, breakdowns , resets away from home etc but this company does all that and they pay is damn near double my old salary. I just lucked out really. They don’t normally hire 0 experience drivers unless it’s internal.
     
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  26. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:27 AM
    #86
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    That's awesome. Just watch out for Prius drivers. I swear those idiots are trying to die with the BS I had them pull on me when I was driving.
     
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  27. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:30 AM
    #87
    ScenicRoute

    ScenicRoute New Member

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    What I meant was there should be no difference on license for CDL. If you don’t know how to drive a manual it’s unlikely you’ll drive one. Same with a car. If you know how to drive one it’s an option even though most cars these days are auto.

    I don’t know how to drive a truck manual transmission. But if I wanted to learn I shouldn’t have to redo my entire class a license Pretrip and all to achieve that!
     
  28. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:31 AM
    #88
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    LOL I have experienced two with a death wish the last two weeks in training. Not when i was driving but another student. Instructor said had we been loaded and not empty they would have been a pancake. But it also on the student for not anticipating their move. I’ve found driving a big rig is much like riding a motorcycle in anticipating other drivers because neither ride can just romp the brakes and everything be cool
     
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  29. Oct 23, 2022 at 10:57 AM
    #89
    Canbeater

    Canbeater New Member

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    Same in Washington, including mandatory double cluching. They made a push to standardize the CDL test a few years back and they of course have kept some of the dumber details.
     
  30. Oct 23, 2022 at 11:10 AM
    #90
    NewImprovedRon

    NewImprovedRon New Old Guy

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    Yep, good equipment, clean offices/breakrooms, pay starts at about 110K per year, and treated well. I retired from Walmart's Transportation/Logistics Division after 25 years.
     
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