Does Bob need to get back in the box?

[Hanau]

Be forewarned, this is some more of my out of the box thinking. That folks on here seem to love.

All righty then, so I've wanted to get an A CDL but there aren't any schools around here and the closest truck rental place to get an A truck is in Spokane.

One of my guys has an A license, but no truck. However he's willing to teach me how to drive a tractor trailer.

So for about half the cost of traveling to a school in southern Idaho for 6 weeks I could own something like this:

http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=2101120

Then I could take the written test and get my learners permit. Whenever I have some free time I could fire it up and practice driving it for my road test. Now I do realize I'd need a trailer for the combination test, I think I can scrounge something.

In the end I'd not only have a CDL but also a truck to drive.

Not sure what trailer I'd want to get. Something that is equally adept at hauling equpment and palletized stuff. Like pallets of pavers and a skidsteer to move them with. Any suggestions? Preferably also something that can haul larger equipment like a dozer and a road grader.

First thing I need to do is see if I can find a doc that will give me a med card. My cardiologist said no, so I need to shop around until I get a yes.

I already have a DOT # and commercial insurance. My understanding is it will be a relatively simple matter to add this vehicle, or one like it. I'm not set on owning this exact truck.

I do have a CDL test book to study, so that's good.

What does that button on the shift lever do?

What should I look for on a used Class 8 truck? Any particular problem areas?

As usual I am being very sincere and hat in hand in my inquiries.However I understand that I will have to take a certain amount of abuse from the veterans that have done this a while and do not appreciate a newbie learning the ropes on his own. I understand that, do not hold it against you, and accept it as a rite of passage.

Just know that I am being as diligent as possible in expanding into this line of work. I do intend to learn as much as possible, including going to a specialty school if necessary, before jumping in.

[Dirtman2007]

Thats how I learned. Hauling dirt onsite with dump trucks is how I learned how to drive them, given I've never had one out of 5th gear:laugh:
I'm not the best in the world but alteast I can hop in a truck and move it without have to ask for someone to do it.

[minimax]

GOOD LUCK!! I got my class A CDL before washington's new law went into effect on 01-02-2009 that to take the CDL test you have to have a 160 hours of on road training with a state licenced trainer:hammerhead::hammerhead:.I don't think there is a way around it now:cry:.Maybe some body else knows.You could go rent a place in idaho for a month and take your CDL test there:laugh::laugh:

Minimax

[Hanau]

I live in Idaho, about 2.5 miles from the Washington state line.

[Mr. Rain]

That's pretty much what I did. Had the work lined up before I had ever even driven a semi. Got my permit, went out and bought a truck, drove it around a few days and signed up for a test. Butchered the road test, but somehow got passed and went to work.

[bobcat_ron]

If you bought the truck, you might be asked to show an adequate license for the vehicle for buying and registration purposes, this plan of yours might back fire then.

[ioilyouin]

A large protion of the CDL test is vehicle knowledge and walk around inspection. If you don't know what you're talking about you're toast. Not only do you have to know this info, but your truck must also pass the inspection, in addition to insurance, license, motor fuel tax crap, etc.. You can sink a lot of money into your dream and be left with nothing but a nightmare. As unplesant as it sounds, school may be your best avenue.

You've had health issues also (I think), there are restrictions that may apply. Deffinitely worth looking into.

[Gravel Rat]

I don't know if I would want to get involved with a old International that has wagon suspension and a Cat engine that you can't get parts for. The old 3406A will kill you in repair costs.

As the DMV or somebody that knows the state laws. You guys in the USA have some odd regulations and they differ from state to state.

[Hanau]

I'd do the school, but it's hard leaving my business hanging for 1 week, let alone 6. When I had my last heart attack and was out for that long everything kind of went to hell. My main guy was trying to bid on jobs, but he's not that great at it. He still can't see the work like I can. Then there's payroll, the books, and all the other stuff that needs to be done every week.

Not saying it can't be done. But it's tough and expensive. Not just tuition and motel. Expensive in lost revenue because I'm not handling the numbers and clients personally.

That's the dilemma I'm trying to avoid.

Heck if there was a way to have an instructor come here with his truck I'd gladly pay for it. Haven't found anything like that though.

Hadn't thought about registration, that's something I need to look at.

[P.Services]

All for a stupid a$$ cdl? No that's I'm not letting my biz sit on hold so some dumb broad can teach ME to drive. I will may 25 bucks to have 50 tons dropped off or I will pay 10 bucks a hour to a old timmer who will drive my truck.
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[Gravel Rat]

Find somebody that you can practice with say afternoons etc.

The biggest thing you will need to practice on is shifting, being able to handle the truck, knowing the braking system. The thing people fail on is the pretrip inspection. That is a big thing for the tester.

If you have had any medical problems you may have troubles. You will need to go to the doctor and have a medical done so bend over and touch your toes :laugh:

You will have to meet the vision requirements you will also have no heart problems etc.

[crash935]

You will also want to look into the cost of insurance. Think you will find that the cost for a driver with no experience is a little high.

Thing that really concerns me is that your doc (cardiologist) is telling you NO to the med card but you want to shop around until you get a yes. Maybe your doc isnt familiar on the regs but the list of heart conditions which would prvent you from a med card are,

(b)(4) Has no current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure;

[Hanau]

Hmm, maybe I can get a log trucker to help me out. Logging is slow right now, bet I can find one that can use some extra bucks.

[Gravel Rat]

You just need somebody with patients and don't mind hearing this :laugh:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=7026882383890305918#

[Hanau]

Thing that really concerns me is that your doc (cardiologist) is telling you NO to the med card but you want to shop around until you get a yes. Maybe your doc isnt familiar on the regs but the list of heart conditions which would prvent you from a med card are,

(b)(4) Has no current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure;

Yeah, well I'm stubborn. I don't like being told I can't do something I want to do because I'm "disabled".

Until I'm in a box being shoved into a furnace I can do anything anybody else can do. I'm not one to let my "disability" slow me down or put barriers in my life.

[93turbo]

Here to get a class a liscense all you need is a combination rating greater then 26000 so all that takes is a one ton and a trailer rated heavier then 16000 lbs. My sister inlaw got her class A with thier 350 and 10 ton GN then you are legal to learn how to drive a bigger truck if you want

[Hanau]

I have a 1 ton and a 24K gooseneck. Are you serious? Is the air brake just a written test?

[SiteSolutions]

I think you may be on to something, looking around for someone local to work with. I was unemployed when I went to school so I had plenty of time. No way I could do it now.

Definitely study and practice the pre-trip inspection. And then study and practice it some more. The written tests are usually easy enough, the road test... well, either you can drive or you can't. But that pre-trip is a ball buster.

I would avoid getting a used truck to take the test. When you pull up to the state office, you want the officer/trooper to get a warm fuzzy about you and your rig. Pull up in that rust bucket and he may feel duty bound to fail you just to keep that thing off the road.

Didn't think about the dually + large trailer but sounds like it would work and may be your best bet if you can find someone with one in good condition, mechanically sound, e.g. the trailer brakes and lights all work. Heck, don't you have a GM Dually? Just get you a big goose neck and have at it. Just remember the pre-trip. If you want the air brakes endorsement, they may make you simulate checking your air brakes components during the pre-trip. (?) And without being able to look at the parts you will have to remember that they are supposed to be there...

Did I mention the pre-trip is a kick in the nuts?

[Hanau]

Pre trip is a kick in the nuts. Got it.

I have a 1 ton and a 24K gooseneck. Yes it's a dually, trailer is tandem duals.

I'm definetely going to have to check this out.

[Gravel Rat]

The pretrip isn't that bad it is remembering the air endorsement stuff like how much drop your allowed to have etc.

When you do it enough pretrips are quick. I walk around other peoples trucks and I spot things just a force of habit.

Start with the front of the truck check the forward lights, tilt the hood up look for leaks etc and check the oil. Look down check steering the tires etc. work yourself back checking to see if the mirrors are secure the air tanks are not loose the fuel tank isnt loose.

Like I said it it becomes a force of habit you can spot things quickly. Lots of guys I have said you have a loose wheel they say we do go look sure enough they do.

I don't know what the USA road tests are like around here the person giving you the road test will get you for missed shifts. Also here if you take the road test with a automatic truck you are stuck with driving automatic trucks.

I took my CDL test well over 10 years ago. All I remember was I was sweating like a pig.

[Scag48]

I don't believe you can get an air endorsement without taking the test in a truck that has air brakes. The air endorsement is just a written test but it's my understanding that you have to test in a rig that has air if you want the air endorsement. Otherwise everyone would show up in a 1 ton truck tagged for 26,001 and a 15 foot trailer and give it hell.

[Hanau]

That's kind of what I was thinking Scag. Sounded too good to be true.

[Scag48]

That's kind of what I was thinking Scag. Sounded too good to be true.

I could be wrong, but I'm sure I've heard that before. And I believe I looked into it once before as a loophole as well and remember being shut down. May be worth looking into but it would make sense. Just because you can drive a truck that's rated for a combination at 30K without air brakes definately doesn't mean you're legit to drive a rig rated for 105,500 with air.

[RockSet N' Grade]

Hanau......are there any new truck dealers near you? If so, call them and see if they have a certified instructor. They will usually supply a truck and or trailer plus instructor for you to practice and be taught by. They will work around your schedual - evenings or weekends and then test you on the driving part with their rig and instructor. I did it that way and it did not interfere with business, although it took a little longer. In fact, it was kinda fun as I got to "practice" in all different types of trucks/transmissions right out of the dealers yard. Good luck.....grind a gear or two or three... (I still do).

[Mr. Rain]

I'm guessing each state is different, but here in MN, I could carry a cheat sheet/checklist with me to do the pretrip. I still had to know what I was talking about, but no worries as far as remembering everything. At the time, that was the easier part of the road test for me given my very limited time behind the wheel up to that point.

[Summit L & D]

If you have a 1 ton and a 24k gooseneck, you're already into CDL classification. I would get my CDL with that combo and get your Air Brake cert later. Think about this though, why would you forfeit 6 weeks of work to go get your license? What are you really going to save over the long haul? You having your CDL and doing all the deliveries is going to cost you more money over time than paying someone with a license already. I would just get your CDL so that you're legal in your current setup and leave the heavy hauling to someone else. Go sell more work - something your truck driver probably can't do.

[93turbo]

each state may differ but here you do not need air brakes on the truck your taking the test in. Nothing during the driving part has to do with the brakes. Now during the pre trip you have to include all the air brake stuff including how much bleed of your allowed and checking your slack adjusters and all that good stuff including trailer connections. I know cause my sister in law got her class A this way. Just like getting your hazmat and tanker endoresment its just a written test. And like was stated earlier your already in cdl range with a one tone and 24K trailer

[mudmaker]

In MT I got my CDL with my F350 (SRW) and a 20k gvw trailer. Went back with a rented water truck that had air brakes to add the endorsement. The air brake test was just a pre trip and drive around a couple of blocks.

[minimax]

I took my CDL test in my dodge 3500 (srw) and a rented trailer that had a GVW of 16.5K and took the test, I will add the air brake part later with a rented solo truck.

minimax

[Scag48]

I took my CDL test in my dodge 3500 (srw) and a rented trailer that had a GVW of 16.5K and took the test, I will add the air brake part later with a rented solo truck.

minimax

That makes sense, heard that once before. Score the combination with your own rig, then solo an air equipped rig around for the air endorsement.

BTW, you been busy?

[whosedog]

Log off of Lawn Site google The Truckers trucking forum ,become a member,go to section Ask an owner operator and ask away; anything you want to know about trucking you will find expert advise there. I joined this year when my son went to Smith Solomon trucking school,it cost him $2,800 and 8 hours every Sat and Sun for 3 months to go there.He got his class A cdl with air brakes endorsement but no trucking job.With the economy as it is there are a lot of experienced drivers looking for work. My wifes cousin has his own rig, but no work, it's costing him 20,000 a year for insurance and whatnot just to keep his rig parked he's thinking about becoming a landscaper instead!

[RockSet N' Grade]

WhoseDog.......one would think a cdl is still a good thing to have in your pocket. And you are right about the trucking industry......eighty cents to a buck a mile just doesn't pay the bills. Once again, the independents are taking the brunt and getting washed up on shore or dying on the vine slowly. It is brutal out there.

[bobcat_ron]

When the economy tanks and there is too much competition, truckers (no matter what they carry) will suffer.
The company we hire for singles (who bought my brother's Pete truck) walked away after signing the payments over to another trucker with 9 trucks on the road, he literally walked away from a truck he paid $120,000 (and was worth over $150,000 at the time) and now was only worth $40,000 cash.
Now the company that took over the truck has only 2 more years of payments, and it's paid for. Talk about a losing battle.

[Gravel Rat]

For a excavation contractor you need to have a dump truck to move equipment around and haul to your jobs. You can't rely on a owner operator with a truck they can't be exclusive to you. Pretty much every excavation contractor in this area owns a tandem axle dump some own 2 they are paid for in 2 years.

Gravel truck rate is 100 dollars per hour and nobody had undercut the rate. The reason being making any less than 100 dollars per hour you can't make any money. It is cheaper to park your truck if your not going to make 100 per hour. Ruin a supersingle steer tire on a job there goes 1400 dollars.

[DIGitDirt]

I just got my Big class A this morning at 7am!! I got my permit back in March and finially decided to take the test. I have been around the trucking business my whole life though so it was a little unfair for me! It is really not that bad, the pretrip had me worried but I breezed right through it! Now its time to get a bigger dump truck!!! :P

[minimax]

Scag,I have been petty busy for the way thing are,The darn weather is starting to piss me off.Are you running a snowcat this year?You should call eben and ask him about his fingers:nono::hammerhead:,All I will say is that he had a little run in with a table saw:dizzy:. How have you been,still like BIG hoes:laugh:
You can PM me if you want.
minimax

[Hanau]

Congratulations on passing the test Dig!

[stuvecorp]

If Bob wants another 650 or 750 dump, there's one in town. Guy bought it and then went and got a tandem.

[Junior M]

If Bob wants another 650 or 750 dump, there's one in town. Guy bought it and then went and got a tandem.
Only if it costs more than $63k.. :laugh:

[ksss]

I don't believe you can get an air endorsement without taking the test in a truck that has air brakes. The air endorsement is just a written test but it's my understanding that you have to test in a rig that has air if you want the air endorsement. Otherwise everyone would show up in a 1 ton truck tagged for 26,001 and a 15 foot trailer and give it hell.

That is correct. If you want the air brake which you do, rent someones truck to take the test. The pretrip is what gets most people.

[Hollowellreid]

I went to the DMV, took the tests, passed them, signed up for the test, and went and took it in an International 20' flat bed tandem dump with a 20 ton tag trailer. If you have been driving trucks for a while it should be no problem.

Like everyone says, the pre trip kills most people. Be very very thorough and talk about everything you see...