getting CDL any pointers?

[homersipes]

Been driving our hydro-fracking truck which is a 5/2 split with airbrakes for the past couple weeks, my boss asked if I would be interested in getting my class B CDL. need tanker endorsement also for our tanker trucks.  any suggestions or tips?  I already have a medical card, which is how I been driving frack truck, GVWR under 26k.

[Volron]

A few questions: Will your company be training you?  Will your company provide a vehicle for taking the driving portion of the exam?  Will you be reimbursed for it or will it fall on your dime?  Is there a specific DPS location your company takes their employee's for obtaining there CDL's, or can you just go to any DPS location?

As for taking the actual exam, study EVERYTHING in the Class B section.  It does NOT matter if it will not apply to your job.  I got my CDL for driving buses, but almost every single question given for the written pertained to tractor-trailers.  Good thing I studied up on it all.  2 folks in my class failed it because they didn't and had to come in later on that week and pass or lose their job (company I work for gives you 1 chance if you fail on first go).

As for your hazmat endorsement, I couldn't say.  I believe that one will cost you though.  I'd call and ask.

Be ready for the weight of the heavier vehicles.  26k is light and even the weights I'm driving in are light compared to others.  When I went from the standard 40ft bus to the 60ft articulated bus, I felt the weight for a week.  19tons to 31tons is a slight jump.

[homersipes]

yeah they pay for everything and provide the truck to test with.  got my cdl book yesterday now time to read   Yeah our drill rigs are a lot bigger than the frack truck I have been driving, and 1 of our big tankers is an automatic, which is different to drive.

[Volron]

Study, then study some more.  After you feel you have it down, study again.   And hope you get an instructor that's decent or your driving exam may prove to be a bit of a pain.   One thing to note, if you think people cut in front of you a lot now, wait until you are driving those larger, heavier vehicles.   You'll notice, if you have not already, that most people are complete retards around larger vehicles.   They don't realize that all that safety in their vehicle amounts to jack vs something MUCH bigger than them.

If your company doesn't have them, to protect yourself, you may want to get a dash cam as well.  Could save you a lot of headache.  Just remember it's a double edged sword.  I'd check with company regulations and what-not first though.

[Buzzard7]

Go for your A. Get hazmat and tank.
Yes, most people don't realize or care that you outweigh them by huge amounts.

We haul up to 46 tons in our semi trucks.

[Volron]

IF his company is willing to train him for the A, then by all means, I agree.  Get the A.  Talk to your boss, and see if it's possible if you can go for your A, if your company drives A class vehicles (which sounds like they do).

There is one bit of advice I should've mentioned sooner though, no matter what class/endorsements you get, DO NOT LET THEM GO.  I know guys I work with that have let their Class A's with the H, N, T, X and T endorsements go.   Don't want to close doors after all.

[ozrocker]

Memorize your PTI's
When you take your check ride, use the clutch. (Out of 1st & Reverse is only time I normally used unless testing).
Biggest thing- DON"T HIT ANYTHING
Good Luck.


                                                                                                                                    Oz

[Slate]

   When backing up on road test you have to stop truck and get out and walk behind truck to check if it's clear. (when I took it in NJ 20+ years ago, may be different now) Also they want you to do a pretrip inspection of the vehicle. The official just stood there taking notes as I described what I was inspecting, slack adjusters, tires, hoses, ect.
    For the hazmat you will be fingerprinted and background checked. Study the test booklets they will give you at the DMV.

      Good luck 

[Dragon]

The driving test is just driving.  The rest of the test, walkaround and all the ridiculous questions are the brain draining aspect.  If available, get the A.

[jeep00]

Good luck, study hard, learn the mechanicals, it is a bit intensive. I wsh auto license was half as thorough. Back when I had a Vermont license, it allowed you to legally drive everything except schoolbus and motorcycle. I drove a propane truck for a while.

[WWhiskey]

If they will let you,, go for the class A,,,  get all endorsements and keep them!!!
Hazmat pays better an there are a lot more companies hiring for hazmat in case your job goes south!
The written tests will be mostly about class A anyway so no reason not to get it,,, unless your job doesn't want to go that route,IE they won't furnish a tractor trailer
I got it all back in 1983 but let my hazmat go,, now it's a pain in the butt to get,,,  have fun stay safe and keep it out of the ditches!

[homersipes]

  thanks, if I understand, the class A is with a trailer and the class B is not?  I don't plan on letting any go once I get them   There are  abunch of companies looking for drivers here, just in case.  My mother in law drives a school bus and she said the worst part of the test is the pre trip

[eagl]

Don't let them sucker you into being an instructor.  My little brother drove interstate for a year and they suckered him into being an instructor by offering a tiny bit more pay.  I think he lost all of the extra pay in one second when his trainee let the clutch grab and backed into a pole.  The stress of instructing contributed to his total of around 60 lbs weight gain before he quit.  He might not have quit if he hadn't been teaching.

[mbailey]

  One thing to note, if you think people cut in front of you a lot now, wait until you are driving those larger, heavier vehicles.  You'll notice, if you have not already, that most people are complete retards around larger vehicles.  They don't realize that all that safety in their vehicle amounts to jack vs something MUCH bigger than them.
 

I could never understand this....why in the name of god would I want to cut in front of something that could make me into something akin to a crushed beercan in less than 5 seconds.........  I drive alot for work, and i see it all the time, just cant wrap my head around some people. You guys have my respect having to deal with all the dipchits on the road these days.

[ghi]

Get class A,  buy a truck ; the contractors in oilfields are making more $$ than any equipment operators. I noticed a huge oilfields development over past 2-3 years south of San Antonio to Laredo,Tx.along I-35 and also in North Dakota and jobs posted along the roads on billboards.