What Kind of Truck Do You Need For The CDL Road Test
Here’s an informative video on what kind of truck you need for a CDL road test. This is a great video to watch because the instructor gets in detail if you decide to take your own truck for the DMV road test. 🚛
If you decide to take your own truck, keep in mind it needs to be over 26,000lbs for it to be considered a CDL test. ✅
If your truck doesn’t have air brakes, it’s fine but you’ll have a restriction on your CDL stating you cannot operate a vehicle with air brakes. ✅
If your truck is automatic, it’s fine you’ll just have a restriction on your CDL that you cannot operate a manual transmission vehicle. ✅
From my own experience as a commercial driver, it’s better to not have any restrictions on your CDL as a contingency plan. Keep in mind if you have a Class A, you can pretty much get a job anywhere in the country making six figures. So it’s better to pay the extra cost to make yourself more flexible and to create more options for yourself in the future. ✅
Any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to drop a comment. ⤵️
https://youtu.be/ZJmf2p6nJAA?si=evn9D6ix46Or5Ns-
#truckdriver #advice #aboutmyjob #motivation #jobsearch #jobcase #career
TWIC CARD
Here’s a video of how you can obtain a TWIC CARD. 🪪
The TWIC CARD is to gain access to high-risk areas and is highly recommended to get even if you don’t use it. There are lots of carriers that will put you at the top of the candidate list just for having a TWIC CARD. I have a TWIC CARD and use it to enter the Long Beach ports. 🚢
Here are the steps I took to get my TWIC CARD ⤵️
Paid $135 fee. ✅
Submit Identification documents and fingerprints to their local processing center which was a Staples when I did it. There’s a list for your area. ✅
Wait for my background check to clear. [I have a conviction for attempted murder from 2004 and I still received TSA clearance.] ✅
It took 3 weeks to get my background cleared and receive my TWIC CARD in the mail. ✅
(FN) I recommend applying for the TWIC CARD soon as you get your CDL in the mail. Once you pass a TSA background check, you are cleared to get your Hazmat endorsement after you pass a hazmat test. ✅
Any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to drop a comment. ⤵️
https://youtu.be/3XfQjBloOr0?si=cW_2-knPH4wpQEad
#truckdriver #career #aboutmyjob #jobcase #career #jobsearch #hiringnews #motivation
Electric Trucks
Here’s a video of the electric truck I use called the BYD. We are the first company to test these trucks in California. Apparently these electric trucks will be mandatory in the ports in 2027. I’m not sure how this will play out, but I believe it will have a negative impact on any company trying to implement them in their operations. 🚛⚡️
I spend the first two hours of my shift charging my trucks to get it to 100%. I’ve gotten stranded twice because my tractor wouldn’t go into drive because the pressure was to low. There is a support line to call, but the support line never answers. It also takes 40% of my battery life to travel 60 miles with a loaded trailer. Another 20-30 percent to drive back with an empty container. Some of these drivers barely make it back with only 13% battery life. 🪫
I can say this is really an interesting experiment this company is implementing. Although I’ve been experiencing negative results, it is fun knowing we are creating history here in California. ✅
Any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to drop a comment. 🤔
Hazmat Loads
If you never delivered a Hazmat load, here’s a video of what the process is like. 🚛
Verify your BOL and Dangerous Goods form match the trailer and seal number. ✅
Verify you have the appropriate placards and place them on all four sides of the trailer. ✅
Verify you have the emergency contact information just in case there’s an accident. ✅
Place your Dangerous Goods form in the Hazmat booklet in the appropriate page where first responders can locate the type of Hazmat you are hauling. ✅
Place the Hazmat booklet on your driver’s side door panel. ✅
Be sure your Hazmat endorsement is valid. Hauling Hazardous material without the endorsement is a crime and you will lose your CDL and possibly face jail time or fines. ✅
Getting your Hazmat endorsement will get you a higher pay rate so I always recommend getting this endorsement. You can get your Hazmat endorsement if you have a felony conviction, it just has to be over 7 years old. I have a felony conviction for attempted murder and was able to get my Hazmat endorsement and TSA clearance. ☣️
Any questions feel free to drop a comment. 🤔
Hours of Service
Here’s a video of the “Hours of Service” a commercial driver must adhere to whenever he/she is on duty. The hours of service are tracked via e-log so there is no way to falsify the drive time. If the DOT or Highway Patrol catches a driver not logging into their e-log, it will go on a driver’s record with potentially losing or suspending their CDL. 🪪
Local drivers generally don’t have to worry about driving over 11 hours, this is mainly for over the road drivers since they get compensated by load or cents per mile. From my own personal experience, my former employer had me falsify my manual logs which I ended up reporting to the FMCSA. I was a new driver and didn’t know the severity of falsifying the driver’s logs. If an employer tells you to falsify your driver’s log, report it to the FMCSA. At the end of the day it’s your responsibility as a commercial driver to know and understand all the federal regulations that come with the trucking industry. So it’s your duty to adhere to them or face the penalties that come with breaking them. 🕰️
*** Lunch Breaks***
This video is addressing lunch breaks in Washington because they tried to enforce a law that forces truck drivers to take their lunch before their 5th hour of their start time. FMCSA enforces and regulates federal laws which trump any state laws. Apparently the FMCSA stepped in and quashed the lunch break law Washington was trying to impose on the trucking industry. 🥗
Now this is interesting because here in California us truck drivers actually do have to take our lunch before the 5th hour. My former employer that I just resigned from actually just got hit with a class action wage claim because of this. For some reason California was able to trump federal law and enact this 5th hour meal break period in the trucking industry. I can tell you from my own personal experience, I get stuck in the ports from time to time for 6-8 hours and it’s impossible for me to take a lunch break before the 5th hour. It can be an inconvenience at times as a truck driver myself. 🚛
What are your thoughts on this meal break period for truck drivers? 🥪 🤔
Union VS. Non-Union
Union vs Non-Union in the trucking industry is the question? For the past two years I’ve been a non-union commercial driver and starting tomorrow I’ll be a Union truck driver being represented by the (Local 1964 International Longshoremen Association). This is a new experience for me, but I can tell you some benefits that are already in effect; are the sign on bonus, compensation, pension, medical and dental insurance, and fixed start times. I also know that if work gets slow I will still get my 40 hours no matter what. My employment is protected. 🚛
This reminds me of the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki when he states that if you’re going to work a regular job make sure it’s Union because it’s protected. New technology can get introduced into an industry and decimate thousands of jobs that are not protected by the Union. Although my plans are to transition into Real Estate in 2024, it’s a good feeling to know my employment is protected for the rest of my life. ✅
What are your thoughts on this video and Union vs. Non-Union commercial drivers? 🤔
https://youtu.be/ibwNgGfgtUM?si=BAkJ7tb7YJwX1oD3
#jobcase #advice #motivation #union #truckdriver #hiringnews
FMCSA DNA Collection
Here’s short video on a topic of the FMCSA allowing employers to have the option of a saliva or urine drug test for their drivers. An anonymous truck driver claims this is an invasion of privacy, but in my opinion it’s not. Urgent care is not collecting and storing the saliva for future use, it’s just another form of a drug screen that’s actually less invasive. This new saliva rule was actually designed to combat the large amount of positive marijuana tests that is causing the driver shortage in the trucking industry. Apparently marijuana is less likely to come out as a false/positive if you’re not a daily user. 🚛
I know if you haul fuel and enter the oil refineries, you have to give a hair sample which actually goes back 3 months. This new rule doesn’t bother me, but I feel the DOT should remove marijuana as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance. Alcohol is a lot more dangerous than marijuana and I feel cannabis should be treated equally to help drivers sleep and relieve stress they may have. But other than that I don’t have any problems with a saliva test. 🔬
How to you feel about this new saliva testing? 🧬
Class B Passenger Endorsement
Here’s a quick video of a Class B passenger endorsement field test at the DMV. 🚌
The other day I decided I wanted to add a passenger endorsement to my Class A CDL so I can have all my endorsements and create more flexibility and value to my CDL. But when I called to make a DMV appointment, it’s not just a written test, I would have to actually take another road test in a bus. So in order to do this I would have to rent a bus and have the owner present with me. To top it off, if I received my endorsements over one year, I would have to take every endorsement all over again. If you’re not into driving big semi-trucks, your best bet is to get your Class B CDL with a passenger endorsement. You can also get your hazmat and tankers endorsement as well. I highly recommend getting all your endorsements to create more flexibility and value to yourself. 💰
Any questions on how to get your CDL feel free to drop a comment and I can tell you the exact steps to take. 🚌🚛
https://youtu.be/UPw97SQN1WQ?si=mqI6p2KqzJamJisQ
#jobsearch #motivation #career #truckdriver #busdriver #cdl #jobcase
In-Cab Pre-Inspection Test
Here’s a 6 minute video on how to properly conduct an in-cab pre-inspection DMV test. You pretty much have to name every functioning piece that is inside the tractor. For every piece you miss, the instructor will deduct points from you. When I did this part of the test, the instructor stopped me halfway and we did the air-brake test. Once I completed the air-brake test, I did the road test. There’s a lot of information to absorb when you’re pursuing your CDL, so be sure to study hard. This video is pretty much what you have to do for the DMV instructor. 🚛