Any members with diabetes and you want to be a truck driver, here’s some good information for you.
Truck Drivers with a disability. This is an amazing story of a truck driver that is an amputee. 🚛
This story also amazes me because as a truck driver myself, I had to pass a physical in order to get my CDL.
I will have to research this topic some more and post about it because there are certain health issues that will disqualify you like being a diabetic.
Doubles and Triples endorsement written test. This is really good information if you’re planning to get your endorsements.
*** Protect Your Driving Privileges***
From my own personal experience as a Commercial Driver I see truck drivers getting pulled over every day by the California Highway Patrol. There are a variety of reasons why, and the most common reason is speeding. What might seem like a minor infraction can actually be a little more serious and possibly the kiss of death for a CDL holder.
The CA Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 22406.1 Speed Laws states, “A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway at a speed exceeding a posted speed limit established under this code by 15 miles per hour or more, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”
Another offense that carries hefty fines and penalties is California Vehicle Code Section 35551(a) VC, having an overweight vehicle is a criminal offense that can carry significant penalties. According to Vehicle Code § 42030(a), the fines start out small. For up to 1,000 pounds over the weight limit for a single axle, the fine is as low as $20 before fees are added. A fine for a typical overweight truck can range from five hundred ($500) to the thousand dollars.
Whether a commercial driver neglects or is completely blind to these laws, the driver must seek legal representation and not make attempt to fight these allegations by representing themselves. Commercial drivers cannot go to traffic school to eliminate any points like a regular Class C drivers license holder. Having legal representation can save your career and reduce to misdemeanor to an infraction. Commercial drivers are held to higher standards so it’s imperative to protect these driving privileges.
I’m fortunate enough to work for a company that offers legal assistance for $30 a week in the event something happens. Not all companies offer this service, but if you happen to get a traffic ticket seek legal assistance. ⚖️
Class C (CDL)
I was driving on the freeway the other day and I noticed a Class C tanker. I took a picture to show members in the trucking community that it is possible to get a Class C with a Hazmat and Tankers endorsement.
Although this driver wasn’t hauling hazmat there are jobs out there that pay $22-$25 per hour. The beauty of this is that in California you are required to get compensated overtime after 8 hours because this CDL doesn’t fall under federal DOT regulations. The length, weight, and interstate transportation of cargo makes a driver fall under federal guidelines. So this will be easy money for anyone that does not want to drive humongous semi trucks. 🚛
Here are the California DMV questions and answers for a Class A CDL air brake endorsement test. These apply to any state, but you can always YouTube the state you live in.
Certifications & Endorsements
If you want to earn top dollar as a commercial driver you’ll have to get all your endorsements and certifications. These endorsements carry extra responsibilities, but they are definitely worth it. I currently have all my endorsements that allow me to make 100k annually. I have my hazmat, tankers, doubles & triples, and my TWIC card. All these endorsements not only make me more money, they also make me more valuable and flexible to all companies in the trucking industry.
But there is one certification that you cannot get through the DMV and that is an “Overweight Certificate”. This certification is through any company that hauls overweight. A company that deals with overweight will train and certify you as well as provide an overweight tractor that has to have (4 axles). Overweight is considered anything over 59,000lbs and you must adhere to any special routes/corridors enforced by the city. I was a little nervous when I got my first overweight load, but after my first haul I realized it’s no different than any other load and was actually quicker and a lot more convenient transporting out of the ports.
Although I haul hazmat and overweight weekly it varies day by day, but when I do I make $60 per hour. These incentives vary from state to state and carrier to carrier, but I work for a really good company that takes care of their employees. I make a decent salary by making myself more valuable and taking the time and effort to get certified. If you are looking to get your CDL feel free to ask any questions.
(FN) I have attached a photo of my semi hauling an overweight load out of the Long Beach ports In California. 🚛🚢
High Center of Gravity
Yesterday when I was en route to my destination to deliver a load I encountered some traffic that was caused by a commercial driver. He was going to fast getting off the ramp which caused his truck to tip over. If the speed limit is 35mph going off the ramp you should go 25mph, especially if you have a loaded container. Semi trucks have a high center of gravity which makes it easier for it to tip over.
Drivers tend to get complacent or are in a rush and forget the basic fundamentals of driving a semi. This man was lucky no one was injured or died at the scene. It’s also very likely he will get fired and have this on his record for 50 years if it is declared a major accident. If his driving record has no violations he will be able to salvage his career and work for another company in a few months. For any drivers out there, take your time and get to your destination without any incidents. Everyone has a family they want to get home to and we are responsible for that when we are on the road.
Commercial Driver Salaries
There are several ways commercial drivers can be compensated, but I will discuss the three main salaries drivers look for in their job search.
(Pay per mile), often listed as CPM (cents per mile) is one of the most common types of pay across the trucking industry. CPM is generally for Over The Road drivers that generally driver 300-700 on a daily bases. I have seen companies offer anywhere from 65 cents a mile to $5.00 a mile. These drivers tend to drive 2,500 miles a week minimum.
(Pay Per Load) is the least common type of driver base pay, it is generally best suited to carriers specializing in agriculture, oil, and gas industries, or local deliveries. With this pay scale, your drivers earn a flat rate of pay for each load they deliver regardless of hours or miles. Pay Per Load is used in the ports and can be good or be bad depending on the wait times at the ports.
(Hourly Pay) is a familiar standard in many industries, it’s not quite so common in trucking. Hourly pay is typically utilized by intrastate carriers that deliver their goods from point to point within a range of 150 miles or less from their hub. This pay structure is often offered by grocery chains, and retail chains of warehousing businesses such as UPS, and FedEx. Companies that offer hourly work often expect more from their drivers than just driving. Typical responsibilities include loading and unloading freight, direct customer interactions, and multiple stops per run.
I personally get paid hourly and I wouldn’t accept any other payment type for lots of reasons I have experienced with my own eyes. Pay Per Mile and Pay Per Load drivers always seem to be in a rush and stressed out when we get delayed inside the ports. They drive reckless and do not take lunches because they just want to make as much money as possible. I don’t ever want to put safety before money because someone can get seriously injured or die because a driver wants to be in a rush. I can always tell how a driver gets compensated by the way they drive.
As a commercial driver how would you want to get paid?
DON'T MISS YOUR FLIGHT IN LIFE! Love Yourself. [IBYC]
I'm telling you the truth...
People, sometimes we miss their flight in life..!
Don't let this happen to you.
We're so busy doing everything else of least importance. For example, taking care of matters on TV, family, friends, extended relatives, fights, arguments which can rob our value of of time.
So, let's slow it down a little bit. Okay, slower, slower, slower, and slow. Now, guess what? You actually missed out on yourself.
Who you were suppose to become? What about the relationship between you and your husband or wife?
Don't miss your flight in life of learning about YOU! What your dreams are? What your promises are?
When you remember your "inner self" then, everything else will fall-in-place for you.
I Believe You Can...!
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