Anybody got a CDL?

[JohnTRourke]

thinking about getting one (some for my business, some for "backup" in case the business goes down the tubes)

thoughts, comments

[HunterCO]

I have one it's kind of a pain in the butt. I have a class A with all the enorsements (doubles, triples, tanker) except hazmat. To keep a hazmat endorsement you must take the test every time you renew your license. I gave up the hazmat last time I renewed my license. In order to get a hazmat endorsement now you must submit finger prints and they do a full FBI background check on you. The whole homeland security crap so it takes about 3 months to get the endorsement back. If I would have know they were going to do that I would have not let it go.

You must get a DOT physical every 2 years and you can not renew your license unless you have a current phsyical. Also a CDL is only good for 5 years not 10 like normal drivers licenses.

One last thing they have really cracked down on what they call major traffic offenses. If you get two major traffic offenses in any vehicle period you loose your CDL for life. If you have had two major traffic offenses in the past you can not get a CDL. Do an internet search on that and you will see what they consider major DUI is one of them.

If you have any specific question just ask.

Edit to add: You also can only go to certain DMV's to renew a CDL.

[car-15]

there is good money in it, but alot of companys are cutting back now with the cost of fuel, one plus is you cannot be made to work more than 60 hours/week. I have been driving since 1994 and currently drive single/doubles up and down I-25 and hwy 87 between raton and clayton n.m. its not a bad gig this time of year, but the winters can be fun. and the cdl is good for only 4 years. if you can get on with someone and get some experence, the sky is the limit on pay. the company I work for is out of englewood, and they start at 36-40K/ year with no experence, and i'm home everyday by 5:00pm and get 3 day weekends.

[HunterCO]

Well I am glad you made this thread Brian first of car-15 is correct it is only four years. Last but not least mine expired 4-3-08 I just noticed

I also just found out you have to do the background check for hazmat endorcement every time you renew your license and its $94. I guess its a good thing I let hazmat go.

First thing in the morning I have my DOT physical then it's off to DMV to get my license renewed. Hell this weekened is the Red River MC rally that would have really sucked if I got pulled over only to find out I technically have no license.

I do not keep my physicals up to date since I am not driving. I don't want to let my CDL go because they are tuff to get and it always gives me another option if needed. I got mine 20 years ago when there was no such thing as CDL it was just a class A. I was grandfathered in and only had to take the writen tests to convert over to a CDL.

Now for my rant: If you have a cdl and hazmat endorcement this is what it costs.

Every 4 years: $35 to DMV
Every 2 years: $70 for DOT physical
Every 4 years: $94 background check

Since I am not getting hazmat it is going to cost me $105 tomarrow for a frigging drivers license.

[reddevil1111]

I obtained my CDL about a year and a half ago. I have endorcements as well (tanker and hazmat.) I think there is less money to be made in it than most say. If you are OTR and have a home/family, You pay a lot out of pocket to live OTR in addition to paying the bills at home.
If you can live in the truck and drive a lot, you can earn a lot. Being a local driver can pay well but most companies want you to have OTR time.
If you don't need hazmat,skip it as its a bigger pain in the ass than you want. The DOT sits on your face a lot more and your roadside/scale inspections are more detailed. (not to mention fines are bigger if you break a law)
I went to work for an oil company on the western slope. Pay was similar to a lot of my jobs at 45k per year including per diem and mileage paid for going to/from the slope for work. I worked every 2 weeks, and recived 2 weeks off.(travel was on my time off and yeah,they worked all of us like dogs)
I was injured on the job and the fight is horrible to recive care(thats another story though) If you dont get hurt and can stand the weather and jerks you work with, the job is not really that hard.
I drilled water 8 years ago and the oil job was a joke compared to it. However,I did lose 30% of my knee cartalidge and was forced to work injured. That pretty much sucked.
Driving a big rig is easy after you get used to its size.If you can't pay attention or forget things easily, or if you drive a car sloppy,dont get the CDL or you might kill someone.(maybe even yourself) If you plan to go OTR and get a CDL as you drive(swift ect.) remember the contract binds you for a year minimum. You might want to try the oil job as it pays more and after a year you dont owe them for the CDL. PM me if you want details. Its not a great job but what is now a days?

[pickenup]

Have had mine for a long time. Don't drive for anyone else anymore, but I kept it .....just in case........ya know. A clean record and a CDL is "almost" a guaranteed job, anywhere in the country. It may not be the best hours, pay, or the ideal conditions or truck, but it's work. And once your rollin, you can always look for a better job.

This was years ago, but more than once, I went into a town that I had never been in before, and was working the very next day.

Last time the wife renewed hers, it was through the mail, and good for 10 years. For a variety of reasons, I just might let mine go next time.

[Great-Kazoo]

Now for my rant: If you have a cdl and hazmat endorcement this is what it costs.

Every 4 years: $35 to DMV
Every 2 years: $70 for DOT physical
Every 4 years: $94 background check


thats why i stick my money in tax stamps.
something you might consider young man

[robsterclaw]

I have mine, but never use it. I've kept it up for the last 16 years because like the others said, it's almost a guaranteed job to fall back on. The dot physical is hard to pass if you have high blood pressure. I didn't know it, but I have high blood pressure now. I failed my physical last month, but they gave me a 90 day physical card. So at least I was able to get my license.