Class A CDL License?? What about Hazmat?

[debilorrah]

Bus drivers only need a class B. Class A slaps a label on your back that says DO NOTHING WRONG EVER. No traffic school if you get a ticket, get bused DUI and your license is gone for 3 times as long as a normal C license would be, etc.

Class B you can driver local transit buses and school buses.

 

[Karrie13]

My DH has his Class A with Tanker, double/triple and HAZMAT. I will tell you I wasn't happy about his choice to be an OTR driver but the pay is a lot more than he was making before. He hauls gas, ethanol, diesel, and so forth for a decent sized company. He gets home every weekend BUT he put's in close to the max allowed hours each week which is 70. That includes loading and such too.

The company he works for pays a set rate for loaded miles. Like 200-300 miles is $xxx.xx, they don't publish how much they pay and his statements are somewhat confusing. Most of the other companies pay a set rate per mile driven, which normally equals out to more than his set rate. Pay really depends on the area he is driving and how much he works and who gets the lucky load but annually he was quoted $50,000 - 65,000.

The hard part? Being away as much as he is, missing out a lot on the kids, and me needing to do everything. By the time the weekend rolls around I am tired. He gets more sleep than I do and doesn't have to deal with the day to day business, that I wouldn't give up for anything but would love to share some of the responsibility. And I just plain miss him.

ETA... he has only been doing this job for a couple months.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I drive a school bus, been at it for 22 yrs, for time i put in I get payed very good, plus the company i work for pays for your license, health card and testing, and unemployment in the summer, time for odd jobs too

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

A family member drives over the road, long-haul. He's worked for himself and as a company man. He made a good living at it but is currently just coming back after his 3rd surgery on his low back. He now has 3 fused vertebrae and is 2" shorter than he used to be. He has never had a driving accident. However, he hurt his back unloading. Re-hurt it unloading 2 years later. Then hurt it again, this time while shifting some freight inside the trailer after a partial unload last year. He still drives but is always in pain. Some days he can barely walk. Oh, and he's only 40.

HTH


Rusty

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

DH did this after he got laid off. He lasted two months. I HATED it. Very little of it was what was promised. He was gone really long stretches, far longer than they had promised. He got his runs with less than 6 hours notice. So 6 hours notice he would be gone for a week. Did I mention I hated it?

Long hours stuck somewhere not earning any money.

Luckily he got a better offer back in his original field.

The other day he got pulled over speeding. The officer was lecturing him (it was new years and DH was stone cold sober.) then he looked at DHs license. DH swears he was going to lecture him and give him a warning until he saw he had a CDL. The cop said, "Oh this is a CDL." Then gave him a ticket!

So, do any of you know exactly what does this mean besides points and a fine?? He's not trucking right now, but how long will it keep him from being able to if he wanted to?? He's got a great job now so its not likely, it just bothered him.

 

[redhen]

This doesnt sound like its going to be good...

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

I have a class B, tanker and air brakes. I don't want the class A. I just don't want to drive a semi truck or work away from home. I have a local job driving a water truck. Most construction companies employ water truck drivers. The class B has job opportunities too, I get paid hourly and am home every night. I see postings on Craigslist for class B drivers almost as much as for A. CDL B plus tanker with hazmat can get you into propane, fuel oil, medical oxygen etc. Those are often local routes. Foodservice companies that deliver to restaurants, produce companies etc. are good options for local routes.

The license has more restrictions. I've noticed that the police think twice about issuing tickets to CDL drivers since they know their jobs are on the line. But, you should be a good driver in general. If you get tickets or fender benders those things carry a lot more weight when you are a commercial driver. In our state, the legal limit restriction for alcohol is much lower than for regular drivers, even when in your personal vehicle.

I didn't spend any money on school for the class B. I studied the DMV manual and got a permit. I had to have a licensed commercial driver with me while I got the hang of it. I had a friend help me but otherwise I would have hired someone. Ask around and I bet you could find someone willing to sit in the passenger seat for you for a reasonable fee. You might practice by renting commercial trucks /equipment and familiarizing yourself with different tranny patterns that way. My total expense to get the license was about $600 including vehicle rental and license fees. I spent about 1 month studying and 3 days in the truck with a friend + 1 day in a rental truck I used to take the test. I only did that because I needed to learn a difficult transmission. Otherwise I would have rented the truck with automatic tranny for 1-2 days and practiced and tested all in one. I have been driving for 4 years now, not too much investment for a useful skill.

Good luck, hope it works out!

 

[GaNewChick]

Honestly ... if he doesn't have too ~ don't. My husband has been driving for going on 30 years. Both company driver and as an owner operator. I spent 2 years over the road with him. His brother drives, my father 'n law drives, his uncles drive. Its long hours, bad on your hearing, bad on your back. The only exception would be local and home every night ... in my opinion.

How is his driving record ... has he ever had a DUI, any felony (no matter how small) ~ insurance companies are very picky these days. A couple of speeding tickets/at fault accident/red light in the last 3 to 7 years would probably disqualify him.

My husband is a heavy hauler ~ legal weight is 80,000 lbs. He normally weighs between 145,000 to 150,000 lbs.

 

[TMNTCkins]

This is one of the loads husband hauled a few months ago. I have a hard time just pulling our 2 horse trailer

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
that's why I will not get class A, dealing with school kids in a bus, is bad enough