Month: January 2019

While attending truck driver training school at DriveCo CDL Learning Center, you will meet with several trucking companies looking to hire new drivers. Whether you are interested in local, regional, or national (over-the-road – OTR) driving, you will want to make sure you know what each carrier has to offer before you sign a contract.

Finding the Right Match That Meets Your Needs:

There are a variety of different carriers out there looking to hire drivers. Some carriers specialize in local jobs while others work regionally and some work on a national level. Each carrier will also provide different working hours, job locations, benefits, and wages. When speaking to recruiters from these different carriers, you will want to know what questions you need to ask them to ensure that the job they are hiring for is the right fit for you.

So, What Do I Ask These Carriers?

It is best to come prepared with a list of questions that you want to ask the trucking recruiter. This discussion is your prime opportunity to gather information before you decide who you will choose to work with. There are many different things that you will want to know about before committing to work for that specific carrier.

Writing your questions down will help you remember them and ensure you ask them all. Bringing a pen to take notes will help you remember the information if you wish to compare companies later.

While you will have your questions to ask, the following are a sample of 50 questions you will want to consider asking when you are gathering information from a recruiter about a potential trucking job.

Questions to Ask:

  1. How much does it pay?
  2. Is the salary negotiable?
  3. How much can I expect pay to increase over time?
  4. Are there expected raises at specific times?
  5. Will I have to ask for a raise, or will it happen automatically?
  6. How often is my driving record and performance reviewed?
  7. Are there performance incentives for, for example, delivering earlier than anticipated?
  8. What are the benefits associated with working for the company?
  9. Do you offer insurance?
  10. How much of my insurance will I have to pay for?
  11. What about insurance for family members?
  12. Is dental and vision insurance included as part of the package?
  13. How much time will I get at home?
  14. Do I get paid overtime for driving on holidays?
  15. Am I expected to drive on holidays, or can I anticipate being home?
  16. Are there restrictions on when I can use my vacation time?
  17. How many hours per week can I expect to spend on the road?
  18. What is the company policy regarding hours spent driving per day?
  19. What is the company policy on driving in unsafe conditions?
  20. How will my income be impacted due to weather conditions I can’t drive in?
  21. Can I make up lost hours?
  22. How will maintenance on the vehicle be handled?
  23. Am I expected to take cargo in unsafe conditions?
  24. Will I receive funds for relocation, if necessary?
  25. What do other employees have to say about the company?
  26. What’s the best thing about working for the company?
  27. What’s the worst thing about working for the company?
  28. How much employee turnover do you have?
  29. On average, how long do your drivers spend working for your company?
  30. Are there any job advancement opportunities available?
  31. Will the company help with any additional training?
  32. Can I have the job offer in writing?
  33. What does a typical month in the life of a company driver look like?
  34. What are the typical routes driven by drivers for your company?
  35. When can I start working? (You don’t want a job that will make you wait for weeks or months before you start!)
  36. What certifications do I need to work for your company?
  37. Who do I need to reach out to if I need help?
  38. Is there an older driver who can help show me the ropes?
  39. What should I do if there’s an emergency and I need to make a change?
  40. What’s the biggest challenge currently facing your other drivers?
  41. What challenges do drivers face every day?
  42. How are sick days handled?
  43. What if I get so sick on the road that I’m no longer able to drive?
  44. What are the company’s current plans for growth?
  45. How will the company be expanding over the next several years?
  46. What reimbursement exists for expenses on the road?
  47. How soon can I expect to receive reimbursement, if needed?
  48. What documentation do I need to provide as part of my daily job responsibilities?
  49. Is there anything that makes you think that I won’t be a good fit for this job?
  50. What about me makes you think that I would be a good fit for your company?

 

By asking the right questions, you can get the answers you need and determine whether or not this is the job for you. Check out our upcoming Recruiter Events at DriveCo to meet with a carrier you’d like to know more about. If you’re ready to join the trucking industry, but still need that CDL, contact us today!

Updated June 2026
When earning your CDL, it’s important to consider the type of driving you want to do after completing training. Whether you’re planning on being a Class A CDL driver or a Class B CDL driver, you’ll want to determine if there are any endorsements or restrictions needed for your chosen area.

Table of Contents:

Key Differences Between CDL Endorsements and CDL Restrictions

While endorsements and restrictions are both related to CDLs, they serve different purposes. Endorsements are added to a CDL, allowing drivers to operate other vehicle types or transport different types of cargo. By earning endorsements, CDL holders have more job opportunities and can increase their earning potential.

Restrictions are essentially the opposite of endorsements. They limit the types of vehicles that can be driven and kinds of cargo that can be carried. These restrictions are put on CDLs based on multiple factors, but most often it’s due to education levels. Like endorsements though, restrictions can be removed, allowing drivers to take on harder jobs, also increasing their earning potential.

Types of CDL Endorsements

There are six main endorsements that can be added to your commercial driver’s license. Each endorsement is indicated by a letter, typically on the front of the license.

These endorsements are:

  • H (Hazardous Materials): Allows drivers to transport hazardous materials, including chemicals, flammable materials, and other dangerous goods.
  • N (Tanker): Allows drivers to operate transport cargo that is stored within tanks, like liquids and gases. These include water, fuel, cheese, and chocolate.
  • P (Passenger): Allows drivers to operate vehicles that carry 16 or more multiple people, primarily school buses and coach busses.
  • S (School Bus): Allows drivers to operate school buses. Since these drivers will be transporting children, many states many require a background check to earn this endorsement.
  • T (Doubles/Triples): Allows drivers to haul more up to three trailers at a time.
  • X (Combination Hazmat and Tanker): Allows drivers to haul hazardous materials within a tanker vehicle. This is often needed to transport gasoline to gas stations.

In addition to your CDL, these endorsements are required to drive specific vehicles. The requirements for each one may vary from state to state, but each will have its own written knowledge test to pass before receiving it.

Types of CDL Restrictions

Along with endorsements, a CDL can also have restrictions put on it. Some of these restrictions can be removed by earning endorsements, while others may require retesting. Restrictions are also indicated by a letter on the front of the license.
These restrictions are:

  • E (Automatic Transmission): Requires drivers to only operate vehicles with an automatic transmission. It can be removed by passing the CDL skills test in a truck with a manual transmission.
  • K (Intrastate Only): Prevents drivers from operating trucks outside the state in which the license was issued. This restriction typically only applies to drivers under the age of 21.
  • L (No Air Brakes): Prevents drivers from operating vehicles with air brakes. This is applied to the license if the air brake knowledge test is not passed.
  • M (No Class A Passenger Vehicle): Prevents drivers from operating Class A vehicles that transport passengers. This restriction is less common but can be removed by taking the “S” or “P” skills test in a Class A vehicle.
  • N (No Class A and B Passenger Vehicle): Limits drivers to only operating Class C passenger vehicles. These drivers can still operate Class A and Class B vehicles, but they cannot have passengers.
  • O (No Tractor-Trailers): Prohibits drivers from operating Class A vehicles with a fifth-wheel connection. To remove, you’ll need to take the skills test again with a vehicle that has a fifth-wheel connection.
  • P (No Passengers in Vehicle): Prohibits drivers from operating any vehicle that carries 16 or more passengers. This can be removed by passing the skills test in a vehicle that carries passengers.
  • Q (Bus only): Restricts drivers to only operate buses and can be removed by passing the skills test in a vehicle with more than 15 passenger seats.
  • R (Restricted Agricultural CDL Privileges when presented with Seasonal Validation Document): Limits operation of certain commercial vehicles to specific seasons, specifically in agricultural settings.
  • T (Hazmat Prohibited): Prohibits drivers from hauling hazardous materials. This can be removed by earning your hazmat endorsement.
  • X (No Cargo in Tank Vehicle): Prohibits drivers from operating tank vehicles that have cargo in them. This is often confused with the “X” endorsement, which means the opposite.
  • Z (No Full Air Brake): Restricts drivers from operating vehicles that have a full air brake system, limiting the kinds of vehicles a person can drive.

Restrictions are often mixed up with endorsements, so it’s important to pay attention and be mindful when determining what steps are needed to have any of them removed from your CDL.

CDL Training at DriveCo

The kinds of endorsements and restrictions you have on your CDL have a significant influence on the types of vehicles you can drive, impacting the kind of jobs you can do. As you begin your truck driving journey, be sure to think about what you want your career to look like after training, as this can help you determine if extra classes are needed.

At DriveCo, we can help you build a career you’re passionate about, including helping you earn endorsements and remove restrictions so you can build on your skillset and increase your earning potential.

Begin your trucking career with us! Contact our team to get started!

As we ring in 2019, many are looking for ways to better their lives in the new year. One of the best ways to do this is to focus on improving your career! If you’ve been on the hunt for an in-demand field with high-earning potential, you’ll want to consider becoming a professional truck driver.

There are currently about 60,000+ truck driving jobs open throughout the US. That number is only expected to increase in the coming years due to a consistent rise in consumer demand. There’s no better time than now to train for your new career in trucking!

Getting Your CDL Doesn’t Take Long

Getting your CDL is a reasonably quick process, especially when it’s compared to many 2-or-4-year schools that are required to get other jobs with similar pay and benefits. At DriveCo CDL Learning Center, you will be able to complete your Class A CDL program in just a few weeks! As soon as you finish your CDL training and pass your road test, you are ready to begin a new career with high-earning potential and great benefits.

Financial Assistance Offered at DriveCo

We are proud to offer financial assistance options to help students finance their CDL training at DriveCo. In addition to financial assistance, we also accept a host of government-funded programs. Military members and veterans may also be eligible for additional assistance through our financial assistance programs based on their services and qualifications.

Even if you don’t qualify for financial assistance, we have options available to help cover the cost of your CDL training. DriveCo also works with some of the top trucking companies that offer sponsorship training and tuition reimbursement! Our goal is to make getting your CDL as affordable as possible.

Get Hired With Our Job Placement Assistance

After you finish your CDL training at DriveCo, you will have full access to our job placement services! Our job placement assistance team is committed to helping you find a job that is the perfect fit for you. Even if for some reason things don’t work out with your first job after your training, you are also welcome to use our job placement services as a DriveCo graduate! We are always here to help our students find quality employment. There are many large trucking carriers who want to hire our graduates!

Truck Driving Provides Amazing Benefits

Many people are not aware of the great benefits that come along with a career in trucking. Benefits will vary between companies, however, trucking carriers often offer a whole host of benefits in addition to an annual salary.

Some of these benefits may include the following:

  • 40,000+ in annual pay.
  • Full healthcare benefits for the driver and their family.
  • Possible reimbursement for tuition expenses paid out to the driver on a monthly basis. You’ll typically have to sign a 1-year contract with most carriers to get this benefit.
  • 401k and other retirement benefit options.
  • Eligibility for bonuses if performance standards get met.
  • Annual paid vacation time off.

These are just some of the great benefits that carriers often offer their truck drivers. The benefits you receive will depend on which trucking company you chose to work for. The job placement assistance team at DriveCo will teach you how to advocate for yourself to find the best possible fit to meet your needs!

As you can tell, the trucking industry has a lot to offer. So what are you waiting for? Make 2019 the year you start your new career as a professional truck driver! For further information please feel free to contact us at the DriveCo CDL Learning Center! We’ll help you get on your way to a new career today!