Question about CDL

[BlancoNino]

I've been interested in perhaps being a UPS/Fedex/Whatever shipping service driver. Not a truck driver, but the guy who drives the high-cube van around and delivers to houses. I hear it's a good paying job and it could reallly help pay for my college.

Do I need a CDL? I've heard sometimes they require...if so, what different classes of CDL are there?

 

[olds]

You'll need a B

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You'll need a B

And what do I have to demonstrate/test for to get that? I won't have to drive a big semi to pass the test will I?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You'll need a B

And a burning desire to be whipped and worked like a mule pulling a plow in a field in Cambodia.

Those drivers are timed per piece, per stop, per minute for an entire route. The truck is GPS equipped. The scanner used to scan packages uploads your exact time b/t stops every time you put it in the cradle.

You MUST finish your route by a certain time or else. If you get finished early, they expect you to go back for more. Good luck with that, dude.

ps
If you work for UPS, remember this, please: "This Side Up" on a box does not mean "Step on This Side With Both Feet." OK?

 

[j00fek]

you will have to wait about 10-20 yrs to get into ups as a driver, start now

usps no idea same with fedex

 

[olds]

There is a driving portion, yes.
No you don't need a "big semi"
I believe the weight is 26,001.
<--- Has A with TXM1 endorsements

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
There is a driving portion, yes.
No you don't need a "big semi"
I believe the weight is 26,001.
<--- Has A with TXM2 endorsements

Please explain your special skills that merit you this license with many alphanumeric characters attached.

<---Has Class C with M endorsement!

 

[xanis]

I don't think you need a CDL for the high-cube vans, but probably for the semis you would.

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: j00fek
you will have to wait about 10-20 yrs to get into ups as a driver, start now

usps no idea same with fedex

I saw an ad in the paper saying Fedex was looking for a driver

"Must have CDL or 1 year experience"

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: Xanis
I don't think you need a CDL for the high-cube vans, but probably for the semis you would.

I didn't think you would legally need one either.

 

[Steve]

IIRC the FedEx 'bread truck' with the orange and purple logos are company owned, while the green and purple are privately owned, something like that. FWIW.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
There is a driving portion, yes.
No you don't need a "big semi"
I believe the weight is 26,001.
<--- Has A with TXM2 endorsements

Please explain your special skills that merit you this license with many alphanumeric characters attached.

<---Has Class C with M endorsement!

That should have been M1...
I have a class A with doubles/triples, tanker, Haz Mat and motorcycle endorsements.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I believe the box vans don't require any special endorsement, I didn't need one when I drove a 24' Ryder truck. I think class B comes into effect when you get into vehicles with air brakes and, as someone above said, above 26,000LBs GVWR, and class A when they are trailers instead of a single chassis.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
There is a driving portion, yes.
No you don't need a "big semi"
I believe the weight is 26,001.
<--- Has A with TXM2 endorsements

Please explain your special skills that merit you this license with many alphanumeric characters attached.

<---Has Class C with M endorsement!

That should have been M1...
I have a class A with doubles/triples, tanker, Haz Mat and motorcycle endorsements.

Wow. Your license sound like a menu at a burger joint. The "Haz Mat" has Jalapeno peppers on it.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I believe the box vans don't require any special endorsement, I didn't need one when I drove a 24' Ryder truck. I think class B comes into effect when you get into vehicles with air brakes and, as someone above said, above 26,000LBs GVWR, and class A when they are trailers instead of a single chassis.

Fed Ex is the one requiring the CDL

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I believe the box vans don't require any special endorsement, I didn't need one when I drove a 24' Ryder truck. I think class B comes into effect when you get into vehicles with air brakes and, as someone above said, above 26,000LBs GVWR, and class A when they are trailers instead of a single chassis.

I just drove a 24' Budget (formerly Ryder) truck to and from UMass with my Class D (IL) and it had air brakes. Perhaps requirements vary by state?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I believe the box vans don't require any special endorsement, I didn't need one when I drove a 24' Ryder truck. I think class B comes into effect when you get into vehicles with air brakes and, as someone above said, above 26,000LBs GVWR, and class A when they are trailers instead of a single chassis.

Fed Ex is the one requiring the CDL

Ahh. That probably reduces thier insurance rate. Since having a CDL means "this driver atleast has more training."

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: sm8000

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I believe the box vans don't require any special endorsement, I didn't need one when I drove a 24' Ryder truck. I think class B comes into effect when you get into vehicles with air brakes and, as someone above said, above 26,000LBs GVWR, and class A when they are trailers instead of a single chassis.

I just drove a 24' Budget (formerly Ryder) truck to and from UMass with my Class D (IL) and it had air brakes. Perhaps requirements vary by state?

The ones on the Ryder were "air assited", not true air brakes. With true air brakes you need to treat them differently. I've heard that if you ride air brakes, you can bleed the resivour and cause the brakes to lock up.

 

[notfred]

Do you live in California? If so, then you'll probably need a California Driver's License. If you mean something else, then use fewer acronyms, especially when they're obscure.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: notfred
Do you live in California? If so, then you'll probably need a California Driver's License. If you mean something else, then use fewer acronyms, especially when they're obscure.

CDL=Commercial Drivers License.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: sm8000

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I believe the box vans don't require any special endorsement, I didn't need one when I drove a 24' Ryder truck. I think class B comes into effect when you get into vehicles with air brakes and, as someone above said, above 26,000LBs GVWR, and class A when they are trailers instead of a single chassis.

I just drove a 24' Budget (formerly Ryder) truck to and from UMass with my Class D (IL) and it had air brakes. Perhaps requirements vary by state?

The ones on the Ryder were "air assited", not true air brakes. With true air brakes you need to treat them differently. I've heard that if you ride air brakes, you can bleed the resivour and cause the brakes to lock up.

That could be it, then.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: sm8000

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I believe the box vans don't require any special endorsement, I didn't need one when I drove a 24' Ryder truck. I think class B comes into effect when you get into vehicles with air brakes and, as someone above said, above 26,000LBs GVWR, and class A when they are trailers instead of a single chassis.

I just drove a 24' Budget (formerly Ryder) truck to and from UMass with my Class D (IL) and it had air brakes. Perhaps requirements vary by state?

The ones on the Ryder were "air assited", not true air brakes. With true air brakes you need to treat them differently. I've heard that if you ride air brakes, you can bleed the resivour and cause the brakes to lock up.

I concur.
Air brakes have a spring in them. With no air in the system, the spring sets the brakes. As air builds up, it overcomes the spring, releasing the brake. If you lose too much air, the spring sets the brakes.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
There is a driving portion, yes.
No you don't need a "big semi"
I believe the weight is 26,001.
<--- Has A with TXM2 endorsements

Please explain your special skills that merit you this license with many alphanumeric characters attached.

<---Has Class C with M endorsement!

That should have been M1...
I have a class A with doubles/triples, tanker, Haz Mat and motorcycle endorsements.

sounds like what my dad has, only without the motorcycle part.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
There is a driving portion, yes.
No you don't need a "big semi"
I believe the weight is 26,001.
<--- Has A with TXM2 endorsements

Please explain your special skills that merit you this license with many alphanumeric characters attached.

<---Has Class C with M endorsement!

That should have been M1...
I have a class A with doubles/triples, tanker, Haz Mat and motorcycle endorsements.

sounds like what my dad has, only without the motorcycle part.

How old are you? Maybe I am your dad.