FAQ

What is a CDL A?

Class A CDL (Commercial Drivers License):

Any combination of vehicles with a GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. (Holders of a class A license may, with any approproate endorsements and/or permits, operate all vehicles within class B).

What is a CDL B?

Class B CDL (Commercial Drivers License):

Any single vehicle with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR. Attend Allstate to get your class B CDL in CT.

What kind of jobs require a CDL A?

Graduates can operate a vehicle over 26,000lbs and/or pull a trailer over 10,000lbs. This will put you in great demand. As an asset to numerous businesses within the state, or across the country, you will have the ability to apply to companies in the career areas of:

Medical Supplies/Oxygen Delivery, Beverage Delivery, Oil/Gas Delivery, Warehouse Material Distribution, Construction, Cities/Towns, Environmental, Dairy, Transit, Garbage/Recycling, Food/Water Distribution…

Jobs that require a CDL A license can be full time and part time. This gives you the option to make a profitable career out of commercial driving, or you can save money to pay for your college costs. As you will find there are many different choices you have concerning the type of job, the work environment, and work schedule. You can be home every day only working during the hours you prefer, or travel during the week and come home on the weekends. There are jobs that require lifting or no lifting. Some positions involve working as a team with other drivers and others entail driving alone with no boss over your shoulder.

What kind of jobs require a CDL B?

Graduates can operate a vehicle over 26,000 lbs.

This will put you in great demand as an asset to numerous businesses within the state.

Driver opportunities become available for any CDL “B” Allstate graduate 18 years of age or older where you can earn great wages and still be home every day.. Allstate graduates have been hired at:

Cityline Distributors Poland Springs GrayBar Lowe’s Amerigas Guidas Dairy and more….

Jobs that require a CDL B license can be full time and part time. This gives you the option to make a profitable career out of commercial driving, or you can save money to pay for your college costs. As you will find there are many different choices you have concerning the type of job, the work environment, and work schedule. You can be home every day only working during the hours you prefer. There are jobs that require lifting or no lifting. Some positions involve working as a team with other drivers and others entail driving alone with no boss over your shoulder. Wherever you see yourself as a professional truck driver Allstate is here to help you get there.

What is the demand for CDL A Drivers?

Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

(source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos246.htm#outlook)

Employment

The truck transportation industry employed 26 percent of all truck drivers and driver/sales workers in the United States. Another 25 percent worked for companies engaged in wholesale or retail trade. The remaining truck drivers and driver/sales workers were distributed across many industries, including construction and manufacturing.

Around 9 percent of all truck drivers and driver/sales workers were self-employed. Of these, a significant number were owner-operators who either served a variety of businesses independently or leased their services and trucks to a trucking company.

Job Outlook

Overall job opportunities should be favorable for truck drivers, although opportunities may vary greatly in terms of earnings, weekly work hours, number of nights spent on the road, and quality of equipment. Competition is expected for jobs offering the highest earnings or most favorable work schedules. Average growth is expected.

Employment Change
Overall employment of truck drivers and driver/sales workers is expected to increase by 8 percent over the 2006-16 decade, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations, due to growth in the economy and in the amount of freight carried by truck. Because it is such a large occupation, truck drivers will have a very large number of new jobs arise, over 258,000 over the 2006-16 period. Competing forms of freight transportation—rail, air, and ship transportation—require trucks to move the goods between ports, depots, airports, warehouses, retailers, and final consumers who are not connected to these other modes of transportation. Demand for long-distance drivers will remain strong because they can transport perishable and time-sensitive goods more effectively than alternate modes of transportation.

Job Prospects
Job opportunities should be favorable for truck drivers. In addition to growth in demand for truck drivers, numerous job openings will occur as experienced drivers leave this large occupation to transfer to other fields of work, retire, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Jobs vary greatly in terms of earnings, weekly work hours, the number of nights spent on the road, and quality of equipment. There may be competition for the jobs with the highest earnings and most favorable work schedules. There will be more competition for truck driver jobs with local carriers than for those with long-distance carriers because of the more desirable working conditions of local carriers

How long is the CDL A good for?

A Connecticut commercial driver's license (CDL) is good for four years. Within 60 days of your renewal date you should receive a renewal application from the Department of Motor Vehicles through the U.S. Mail. You need to renew your CDL in person at any Connecticut DMV full-service office. Bring the following items with you in order to complete the renewal process:

Your current CDL (If you do not have your current CDL, you must present two acceptable forms of identification.

Original U.S. Department of Transportation Medical Certificate (completed and dated within two years of renewal).

The renewal application form that you received in the mail.

$60 ($108 if you have a public passenger endorsement or restriction).

How long is a CDL B good for?

Your current CDL (If you do not have your current CDL, you must present two acceptable forms of identification.
Original U.S. Department of Transportation Medical Certificate (completed and dated within two years of renewal).
The renewal application form that you received in the mail.
$60 ($108 if you have a public passenger endorsement or restriction).

What is a Tanker Endorsement?

A Tank Endorsement is required for certain vehicles that transport liquids or gases in a permanently mounted cargo tank rated at 119 gallons or more, or a portable tank rated at 1,000 gallons or more. The liquid or gas does not have to a hazardous material. To obtain a Tank Endorsement, you need to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and pass a 10 question, multiple choice computer exam. The information can be found in the Connecticut Commercial Driver's Manual, Section VIII.

What is a Hazmat Endorsement?

A Hazmat Endorsement must be obtained by any CDL driver if driving vehicles carrying hazardous materials, which require placards. Hazardous materials are products that pose a risk to health, safety, and property during transportation. These materials include explosives, various gases, solds, flammable and combustible liquid, and others. To obtain a HAZMAT Endorsement you must pass a written test about the regulations and requirements at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The test consists of 10 multiple choice questions. As well as passing the test, you will need to pass a security threat assessment. The Hazmat Threat Assessment Program involves a fingerpront based criminal history record check, an immigration check and intelligence-related check on any individual who wishes to apply for, renew, or transfer a Hazardous Materials Endorsement on their CDL. You can register through on online application at www.hazprints.com or call toll free at (877) 429-7746. The information can be found in the Connecticut Commercial Driver's Manual, Hazardous Materials Section Booklet.

What is a Doubles/Triples Endorsement?

A Doubles/Triples Endorsement is needed when a CDL driver is driving a CDL vehicle with double or triple trailers. To obtain a Doubles and Triples Endorsement, you need to pass a 10 question multiple choice knowledge test at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The information can be found in the CT Commercial Driver's manual, section VII.

What is a Passenger Endorsement?

A Passenger Endorsement is for CDL drivers who drive a vehicle designed to seat more than 15 passengers, including the driver.
Types of Connecticut Public Passenger Endorsements:
-“S” endorsement: required before operating a school bus or any vehicle that requires a “V,” “A” or “F” endorsement. Before operating a school bus, a commercial driver’s license with a P endorsement is also required. Please see CDL Testing Requirements for more information on how to obtain a CDL.
-“V ” endorsement: required before operating a student transportation vehicle transporting students to and from school, including vehicles transporting special education students, or any vehicle that requires an “A” or “F” endorsement. A certificate of safety training (CST 1) is also required. (Available through school bus companies)    NOTE: No motor vehicle with a seating capacity of more than ten passengers other than a school bus conforming to the provision of Connecticut State Statutes Sec. 14-275 may be used for the transportation of such students to and from school.
-“A” endorsement: required before operating a student transportation vehicle used in connection with school-sponsored events and activities, but not used to transport students to and from school, or any vehicle that requires an “F” endorsement.
-“F” endorsement: required before operating a taxi, livery vehicle, service bus, motor bus or motor coach.Type of vehicles use that require a public passenger endorsement:-Activity vehicle:  A student transportation vehicle that is used to transport students in connection with school-sponsored events and activities, but is not used to transport students to and from school-Livery Vehicle: Any motor vehicle used by any entity in the business of transporting passengers for hire-Motor Bus/Motor Coach: Includes any motor vehicle, except a taxicab, as defined in section 13b-95, operated as a means of transportation bus receiving or discharging passenger, or running on a regular route or over any portion of a regular route or between fixed terminals-Public Service Motor Vehicles: Includes any vehicles (except vanpools) used to transport passengers for hire, i.e., commercial buses, taxis, limos, and airport shuttles-Service Buses: Includes any vehicle (except vanpool) designed to carry 10 or more persons when used in private service for the transportation of persons without charge to the individual, i.e., school buses, church buses, factory buses, farm worker buses, senior citizen vans or handicapped vans-Student Transportation Vehicle: Any motor vehicle other than a registered school bus used by a carrier for the transportation of students, including children requiring special education-School Bus:  A vehicle that meets the requirements of Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 14-275, including a commercial motor vehicle used to transport preschool, elementary school or secondary school students from home to school, from school to home, or to and from school-sponsored events, but does not include a bus used as a common carrier-Taxicab: Any motor vehicle operated on call or demand accepting or soliciting passengers for transportation for hire between such points as may be directed by the passenger(s)-Exception:  A non-resident who holds an operator’s license issued by another state or country may operate a vehicle that otherwise requires aConnecticut public passenger endorsement, provided the non-resident holds the equivalent endorsement from their home jurisdiction.

What is an “S” endorsement?

An “S” endorsement is required before operating a school bus or any vehicle that requires a “V,” “A” or “F” endorsement. Before operating a school bus, a commercial driver’s license with a P endorsement is also required.

What is a “V ” endorsement?

“V ” endorsement: required before operating a student transportation vehicle transporting students to and from school, including vehicles transporting special education students, or any vehicle that requires an “A” or “F” endorsement. A certificate of safety training (CST 1) is also required. (Available through school bus companies) NOTE: No motor vehicle with a seating capacity of more than ten passengers other than a school bus conforming to the provision of Connecticut State Statutes Sec. 14-275 may be used for the transportation of such students to and from school.

What is an “A” endorsement?

“A” endorsement: required before operating a student transportation vehicle used in connection with school-sponsored events and activities, but not used to transport students to and from school, or any vehicle that requires an “F” endorsement.

What is an “F” endorsement?

“F” endorsement: required before operating a taxi, livery vehicle, service bus, motor bus or motor coach.

What is a TWIC Endorsement?

The TWIC Endorsement is a TSA requirement which allows the driver to pick up goods at America's ports and docks.

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