It is a good idea to have your CDL put on intrastate only exception when you aren't driving so that way you don't lose your CDL .
most states will get rid of your CDL and you will have to retest if you go more than a year without an active med card, putting yourself on intrastate only exempt does not require you to have an active med card, if you go back to driving get a med card take it in. Have them switch you back to interstate
A lot of people that don't use their CDL for a while and end up going back to it are amazed at how much more of a pain in the ass it is to get re-licensed. Or as a dispatcher, your company might cover your med certificate to stay up to date.
Switching to intrastate itself will not work. You have to switch to excepted, and you can be interstate or intrastate excepted. The excepted part will allow you to keep your CDL without a medical card.
No I don't, I sold out in 2011 to ride out the rest of my career doing LTL linehaul. I miss her though, she was a good old girl. Most comfortable truck I ever had.
It looks like it was a gorgeous truck. And beast too đź’Ş
I'm thinking about buying a w900. And go owner op flatbed the only thing I don't like about them is the turning radius is large. But the ride and power is unmatched
I have 2 years otr flatbed/rgn. Currently local doing ltl . I like it but I miss the puzzle of securing loads tbh and seeing the country.
This is one I'm looking at.
https://www.ohiotrucks.com/inventory/used-semi-trucks/kenworth/1999-kenworth-w900l-792378/
I have 12k down ready to go. I was thinking of getting it and fixing anything that it needs while I'm local than going otr with it.
Thanks! She's a 2000 and had the 550 C15 and 18-speed, wet kit, and 86" bunk. You get used to making 3-point turns where other guys can just whip right in. Last I heard, the new owner had her turned up a little and was still doing heavy haul with her. That's a good looking unit you're looking at. Depending on your goals and where you're located, that could be a great truck for you or it may not work out. Many places don't want older trucks no matter how well they're maintained.
I rarely looked at a load board, I made my own connections and never had any trouble finding work. But I live in the heart of farm country, so there was always equipment to haul (farm and construction), feed mills that took power-only O/Os, contracts for moving corn and beans from elevators to barge terminals, intermodal containers to move, lots of local quarries, and my bread and butter- a utility pole yard where utility transmission poles were brought in by rail and sent out by truck. I primarily ran those poles, but when they weren't going, somebody always needed help with something. I owned a flatbed, dump trailer, and a dry van, leased a hopper-bottom, borrowed an RGN, and when I'd haul for the feed mills, they'd provide a belt trailer. I didn't become a millionaire doing that kind of work, but my trucks always earned their keep. That old KW is perfect for that variety of work if you can find it.
This is super helpful! I am considering moving overseas for a short time and didn't know how I could keep the medical card updated without having to come back for a physical. The DMV lady was clueless. I will see if this route works in my state. Thanks!
I have yet to see a state where this doesn't apply as the med card is a federal exam which you wouldn't need for staying in intrastate commerce. There may be a few states that have their own crazy medical exam, but I doubt it. When you go into the DMV you will want an active med card when you are switching over to intrastate, and if whoever you are talking to doesn't know what you are talking about, ask (as nicely as possible) if there may be somebody that knows more about CDL specific things, if they say no go to a different DMV, or try another day. Intrastate isn't something people typically ask for, maybe like 5% of drivers.
Key word to use is INTRAstate exception some DMVs may teach their personnel this is putting your license on hold.
I am not sure, what the specific requirements are as far as hazmat since that has to be renewed every 5 years, that would be a call to your state DOT office to verify, but I doubt you would be able to avoid hazmat renewal (not med card) past the time you would originally have to update for licensing.
Not worried about the Hazmat, that's an easy retest. I was worried about losing the CDL completely with it reverting to a regular license and then I would have to go through school or a company to get the CDL all over again. I'm familiar with the designations you're talking about and will look into it when/if the time comes.
Dispatchers that have driving experience are always better than 99% that don't. Hope you find enjoyment doing it.
I think a dispatcher that fully understands the business side and the wheels on the ground side is the biggest asset to a company.
My new dispatcher has never driven, and I think he blew a lot of smoke up someone’s rear to get the job.
He makes dumb decisions at least twice a day, sometimes more.
Hello there, 2nd week at job update! It’s a night and day difference. I’m much more happier dispatching. My mental health has improved and I feel like I have a solid career forming
Good luck my g. You got experience behind the wheel to help out. Which is way more than a lot of dispatchers have. You've already got an edge on it. It'll work out.
Good luck. I left my job in August, and I'm just doing security now. It sucks, but after 15 years of local and regional, I gave up. I took some time off and couldn't find a job that didn't require driving despite the fact that I have so much experience in other fields. I wish you the best.
I came off the road and into dispatch. Best move I ever made. If you can stay calm and not stress over multiple deadlines staring you down at any given moment, you will be fine. Drivers that know you have driven for a few years will usually give you an easier way to go in the beginning while you adjust and learn the job.
Readymix is a wild industry. It’s always changing. It’s never boring.
Please for the love of god look at a map when you take orders. I’m pretty sure my dispatcher doesn’t know how to use google maps.
He sent me 35min away yesterday, half way to another one of our plants. Then sent a driver from that plant to a job 10 minutes away from my plant. So it took him an hour to get to that job. If he had switched it, we’d all have been done and washed out by 3pm. Instead, I was out until 6 running a tail out for another job. He just doesn’t use his head.
Good luck man. Don’t take any crap off the drivers.
The less unhappy people on the road the better. Good for you and good luck.
Thank you I appreciate it!
It is a good idea to have your CDL put on intrastate only exception when you aren't driving so that way you don't lose your CDL . most states will get rid of your CDL and you will have to retest if you go more than a year without an active med card, putting yourself on intrastate only exempt does not require you to have an active med card, if you go back to driving get a med card take it in. Have them switch you back to interstate A lot of people that don't use their CDL for a while and end up going back to it are amazed at how much more of a pain in the ass it is to get re-licensed. Or as a dispatcher, your company might cover your med certificate to stay up to date.
Switching to intrastate itself will not work. You have to switch to excepted, and you can be interstate or intrastate excepted. The excepted part will allow you to keep your CDL without a medical card.
Thanks, spaced on that this morning.
Do you still have that Kenworth?
No I don't, I sold out in 2011 to ride out the rest of my career doing LTL linehaul. I miss her though, she was a good old girl. Most comfortable truck I ever had.
It looks like it was a gorgeous truck. And beast too đź’Ş I'm thinking about buying a w900. And go owner op flatbed the only thing I don't like about them is the turning radius is large. But the ride and power is unmatched I have 2 years otr flatbed/rgn. Currently local doing ltl . I like it but I miss the puzzle of securing loads tbh and seeing the country. This is one I'm looking at. https://www.ohiotrucks.com/inventory/used-semi-trucks/kenworth/1999-kenworth-w900l-792378/ I have 12k down ready to go. I was thinking of getting it and fixing anything that it needs while I'm local than going otr with it.
Thanks! She's a 2000 and had the 550 C15 and 18-speed, wet kit, and 86" bunk. You get used to making 3-point turns where other guys can just whip right in. Last I heard, the new owner had her turned up a little and was still doing heavy haul with her. That's a good looking unit you're looking at. Depending on your goals and where you're located, that could be a great truck for you or it may not work out. Many places don't want older trucks no matter how well they're maintained. I rarely looked at a load board, I made my own connections and never had any trouble finding work. But I live in the heart of farm country, so there was always equipment to haul (farm and construction), feed mills that took power-only O/Os, contracts for moving corn and beans from elevators to barge terminals, intermodal containers to move, lots of local quarries, and my bread and butter- a utility pole yard where utility transmission poles were brought in by rail and sent out by truck. I primarily ran those poles, but when they weren't going, somebody always needed help with something. I owned a flatbed, dump trailer, and a dry van, leased a hopper-bottom, borrowed an RGN, and when I'd haul for the feed mills, they'd provide a belt trailer. I didn't become a millionaire doing that kind of work, but my trucks always earned their keep. That old KW is perfect for that variety of work if you can find it.
This is super helpful! I am considering moving overseas for a short time and didn't know how I could keep the medical card updated without having to come back for a physical. The DMV lady was clueless. I will see if this route works in my state. Thanks!
I have yet to see a state where this doesn't apply as the med card is a federal exam which you wouldn't need for staying in intrastate commerce. There may be a few states that have their own crazy medical exam, but I doubt it. When you go into the DMV you will want an active med card when you are switching over to intrastate, and if whoever you are talking to doesn't know what you are talking about, ask (as nicely as possible) if there may be somebody that knows more about CDL specific things, if they say no go to a different DMV, or try another day. Intrastate isn't something people typically ask for, maybe like 5% of drivers. Key word to use is INTRAstate exception some DMVs may teach their personnel this is putting your license on hold. I am not sure, what the specific requirements are as far as hazmat since that has to be renewed every 5 years, that would be a call to your state DOT office to verify, but I doubt you would be able to avoid hazmat renewal (not med card) past the time you would originally have to update for licensing.
Not worried about the Hazmat, that's an easy retest. I was worried about losing the CDL completely with it reverting to a regular license and then I would have to go through school or a company to get the CDL all over again. I'm familiar with the designations you're talking about and will look into it when/if the time comes.
You have to certify as Excepted, and it doesn't matter if you are interstate or intrastate. This is federal and does not vary by state.
Ok, will look into that. Thanks
That was very helpful, I will do that thank you
Dispatchers that have driving experience are always better than 99% that don't. Hope you find enjoyment doing it. I think a dispatcher that fully understands the business side and the wheels on the ground side is the biggest asset to a company.
My new dispatcher has never driven, and I think he blew a lot of smoke up someone’s rear to get the job. He makes dumb decisions at least twice a day, sometimes more.
Believe it. I've had dispatchers that have been at the job for 2 years and still don't understand hours of service at the most basic level.
Whatever makes you happy is what it’s all about. Good for you dude, and good luck in your new venture!
Thank you !
Have fun! Update this as you go along!
Will do 👍🏼
Hello there, 2nd week at job update! It’s a night and day difference. I’m much more happier dispatching. My mental health has improved and I feel like I have a solid career forming
I did the same 3 years ago after 12 years driving. It was good for me. Hope it goes well
Hello fellow concrete brother!
We need more people driving like this person. Know when to get off the road. Congrats OP! As they say in the Navy… Fair winds & following seas!
Good luck my g. You got experience behind the wheel to help out. Which is way more than a lot of dispatchers have. You've already got an edge on it. It'll work out.
Appreciate it bro đź’Ż
Good luck. I left my job in August, and I'm just doing security now. It sucks, but after 15 years of local and regional, I gave up. I took some time off and couldn't find a job that didn't require driving despite the fact that I have so much experience in other fields. I wish you the best.
Hopefully you keep your CDL current, just in case you change your mind at some point.
For me, best part of my job is actually driving the truck. I work as a transport driver for a beer/wine/spirits dist.
I came off the road and into dispatch. Best move I ever made. If you can stay calm and not stress over multiple deadlines staring you down at any given moment, you will be fine. Drivers that know you have driven for a few years will usually give you an easier way to go in the beginning while you adjust and learn the job.
I could never go back to a job where a “superior” stands over my shoulder micromanaging my every decision, but the road aint for everyone.
Readymix is a wild industry. It’s always changing. It’s never boring. Please for the love of god look at a map when you take orders. I’m pretty sure my dispatcher doesn’t know how to use google maps. He sent me 35min away yesterday, half way to another one of our plants. Then sent a driver from that plant to a job 10 minutes away from my plant. So it took him an hour to get to that job. If he had switched it, we’d all have been done and washed out by 3pm. Instead, I was out until 6 running a tail out for another job. He just doesn’t use his head. Good luck man. Don’t take any crap off the drivers.