New Job saying possibly have to redo trucking school?
Posted by NioNoah@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 39 comments
Hello. I have my Class A, went through a school two years ago, got my Class A. Currently in the hiring process for a transit job.
If hired they are saying I have to go through school again to get my P endorsement and class B. But I could've sworn that when I was in school I was told a P endorsement is just a knowledge test and can be added on, and since I have a Class A it already supercedes a B.
So I'm just double checking here, I shouldn't have to go through school again and do a EDLT again right? It's not a matter of paying for it, they have an in house school with their own instructors and examiners, and it's all paid for and I get paid full wages during it. But also it seems redundant? And I'm worried it may possibly put my CDL at risk with the paperwork somehow downgrading it to a Class B? Anyone have any advice?
clintp0@reddit
I just went throught this. Kept my class a but had to do a knowledge test for a permit that was class b with P and S endorsements and then "eldt" (using that loosley) took the road test and kept it a Class A with those endorsements.
meizhong@reddit
Dddd
JusticarX@reddit
I'm a supervisor at a transit company, I have a Class A with P and S
You have to redo the training and full tets to add the P endorsement. But you do NOT lose your class A
For some reason that's a common misconception even here and more than once I've had to tell some corporate mucky much theyre completely wrong on that account.
KatieTSO@reddit
Not just that, but some DMV workers will try to (or accidentally) fuck up your license. At my work we've had many people come from Class A jobs (to become bus drivers like me) and I've heard of the DMV "accidentally" downgrading them to Class B or removing unrelated endorsements like T, N, H, or X.
CashWideCock@reddit
I had a DMV worker tell me I couldn’t add tanker without adding hazmat because all tanker loads are hazmat. lol.
hugothebear@reddit
Oh no, my food grade tanker full of high fructose corn syrup!
KatieTSO@reddit
Lmao what oh my god why are DMV workers so damn incompetent? You can have a tanker load of water, sand, plenty of non-hazardous loads.
CashWideCock@reddit
My point exactly. I told her water trucks are tankers and water is not hazmat. I was getting my endorsement to drive a pneumatic tanker hauling cement powder. Not to mention all the food grade tanker loads.
Mindes13@reddit
Water isn't hazmat? Your delulu.
bones_1775@reddit
When I was hauling cement powder I didn't have to add tanker to my license. I was told that since it was dry there is no need for the tanker endorsement.
CashWideCock@reddit
For me, it was back in 1997. My employer told me if I wanted to drive the pneumatic tankers to go get my tanker endorsement, so I did. Maybe the rules were different back then. I still use my endorsement though, I use it when hauling totes on flatbeds.
bones_1775@reddit
It was in 2017 or 2018, don't remember which. I'm from Colorado and did go to New Mexico occasionally, never had a problem with not having the endorsement. Maybe your supervisor just wanted you to have it in case you needed it.
KatieTSO@reddit
Tanker is just a written test to add, no ELDT or skills test. Doesn't hurt to have it.
KatieTSO@reddit
Exactly! I don't understand how someone can work at the DMV without knowing how a CDL works.
Charlie_Hustler@reddit
Passenger endorsement is a whole nother beast tbh bro. You gotta do ELDT for it and also have to complete a mandatory Skills test which includes the Pre trip, Skills test and Road test.
If you wanna go a step further and try and get a School Bus endorsement its the same thing. Difference is with S endorsement you have to first get the Passenger endorsement. You can't get the School bus without first getting a Passenger endorsement.
Definitely the hardest endorsements to get added to your license tbh lol wayyyy harder than any Hazmat or tanker test lmao
StructureBetter2101@reddit
Close, the ELDT stands for Entry level driver training, OP does not need to do that because he isn't an entry level driver, just needs to get his permit and take the test after waiting 14 days. That's the legal requirement but the company will likely have some sort of training requirements. Technically you don't need to get a class B, you already have that but also the P is a class B test so you need to do the test in a bus that's big enough to require a class B so it counts.
Source: worked a decent amount of time in the ELDT world....
WMDZipperbag@reddit
Dam. Much appreciated. ($hit I didn’t know)
hugothebear@reddit
Theyre wrong by the way. Another ELDT is needed for passenger, school bus and hazmat endorsements
KatieTSO@reddit
I got Class B with P for my work, I added X at the DMV super easy afterwards.
WMDZipperbag@reddit
Yeah. 30 yrs ago…. I recall hearing to get endorsements now that you want when testing. Makes more sense now
Tiatake@reddit
In our state a bus driver now also has to do a physical test to show they are able to move someone unconscious in an emergency and can handle physically moving freely through a bus with seats.
Redoing the tests sometimes is for a refresher in some companies as well. We’ve had veteran class a drivers redo the school aspect of our program if they’ve been out of a truck more than a year just until they show they’re still up to date with it then we usually cut them early (3-4 days).
Crimzon07@reddit
Couple years ago they changed it so if you haven't had passenger or hazmat before you have to take a class to be able to take the test to get them added to your license.
stubby_one@reddit
I have had a class A CDL with tanker, hazmat, and dbl/trpl for 35 years. I had to do EDLT, and a skills test to add the passenger endorsement. The pre-trip inspection was easily the most stressful part of it.
chocolate_asshole@reddit
class a does cover b but transit companies do weird inhouse training to tick their insurance boxes. paid training isn’t bad tho. annoyning but whatever, better than being jobless right now
hugothebear@reddit
You have to do another ELDT for the class of passenger vehicle you intend to drive.
StructureBetter2101@reddit
You have to take a test to get the P, you don't need to jump through the ELDT hoops though.
hugothebear@reddit
“Effective February 7, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established federal regulations requiring entry-level drivers to complete entry level driver training (ELDT) when they are seeking a Class A or B Commercial Driver License (CDL) for the first time, upgrading to a Class A or B CDL or obtaining a passenger (P), school bus (S) or a hazardous material (H) endorsement for the first time. FMCSA’s Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations set the baseline for minimum training requirements for entry-level drivers.”
KatieTSO@reddit
You need ELDT again to add a passenger endorsement. You'll keep Class A, that does supercede Class B.
hugothebear@reddit
I have a class A, got hired for class C passenger and did another ELDT. Ended up with an N restriction (No Class A or B Passenger Vehicle – Restricts Class B CDL holders to operating only Class C passenger vehicles.)
When I moved over to fixed route I had to redo another road test and now I have an M restriction (No Class A Passenger Vehicle – Restricts Class A CDL holders to driving only Class B or C passenger vehicles.).
Antique_One7110@reddit
There’s not really a class A passenger vehicle. There are (were) some in Cuba where a truck pulls a passenger semi trailer; almost everywhere else had phased them out. What a class A with P really allows is a bus, think tour bus, to pull a trailer that weighs more than 10k pounds.
hugothebear@reddit
The sad thing is ive seen an RV hauling a trailer and doubt they had any special license
Sabre_Stryke@reddit
They don't.
hugothebear@reddit
Also, you keep your class A. If you want to move freight that’s ok. You just can’t move people in a class A bus, but that’s rare anyway.
They also don’t take away existing endorsements. So if you fail a brake test, you still keep your air brakes.
stevenmacarthur@reddit
"...it's all paid for and I get paid full wages during it."
There you have it: if they're paying you to do it, just look at it as your assignment for the week - although it is a bit different than when I started transit in '92, but they add layers every so often, ostensibly to ensure that we're "professionals."
Meanwhile, a cop can beat someone almost to death, get fired for doing so, and have another job in the next municipality over inside of a month.
Whitehoneybun666@reddit
I would just pass on that job completely swift tells me I can’t get hired by them unless I go through cdl school again even tho I have almost 2 years experience
The_Okay_Baboo@reddit
Passenger endorsement is a whole different animal. You have to train and test on the equipment you'll operate. I've looked into this and you will, unfortunately, lose your class A in the process. Unless they test you in a class A bus, which they likely will not.
Charlie_Hustler@reddit
You will not lose your class A lmao I dunno where you got this info from but it's inaccurate. I tested and got my P and S endorsements added to my class A a while back. The only thing it adds is an M restriction since Class A Passenger vehicles aren't a thing anymore but you do still keep your Class A.
kickniteasy@reddit
Getting a passenger or school bus requires testing/ELDT hours but you don't lose your A in the process. You have a Class B permit with passenger and school bus endorsements but the Class A of your regular license doesn't just go away. We do these all the time, the only way you'd lose your A is if the DMV clerk messes up when they're entering info which actually happened to one of our testers. Always check your license for accuracy before you leave the DMV, haha.
tonythebutcher13@reddit
You have to do the whole speel unfortunately, I dont know if you can get the eldt yourself and just figure out a way to get ahold of a bus and do the testing but I don't think your allowed to do it anymore without going to an accredited school.