How to Earn Your CDL in Nevada in 6 Steps

Are you a resident of Nevada and entertaining the idea of studying for your CDL? Every year, thousands of men and women go through truck driver training programs across the United States, earning their commercial driver's license to start their careers as professional truck drivers. While the specifics of obtaining a CDL can vary slightly between states, just like a regular driver's license, it is good in every state. Great! So how exactly do you go about getting a CDL in Nevada? Keep reading to find out!

5 Steps to Earning Your CDL in Arizona

Every year, thousands of men and women go through truck driver training programs across the United States, earning their commercial driver's license to start their careers as professional truck drivers. While the specifics of obtaining a CDL can vary slightly between states, just like a regular driver's license, it is good in every state. Great! So how exactly do you go about getting a CDL in Arizona? Keep reading to find out!

7 Questions to Ask a Truck Driver Training School Before Enrolling

So, you're thinking about starting a career as a professional truck driver. You've probably searched the Internet to find out how to go about doing just that, and now you're at the point where you're deciding which truck driver training school is best for you. At first glance it may seem that, from the outside, they are all pretty much the same. However, if you're sure to pay close attention and ask the right questions, you'll quickly come to learn the differences. If you ask these 7 questions, you'll be able to separate the good from the bad.

Everything You Need to Know About the DOT Physical and CDL Medical Card

Any driver on the road takes their life, as well as the lives of drivers around them, into their hands. This is especially true for professional truck drivers who, at a minimum, can cause monetary losses for the company they're driving and delivering for, should a health-related delay or accident occur... And of course a worst-case scenario being a loss of life. For this reason, you are required by the Department of Transportation in most states to obtain a CDL Medical Card before you can receive your CDL learner's permit. This card is given after you "pass" a DOT Physical, given by an approved DOT Medical Examiner. The DOT medical exam has the following minimum requirements for medical clearance to hold a CDL in non-exempted situations:

• 20/40 correctable vision in each eye
• Diabetes, if controlled through diet, may be approved. Diabetics requiring needle-injected insulin is more likely to be a disqualification from being an interstate driver, but some states do have Insulin-Dependent Intrastate Waivers.
• Hearing: a) Must first perceive forced whispered voice > 5 ft., with or without hearing aid, or b) average hearing loss in better ear < 40 dB
• Blood Pressure:
• 140/90 or below, for a 24-month certificate
• 140-159/90-99, for a 12-month certificate
• 160-179/100-109, for a 3-month temporary certificate
• Anything higher than the above will disqualify you from receiving your DOT CDL medical card.
• Blood sugar must be under 200.
• Use of narcotics will not be approved
• Heart disease or other heart issues may require an additional doctor's note.

The following may affect the outcome of a DOT CDL physical:

• Sleep Apnea
• Recent back injury
• Recent major surgery
• Current hernia

For more detailed requirements, view the form: Medical Examination Report FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER FITNESS DETERMINATION

Most medical certificates are valid for 2 years, unless you have a medical condition that requires more frequent monitoring. If you are working on your CDL with Southwest Truck Driver Training, the following links provide CDL medical card information specific to the states of Arizona and Nevada:

ADOT CDL Medical Certification
DMVNV Do I need a medical certificate?
DMVNV Requirements for Medical Certification

Keep in mind that although you may not be required by some states to have a DOT Medical Card prior to validating your CDL, many employers will still require you to have a medical exam before you can get behind the wheel. It is probably best to just get the medical exam out of the way, no matter what your state requires, so you can get to work right away.

More information:

FMCSA CDL Medical
State-by-State Instructions for Submitting Medical Certificates to the State Driver Licensing Agencies

In Celebration of July 4th, 2015: Southwest Truck Driver Training's Veteran Truck Wrap

If you've been following us on Facebook or Twitter lately, you have seen photos of our recent truck wrap designed with veterans in mind. We feel that the photos of this incredible work of art need to be collected all in one place, and what better time to do so than right before this 4th of July weekend! Given the nature of the designs, pulling them together now is a great way to reflect on what makes America special: the men and women serving in uniform who work so hard to sustain our freedoms. We hope you take a few extra minutes this weekend to enjoy these images and get in the spirit of the holiday. Happy Independence Day!!

Getting Your CDL Endorsements: HazMat, Tanker, and Doubles and Triples

Have you already received your commercial driver's license, and are now looking for ways to broaden your job opportunities while also increasing your earning potential? The best way to do this is by having endorsements. These may be earned after you complete the requirements to obtain your CDL. Truckers who have been in the field for a while will tell you that you might as well get all of your endorsements up front. The cost is minimal to take each exam, and your ROI is very good, even if you only end up using one of them. Plus, you never know what roadblocks might appear years later. You might say now that you would never want to have to transport hazardous materials, or navigate the road with two trailers in tow, but there may be times when one of these loads is available and you need the work, but are passed up for the job just because you weren't properly certified.

At Southwest Truck Driver Training, we can help you obtain your HazMat, Tanker, and Doubles and Triples endorsements at the Arizona and Nevada campuses. Each endorsement exam is optional, and does cost extra ($86.50 / test). In addition, the background check for the HazMat endorsement will cost anywhere from $80 - $110. General information towards each endorsement is covered in class. Should you decide to take one or all of these additional exams, we do have study guides that are more specific to each test.

How OTR Truckers Successfully Maintain Relationships Long Distance

If you are a trucker (or a trucker's loved one), you know the sting of having to spend a holiday apart. While a holiday like the 4th of July may not be as tough to get through as Christmas, it still isn't easy to mark off those dates alone. If you're creative, however, you can still find ways to feel connected over holidays, as well as any regular day, enough to where you feel as though you are right there with your favorite people. Thanks to modern technology, we are fortunate enough to have many different options for keeping in touch with those who matter.