UK HGV LICENCE TO USA CDL LICENCE
#16
Peace onion
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 5,686
Re: UK HGV LICENCE TO USA CDL LICENCE
Reading comprehension; we has it!
#17
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Just outside of decency
Posts: 7,837
Re: UK HGV LICENCE TO USA CDL LICENCE
Hi
Sorry for the confusion. We arrived in USA January 2009. We have our permanent resident cards and social security cards. We both took our Florida driving test last week. My husband is just wondering if it's worth him taking his CDL. He is 57 so trying to work out if it would be worth it. He has contacted a driving school to see how much it would cost. They have not got back to him yet.
We just posted the question to see what other peoples experiences were.
Thanks for yours. We dont know anyone with a truck so thats a no go lol
Chris
Sorry for the confusion. We arrived in USA January 2009. We have our permanent resident cards and social security cards. We both took our Florida driving test last week. My husband is just wondering if it's worth him taking his CDL. He is 57 so trying to work out if it would be worth it. He has contacted a driving school to see how much it would cost. They have not got back to him yet.
We just posted the question to see what other peoples experiences were.
Thanks for yours. We dont know anyone with a truck so thats a no go lol
Chris
They may want some assurance that he'll work for them for a given time, this would be a good idea because getting started in US trucking usually means taking a shite job at a shite rate (he'll be paid by the mile and not the hour). His experience in the UK won't count for toffee with insurance companies but it will have some bearing with a prospective employer.
Either that or just take the test and orientation with a big company like Swifts or J.B Hunt and get the licence that way but he'll probably be tied to them for a year or so.
Ahh and tell him to forget riding in anything as comfortable as a Scania. If he's had he's licence for about 20 years or more let him know that the newest Peterbilt, Freightliner or Mack may look the mutts nuts but it rides like a 1980 Leyland Roadtrain.
#18
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Nottinghamshire UK > Florida > UK 10days >Ireland > BACK IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE UK
Posts: 209
Re: UK HGV LICENCE TO USA CDL LICENCE
I take it he has his UK CDL and has been using it regularly. If so forget going to a driving school. if he's competent at driving trucks (and left hand drive) then my advice would be to get his CDL permit. Then approach a local company with big trucks and see if he can get them allow him to go out and drive for a few days with one of their blokes. Then when he feels confident to arrange and pay for the road test himself in one of their vehicles.
They may want some assurance that he'll work for them for a given time, this would be a good idea because getting started in US trucking usually means taking a shite job at a shite rate (he'll be paid by the mile and not the hour). His experience in the UK won't count for toffee with insurance companies but it will have some bearing with a prospective employer.
Either that or just take the test and orientation with a big company like Swifts or J.B Hunt and get the licence that way but he'll probably be tied to them for a year or so.
Ahh and tell him to forget riding in anything as comfortable as a Scania. If he's had he's licence for about 20 years or more let him know that the newest Peterbilt, Freightliner or Mack may look the mutts nuts but it rides like a 1980 Leyland Roadtrain.
They may want some assurance that he'll work for them for a given time, this would be a good idea because getting started in US trucking usually means taking a shite job at a shite rate (he'll be paid by the mile and not the hour). His experience in the UK won't count for toffee with insurance companies but it will have some bearing with a prospective employer.
Either that or just take the test and orientation with a big company like Swifts or J.B Hunt and get the licence that way but he'll probably be tied to them for a year or so.
Ahh and tell him to forget riding in anything as comfortable as a Scania. If he's had he's licence for about 20 years or more let him know that the newest Peterbilt, Freightliner or Mack may look the mutts nuts but it rides like a 1980 Leyland Roadtrain.
Yes he has been driving since 1985 consistently. He is just trying to decide if it's worth trying to get CDL then job driving. Other option is to try and find work in warehouse. He also has forklift certificate.
Thanks for your advice. I will pass it on to Pete.
Chris
#19
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Just outside of decency
Posts: 7,837
Re: UK HGV LICENCE TO USA CDL LICENCE
Hi
Yes he has been driving since 1985 consistently. He is just trying to decide if it's worth trying to get CDL then job driving. Other option is to try and find work in warehouse. He also has forklift certificate.
Thanks for your advice. I will pass it on to Pete.
Chris
Yes he has been driving since 1985 consistently. He is just trying to decide if it's worth trying to get CDL then job driving. Other option is to try and find work in warehouse. He also has forklift certificate.
Thanks for your advice. I will pass it on to Pete.
Chris
#20
Re: UK HGV LICENCE TO USA CDL LICENCE
#21
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: uk/usa
Posts: 7
Re: UK HGV LICENCE TO USA CDL LICENCE
hi im moving to south carolina in june to be with my new wife (an american citizen) i have uk hgv licence can anyone tell me where i can get my cdl in or around greenville sc plus how much it'll cost and how long it takes
#23
Re: UK HGV LICENCE TO USA CDL LICENCE
Don't forget, you're not allowed to work on the VWP while you're visiting in the USA.
Rene