FT Bus Driver Questions- Taking the CDL tests

[Karst]

Hey hey,

Was trying to find some information and where to post so I'm sorry if this isn't in the right place.

My husband just had a lovely zoom interview for a full time bus driver gig, not college program, with Disney. They put him on a waitlist awaiting his written exams for his CDL. The problem is we are still Georgia residents and aren't making the move unless he gets the position. We are trying to figure out how to schedule his written exams and they are wanting paystubs from Florida (which he obviously doesn't have yet) and saying to get the permit he needs to be a Florida resident. His recruiter said he doesn't need to get the permit yet, just take the tests, so we are a little confused on how to accomplish this.

If someone has any knowledge in this area or could point us in the direction of the appropriate board to ask we would greatly appreciate it! He is very excited about this opportunity (he used to drive a HET for the army and loves driving big vehicles lol) so we are really scrambling to make this happen. He was told by his recruiter that he is an excellent fit and he should have no problems coming on board, he just has to take these exams first and of course the nackground check and stuff.

If we could move him into an apartment and swap his license over to Florida that's not an issue, it's the pay stub brick wall that becomes the problem it seems

 

[_19disnA]

Seems like those are questions he should have asked the Disney interviewer during the interview. I would assume they knew he didn't currently live in Florida when doing the interview? Job recruiters sometimes stretch the truth and might be overly optimistic with their remarks, so I would look to an official reply from Disney instead.

 

[easyas123]

We are trying to figure out how to schedule his written exams..... His recruiter said he doesn't need to get the permit yet, just take the tests, so we are a little confused on how to accomplish this.

I can't assist you with the pay stubs, but your husband can't be the first person out of state to apply for this position, so they must be familiar with drivers not having that. As far as the testing goes - I think his best bet is to contact GA and/or FL dept of transportation (or whomever oversees the CDL testing for each state) and inquire about registering for the test.

 

[Karst]

Seems like those are questions he should have asked the Disney interviewer during the interview. I would assume they knew he didn't currently live in Florida when doing the interview? Job recruiters sometimes stretch the truth and might be overly optimistic with their remarks, so I would look to an official reply from Disney instead.

That was what his recruiter said when he told them Florida was asking for residency. He said "no no don't get the actual permit yet, we handle that part after hiring, just tell them you need the written tests only" his response email with instructions says the same thing. I wonder if it's because we are trying through the Leon County DMV in Tally, maybe we should try Orange county which may be more familiar with the process

 

[Karst]

I can't assist you with the pay stubs, but your husband can't be the first person out of state to apply for this position, so they must be familiar with drivers not having that. As far as the testing goes - I think his best bet is to contact GA and/or FL dept of transportation (or whomever oversees the CDL testing for each state) and inquire about registering for the test.

So I have exhausted all the phone numbers I could find for assistance. It seems he has to have a Florida DL to apply for a CDL. We can obtain the DL by moving him down there ahead of time, but then to take the CDL tests he has to have two proofs of residency which could be like a utility bill or cell bill or bank statement with his new address on it. It seems like it would be a big risk to send him down there, no matter how positive the recruiter was he would be hired

He had planned on moving down there ahead of time anyway while I finalized some stuff with my job and the kids finished the year at school but I dunno...

 

[LuvOrlando]

Talk to someone at the Florida DMV, I'd even schedule the test and talk to the person who takes you there at the time. Also, if you call your auto insurer for a florida quote they might have some info for you, I usually find those who deal with auto insurance policies to be pretty well informed on what you need in place to get a policy in a given state.

Can he find a cheap Air B&B room somewhere to get the address stuff rolling? Better to be out a few hundred than uproot for a thing that isn't 100%.

 

[Karst]

Talk to someone at the Florida DMV, I'd even schedule the test and talk to the person who takes you there at the time. Also, if you call your auto insurer for a florida quote they might have some info for you, I usually find those who deal with auto insurance policies to be pretty well informed on what you need in place to get a policy in a given state.

Can he find a cheap Air B&B room somewhere to get the address stuff rolling? Better to be out a few hundred than uproot for a thing that isn't 100%.

He is in talks with one of his battle buddies who lives in the area now about shacking up for a bit. Thank you for responding though! We have been at it all day trying to figure stuff out

Turns out there is also a new regulation that passed on Feb 7th 2022 where you have to get you ELDT prior to even being able to schedule the knowledge exams so FYI for any potential bus drivers out there who are starting fresh, it's more difficult now! Some companies charge outrageous prices for the training but I think we found a good one that charges pennies compared to the other schools. He still has his post-911/GI bill which can cover that portion if Disney won't. He was planning on getting his CDL anyway so it's not a huge deal. He's kicking himself for not getting it when he discharged in 2011. He's past the 2 year limit to do the transfer from his military to civi one

He did send out a follow up email to his recruiter for some clarification on the ELDT stuff so we will see.

 

[goofyernmost]

I don't know where you live but if you have a "Bus Driver School" where you live try getting a CDL there. Passenger bus drivers require a special "passenger endorsement" as part of a Class B CDL. If one has that in hand then it is a pretty good chance immediate hiring could happen. Getting a Florida CDL should be just a simple eye test and minor DMV verbal rules test. No road test is necessary.

When I went to apply, probably 16 years ago, Disney required a Florida address before they would even talk to you about working there. Bus driving at Disney was one of the higher starter paying CM positions (although nothing impressive) there due to the CDL requirement. They got burned many times when offering a position and once they got it they found out that they couldn't afford to move to Florida or just got cold feet and decided to stay where they were. No matter where you live a CDL can be beneficial, like it was to me even if I didn't go to Florida. It provided me with a good career for 20 years before and after I retired. I got mine in 2001 and never regretted the effort it took to get it. I still have it even at 74 years old. I am going back to a regular one when this one expires because I have no plans to drive anymore buses after I'm 78 years old.

 

[Karst]

I don't know where you live but if you have a "Bus Driver School" where you live try getting a CDL there. Passenger bus drivers require a special "passenger endorsement" as part of a Class B CDL. If one has that in hand then it is a pretty good chance immediate hiring could happen. Getting a Florida CDL should be just a simple eye test and minor DMV verbal rules test. No road test is necessary.

When I went to apply, probably 16 years ago, Disney required a Florida address before they would even talk to you about working there. Bus driving at Disney was one of the higher starter paying CM positions (although nothing impressive) there due to the CDL requirement. They got burned many times when offering a position and once they got it they found out that they couldn't afford to move to Florida or just got cold feet and decided to stay where they were. No matter where you live a CDL can be beneficial, like it was to me even if I didn't go to Florida. It provided me with a good career for 20 years before and after I retired. I got mine in 2001 and never regretted the effort it took to get it. I still have it even at 74 years old. I am going back to a regular one when this one expires because I have no plans to drive anymore buses after I'm 78 years old.

Thank you for this information! We live just a little ways north of Tally in Georgia so it's not a huge jump for us. We definitely are like 99% certain of making the move, just nervous to do so without a definite job lined up. We have five kids so living rural like we do now has become burdensome, especially with inflation jacking up the cost of everything and just minimal activities for the kids creating a lot of boredom. Our closest good grocery stores are 45 minutes away, medical stuff the same. He has to drive 67 miles for his VA appointments. It sucks when you can't even find a can of green beans and shelves are bare at the one DG near town. The big city appeals to us more and more every day lol. Just gotta work out the kinks and get the hubs down there to start the process. I feel pretty optimistic about it

 

[Stratman50th]

Best way to do it is to get your CDL, or commercial Class B (all you need for a bus) where you live. It will transfer to Florida. Do you know anyone with a Class A RV? Practice in that. Also, if he has friends who drive fire engines at the local fire house they can take him to get his test.

 

[goofyernmost]

Best way to do it is to get your CDL, or commercial Class B (all you need for a bus) where you live. It will transfer to Florida. Do you know anyone with a Class A RV? Practice in that. Also, if he has friends who drive fire engines at the local fire house they can take him to get his test.

There are a couple of written exams before any road test. That's why I suggested a bus driving school. I went with a bus company that was willing to do the training for their bus drivers and I was able to use one of their buses for the road test. By now, Disney might even have a program like that, I would think they might have a need to do the training. He might want to look into that.

 

[Karst]

There are a couple of written exams before any road test. That's why I suggested a bus driving school. I went with a bus company that was willing to do the training for their bus drivers and I was able to use one of their buses for the road test. By now, Disney might even have a program like that, I would think they might have a need to do the training. He might want to look into that.

They said he would go through something like 14 weeks of training with them but he has to pass the 3 written exams first, knowledge, air brakes, and one other one I can't remember. He did hear back from his recruiter stating that he is being offered employment on the condition he gets his FL DL and passes those exams and I also heard back from FL fish and wildlife on getting an interview for myself so I think we might be taking the plunge
Just scrambling to find a place to throw us in to now haha.

 

[goofyernmost]

They said he would go through something like 14 weeks of training with them but he has to pass the 3 written exams first, knowledge, air brakes, and one other one I can't remember. He did hear back from his recruiter stating that he is being offered employment on the condition he gets his FL DL and passes those exams and I also heard back from FL fish and wildlife on getting an interview for myself so I think we might be taking the plunge
Just scrambling to find a place to throw us in to now haha.

Bus CDL's have two specific additional requirements, air brake and passenger endorsement, without those two a CDL Class B would only be good for straight body trucks over a certain size. Not tractor/trailer, that's a class A.