Lower Trucking Age Requirement question?

I didn't think Jaylen729 was being disrespectful in any way... He was being respectful, he gets jumped, and then when he tries to stick up for himself, he then gets jumped again.

It all comes down to training, not age. As some have said, and I fully agree, I'd rather have a young guy driving that's grown up around trucks and willing to learn rather than half of these middle age "steering wheel holders" who just hop into trucking because "it's a job" without understanding the responsibility that comes with it.

Another thing that makes no sense is that holding an intrastate license, an 18-year-old in say, California, can drive a few hundred miles from one end to the other, be thrown into LA traffic, have to cross mountain passes such as the Grapevine, Cajon, etc, and deal with snow/ice/fog. However, another 18-year-old intrastate driver is prohibited from picking up a delivery and delivering it in a city 20 minutes across a state border. This is what happened to me when I started driving at 18. I lost out on many jobs because I lived right on the CA/AZ border, and many businesses delivered from Lake Havasu City, AZ to Laughlin, NV. Only about 40 miles away, but across a state border.

I'm currently 22... Been driving since I was 18. Started out in local flatbed and ag hauling. At 20, started driving a 10-car hauler. I load and drive a truck that's rarely under 80K lbs, hauling loads sometimes worth nearly a million dollars. I drive LA traffic, run over and back over mountain passes, usually 5+ days a week. Even now, I may still be considered young. But I made it to where I am because I was willing to learn, and because "veterans" believed in me. A lot of experienced drivers tend to forget they were a rookie at one time too, whether they were 18 or 38. Much like the OP, when I started driving, I was very confident that I didn't fit the typical 18-year-old stereotype. I wasn't ####y, however, I had work ethic and knowledge of the trucking industry.

I'm not here to say that all 18-year-olds are qualified to drive truck, however, I am definitely saying someone shouldn't be counted out strictly due to age.

 

I learned to drive trucks as a kid. As a teenager I could back up two trailers (super b's ) better than a lot of people can back up one. I started out shunting trailers and sometimes drove a straight truck until I was old enough to get my class 1 license. Being young doesn't mean you aren't capable. I'm glad that the company I started with was willing to give a young person a chance. There are many young drivers up here and I find that the young ones are willing to learn and aren't afraid to ask questions.