Side Loader Driver Under 21?

I would also look into a local lumber yard with a delivery service. Stay away from the big box stores Home Depot or lowes. They will have strict insurance regs. Also city and county yards need cdl drivers and some will help you get your cdl. Hope that helps.

 

Only one way to find out... call and ask.

What you are going to run into is that a lot of insurance companies are going to insist on a 7 year driving history before they will cover you.

Iceman has a point; check with the smaller independents in your area. Around here, there's always a demand for triaxle dump truck drivers hauling asphalt. Not the most glamorous of jobs, but it pays well, and you do get commercial experience.

 

You can always hire in as a merchandiser which is 18 for sure. Then they post jobs with in first. I use to drive for coke but can't remember the age. Alzheimers, lol.

Actually I think Pepsi would be a better choice. They load their side bays in order of your stops. You just grab and go. Coke loads their side bays any old way and you have to dig every stop. Do that every stop and you worked twice as hard.

 

Go work for Conway on the docks for a few months, prove your work ethic and then tell them you want to become a driver. They will help you out and help train you. I have a friend that is a manager at Conway. That's what she told me to do if that was the route I wanted to go.

 

A part time one might make a little bit more than minimum wage. But as stated that is a really good way to get into distributors that use side-loaders. You could also look into working in their warehouse and go from there. Another thing is most companies will pay to train from inside the company to get you into trucking, you usually have to work there for a year before they'll pay ... but still. However, if your full time in college I don't think that will fly with them for trucking. You'll only get a few vacation/sick days and be working 8-12 hour shifts for 5 days a week. And most won't work with your college schedule.

Having said that you can definitely earn side-loader jobs under 21 if you work in the company before hand. Chances are though, if your 20 now, you'll be 21 before they'll pay for your training anyways. Just a tip too, I don't know if you plan on working your way into OTR driving, but most companies don't recognize side-loaders as trucking experience from what I hear.

Although this is definitely true, I've be given an opportunity to train under a large starter OTR company and I literally just turned 22. If you have good work history and a clean driving record you could definitely try. But again, probably won't work out while your still in college due to obvious reasons.


Good luck to you!

 

Lowes requires 21 yrs old, home depot is all outside contractors, ice delivery would be a place to start. Trash companies will usually hire under 21. Construction companies, excavating companies, pavers, dump truck outfits, I think coke and Pepsi will require 21 for insurance. I've had my cdl since 20 yrs old, started running chauffeur licensed vehicles at 19. Delivered ice, lumber and building materials under chauffeur license. Delivered ice, picked up trash, delivered lumber and building materials under cdl before going to cdl school (insurance requirement) and going otr.

 

I started with Pepsi boyyling group about 5 years ago and I only had a monthe experience but they took me on no problem so I think you should be able to get in because I know also we have some drivers with bad driving records and they still are fine, plus the shop Im in is union so I make 27 an hourlus anthing past 8 hours is overtime and I now have 3 weeks vaction and all my benefits so I think if you can get in it is worth the time as a temp till you get in full time.

 

Follow surfertruckers advice. Look for ads from UPS, FedEx, Conway. You start out on the docks loading trucks and they have a driver training program. Feel free to pm me.