I finished driving school back in june. Got it at a local community college and I have a valid Class A. Ive been looking for a driving job, Any driving job since then and no one has shined any light on my situation. One small local company brought me in for an interview and sounded very interested but a couple days later they called and said their insurance would not cover me under any circumstance. So plan B came into effect, I have a friend that drives for southeastern freight line and he put in a word for me and got me a job as a dock hand, they wont let me drive because of my age though. It pays very well, just a couple dollars less an hour than what a driver makes. Even if I had to take a pay cut Id definately do it, to get started, class a or b. Anyone have any ideas? Ive called every place in the yellow pages and been by every company I know of. Dont get me wrong, working on the dock is fine but if theres an opportunity to be driving im going to take it. Any one else my age out there with this problem?

I had the same problem back in the 70's. got a good job hauling sand and gravel. 3 month in the owner called me in and told me that he was so sorry but his insurance would only cover me if 21 & married or 23 & single. Went to work driving tandem dump hauling cow & sheep manure for composting co. It sucked. Lasted about 5 months and then I got on with Merchants Fast Motor Lines in FTW doing like you. Worked the dock. After about 6 months. Then they started letting me drive bobtail trucks. Later got to do swaps for older guys who had regular routes. You might want to stay where you are for awhile. Make sure and let them know you want to drive. If you are a good hand more than likely they will let you-in time. You can keep your eye open for another chance in the meantime. A good solid work record goes a long way with a good company. Hang in there. Before long you'll be going "where did all those years go so fast".

Have you tried construction co., they might give you the chance, as for otr co., most of them require you to be at least 23 due to insurance reasons. Best of luck to your findings

I'd stay there, but there are some things you could probably do, municipal waste hauling would be 1, or anything to do with hauling for a farmers ie. a coop job.

You will learn about freight and paperwork at your present job, the others will get you driving time, but may have gaps when there is little to do. Whatever you do, keep your MVR clean. In the car, too.

Checked with the local waste industries and no positions are availible, asked what the minimum age was on the lady on the phone had no idea, she had never been asked that she said. I find it funny that on the southeastern freightline website on the bottem of their employment page it says " We are an equal opportunity employer, we dont discriminate against age, gender or race" but apparently its not quite true. I came 2nd in my class at school and on the road driving and backing skills I scored higher than anyone else but im the only one that doesnt have a job because of my age. Guess thats life though

hey tropical, if i am not mistakin here, you have to be at least 21 to drive outa state, so as far as find and otr job you still have a few years to go. really what you should have done was some research on what companies should hire you cause its harder to get a job till your at least 21, and even at that age its still hard to find someone to take you in due to you age, and the companies insurance restrictions as well. as i tell everyone, keep your head up and keep looking.
if you go someplace, dress nice, not like a " kid " or a dirty truck driver, it will get you nowhere.
in the event you find a local gig and its crap/dirty work, as long as it involves driving a truck it will benifit you when you turn 21-23.
best of luck, and keep looking, and keep us posted on how your making out.

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my dream of becoming an o/o and making something of myself is starting to become nothing more then a fairytale

Thats what I have always heard. Till 21 driving jobs will be far and few and cant cross state line. At 23 things get better and has far has I know all companies will hire at 25.

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Save a target... Shoot a Tweeker
Why is common sense so damned uncommon?

(Spoiler) Swift kills Dumbledore

And that all has nothing to do with a age that's minimuly required by federal law.

__________________
Save a target... Shoot a Tweeker
Why is common sense so damned uncommon?

(Spoiler) Swift kills Dumbledore

That's 100% correct. FMCSR §391.11 (b) (1) is at least 21 years old. I can't believe that a communty college would not teach that simple requirement. I'd ask for my money back.