New Dude

the manual transmission part is not problem, in fact, you will be easier to teach since you have no bad habits...........
but your reasons for wanting to be a driver just aren't good enough........you "love to drive" you personal vehicle"........its a whole different driving trucks, plus in a truck you are under MORE rules and regulations than in you car.

you "love to travel a lot".........well you'll certainly do that in a truck.......but you ain't sight-seeing.you would be working.........and you cannot stop at any motel at every exit for rest, like you can do in your car. you will be going to rest areas, truck stops, maybe parking lots in shopping centers...........try and find a bathroom, try and find running water, try and find food sometimes, and try finding restful sleep.......your "big rig" will be quite small after a while.........if you do not keep it clean, it will stink as bad as you when you ain't showered in a few days because you failed to stop and do that for whatever reason, like maybe over sleeping and running late...........

you might want better reasons for wanting to be truck driver......and do not say money either.........it'll be "about" 3 years before you earn a decent pay.

 

You don't have to wait until your 23. There are some OTR companies that will hire a 21 year old, but if nothing else you can get a good local driving job. Maybe start out driving a straight truck or something. Untill then try to at least find a stick to learn on. It's totally different from a non-sync transmission but at least you'll get a little bit used to a clutch and shifting patterns. Then maybe rent a big uhaul some weekend so you can get used to driving something a little bigger. If your serious, don't wait until your 23. Start taking steps to get your Class A now. Good luck.

 

he would have to be careful of what he rents out.........especially if it has air brakes.........and by the way.........many rental companies DO NOT rent out to anyone under the age of 26...........

here is only one that i found............but you get the idea............NOT everyone can just rent out a truck......like you so seemingly make it out to be.


In most U.S. states, Budget Truck Rental locations rent to customers 24 years and older. Budget Truck Rental also may rent to customers between the ages of 21-23 with the following requirements: Renters 21-23 must present two valid forms of acceptable identification, a valid driver's license and another form of ID, please see FAQ "What kind of credentials

and here is another:

Tips & Warnings

• Rental companies do not usually require a special driver's license to operate a rental truck for personal use, but many require that drivers be at least age 25.
• Many auto insurance policies do not cover truck or van rentals. Additional insurance may be necessary for protection during your move.

Read more: How to Rent a Moving Truck or Trailer | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7550_rent-moving-truck.html#ixzz0wo56qLMF
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Good point, but having said that.....chill out. I'm just throwing out suggestions.

 

see if you can find someone to let you ride with them. that way you can see what its really like. living in a 6x6 box 24x7 for 2 or 3 weeks at a time is different. this is not sight seeing job. you have deadlines and appt's. that you HAVE to make. then there is the rules the late hours the bad food and so forth. No I'm not trying to ruin it for you just make sure its what you want. its expensive to get a CDL and its not a job its a lifestyle. I personally love it, but some think they do until they do it. good luck!

 

absolutely........i can "chill out".........all of us should be aware of some info we provide though........right........??

 

I gotta give it to you Rerun, you tell it straight. I gotta admire that. If anyone will bust someone's bells, you will. But you obviously speak from experience. How many years have you been a trucker?

 

Agreed, however next time just point out the correction and be done with it. You made it sound like I was steering him into the abyss. I believe I said " Maybe or maybe try . Almost everything I say on this and every other website is based on either "experience", "what I've heard", "personal beliefs", or if I'm "guessing" and I'm normaly very clear in which it is so others are not steered in the wrong direction or can make their own call after reading one of my post. In this case it was just a suggestion and one that he would of found about very quickly when he called the rental agency. It was not like a "yea a C-15 only takes 5 gallons of oil" or "yea go and buy the XYZfuel saver 3000 because my fuel mileage jumped to 20mpg while loaded at 100k". Cool? Ok, I'm done here.

 

20+ years now........not as many as some others here.......but still enough.......

i try my best to be honest and forthright......sugar-coating was NEVER my forte`