anyone change career from mechanic to trucker.

No, not a mechanic, but I was a dispatcher for 11 years with Waste Management. They decided to centralize dispatch to Columbia MD (I was in Chesapeake VA) and offered me a severance package and I took it. Saved my severance checks and went to Sage School at Northern Nash Community College in Rocky Mount NC last July. Got out in late August and went to work for Howard Transportation a flatbed outfit out of Mississippi for a couple of months and got released. The flatbed just wasn't for me. Went one month and put in several online apps. Companies like Epes, Schneider, Roehl. Was going for dry van/reefer. Put in an app with Abilene Motor Express (Richmond VA) on a Wednesday morning at 2 am and 8am sharp, Sally Arndt from recruiting called me and invited me to orientation and that was almost 5 months ago. I am now soloing into my 3rd week and really enjoying it. If you like driving/traveling, and don't mind being alone and away from home, it's a whole lot of peace and quiet. If you have no criminal record, no DUI' s and willing to go to school and go over the road for your first year or two, it's a different but good for me lifestyle. I enjoy it. If you keep your driving record clean, you'll always be able to get a job and for me that's peace of mind. Good luck. Quit turning wrenches. Go for it.

 

I missed the part that you are only 20. I think you may have to wait until you are 21 or 23. Not sure, but I still think it's a worthwhile career, especially if you are single. Best of luck Dave.

 

I worked as a Mechanic from 18-20. I started Truck driving School 3 months from my 21st B-day. Started at my current job with Systems Transport Flatbedding just a couple months over age 21 and i'm still doing it now. I'll be 22 in just a couple months now.

You won't have any trouble finding work at our age. I've only ever filled out one application for a truck driving job and needless to say i got it

Perfectly doable and i don't regret doing it at all. I wouldn't recommend it as a long term career though. Just something fun for a couple years to stack up some cash and see the country. I've already saved over 10 grand.

 

You can obtain your CDL at 18, however youll be bared from Interstate driving and will have to stay Intrastate until 21. Im told most companies wont bring you on until 23 due to insurance requirements.

 

Some like Swift hire at 21.

 

Abe "Run Hard Get Paid" Atallah went from a mechanic to trucker but he couldn't handle it so he's back to changing spark plugs. Look him up on YouTube if you have any questions for him. Ha!

 

I did it approx. 20 years. Had approx. 8 years as a mechanic and it's been quite helpful as an O/O.
Now I enjoy turning wrenches on my personal vehicles and I do all my own work on my big truck.
I also only got into trucking as a tempory thing and couldn't find anything else that paid decent to get out. Or just never wanted to go back to a real job.

 

When did they change that? I got on with them at 21, but, at least at the time, they required you to be 23 unless you'd done at least I think it was three years of active duty military time (I'd done four) and attained the rank of E4 or higher (I was E5).
As for me, I did the opposite, except I went into the HD diesel field, rather than automotive.