Starting Off?

Alright. So I got my license at 16yo and haven't had any tickets/incidents on the road. I enrolled in college in August 2009 and quickly learned that wasn't for me (for many reason which isn't really necessary). So I decided Trucking sounded right to me and started doing research on it. My step-dad used to do local trucking in a busy florida city so he gave me some information.

So first question. He told me that certain companies will pay for you to go to a trucking college as long as you sign a contract to truck with them for X years on X pay. I was wondering how legitimate this route is and if it's rare to find or not?

Second. I know 99% of trucking companies won't even have a second thought about you unless your 21 or over. However, I heard the Coca-cola/Pepsi companies fall in that 1%. Is this a good way to get some experience? Even if I do happen to be 21 at the time I apply?

Third. Where's the jobs at? Local would seem to be more suitable to me, however I'm sure it would for a lot of people thus less job openings. Long-haul would also be fine, but I know they require usually 25+ age and quite a lot of road experience.

Last. I've seen in a previous post that trucking companies won't take you unless your straight out of trucking school, which means I should probably enroll when I turn 21? And do they have career opportunities on graduation, or are you left to fend for yourself?


I'm 19 years old right now working at a pizza place that I'm hoping to get a manager position at soon. I plan on moving to Tampa, FL with some friends soon but by the time I get settled and on my feet I'll probably be 21 years old. I just wanna know from some vets whats the smartest way to go about this ... no matter how complicated!


P.S. Would a college degree in anything get you anywhere on the trucking field? From my experience working in a min wage fast food joint college kids can be the laziest narrow minded kids I've met ... so I'm hoping not haha.

 

Yea I've been looking through a lot of the stickied topics. I've heard that on the road jobs are actually usually the best way to go for starting out? I was thinking the complete opposite because I thought you had to have quite a lot of experience for OTR. BUT I didn't think about being able to have a vet partner that could train you so maybe thats the way to go.

I know the hours/time away from home is quite long OTR driving, BUT I'll be living with some friends so in all honesty I don't mind that at all, and I'm sure they won't care as long as the bills get paid haha.

 

Well, the only reason I'd be moving to Tampa is because a couple of my friends will be attending University of South Florida and we were all planning on renting a house down there.

I don't plan to do local trucking unless its the only thing available. I didn't know, however, that OTR companies hired right out of schooling ... I thought that was only if you signed their contracts. I've heard that if you are on contract with your teaching company they'll team you with a more experienced driver to help you out? Is this true, and will they do this if you employ with a seperate company from your schooling one?

 

Good, I definately do not want to be an office man .... kinda the whole reason I'm planning on dropping college. Just because that type of work is waaaay too boring for me.

 

Well I know the earliest I could probably go to get my CDL license would be around 21yo because I want to get standing on my feet first and pay all my debts off to my parents. I don't know if that'd be too early to have the college set me up with a job or not.

Also, if I cannot get set up with an OTR job, I've heard Pepsi/Coca cola companies hire at 21 with no OTR experience (as long as you've just recently graduated from schooling). Would this be a good option till I become of age? or should I just stick to a 9-5 POS job until I hit 23?