Newbie driver, looking for info!!

Unless you get real lucky, they wont help you til your 21. Insurance/age/experience requirements. I think you have to be 21 for hazmat, not 100%. As far as a truck anything you can get in and get experience a Mack or KW it dont matter. Theres plenty of threads and info here just search and search. the process.... know and understand its no 9-5 job, long hours, hard work, 1st couple yrs usually poor pay and worse home time. If your still interested get a cdl guide and study, study, study. Then get your cdl either on your own or through a trucking company, which I wouldnt recommend it makes you their slave for 1-2 yrs. But you have to be 21. I know where your coming from wanting to get them early I was gonna get mine at 18 but couldnt find work because I was under 21 so I didnt waste my money til I was old enough. If you test now youll have to find someone to let you use their equipment to practice with and that will pass an inspection for you to take the driving test. Which ever way you go good luck.

 

It's 21 for hazmat. At 19, any truck you can get into is going to be as good as it gets. Good luck finding employment as a CMV driver at 19. You're going to need it.

 

Go learn how to work on them, having mechanical knowledge before you start trucking will serve you well as long as you are in the industry. Hang bellied buffet junkie wheel monkies that break stuff and don't know why they broke it or how to fix it are a dime a dozen, These fools can break an anvil in a sandbox and are the ones contributing to the poor public perception of truckers. Become a student of the industry, look for ways to improve it and make contributions toit.

 

Sounds like your saying your getting them before 21.

 

If you start early with your CDL you may be like I was a year ago, digging myself into a hole. I was in the EXACT SAME situation your in about a year ago. I was 19 wanting to get my CDL so as soon as I turn 21 I'll be ready. I'll give you this example since its what happened to me.

Say your 19 and you want to get a head start on your CDL. You go through trucking school, pay about $2k to $5k depending on your location. You get your CDL, GREAT! BUT, you have to stay intrastate until your 21, so no Carrier that does OTR will hire you. So you say okay, no big deal, I'll get a local job. Most local jobs, with the exception of some Mom and Pop outfits, require OTR experience. Vice-versa, OTR companies don't see Local experience as any at all most of the time.

What would basically happen is IF you get a local job, work that till your 21, then try to get an OTR job you may have to pay to go through a refresher course.

I'm not saying it can't be done, and I'm not trying to discourage you, but think about everything before hand. What I ended up doing is pre-paying for trucking school. I started when i was 19, I just paid it all off a month ago and completed the online courses for National Training. I'll be going to school next month, then in October, 13 days after I graduate I'll be 21 years old.

So the advice I'm giving you is, while your 19, study the CDL handbook for your state. Read it 2 or 3 times a month like I did. I did that for 3 months, then didn't touch it until 3 months ago, I read through it over and over. You'll pass your CDL permit test the first time if you pay attention to everything in there. When you about 2 or 3 months away from turning 21 try to get into a trucking school if you can afford it, since companies will sometimes substitute trucking school for 2 or 3 months of driving experience.

Hope this might help you, keep us posted as to what your doing though. I hope the best for you. It looks like your in a good state for possibly finding a local job.

 

Your 19! Go to school and get a into a real job!

This career is reserved for those of us who have run out of options!

 

Any local experience doesn't count towards OTR experience. So you are really not benefiting any unless you stay local.

I wouldn't get hazmat either. I've had it my whole career and haven't used it but maybe once a year, if that. You can get it when you find a company that requires it.

You're young. Enjoy your last two years. You have the rest of your life to work.

And like chompi said, weigh all your options. You have all kinds of opportunity in front of you. A person is most happy if they love your job. Take one of your hobbies and mold a career around it. If driving and living on the road is what you want. Go for it.