Age Restrictions

Yes I was a rookie once, but I didn't start off driving OTR pulling doubles out in the west where you can go from smooth sailing to blinding snow or rain in a matter of moments, and yes I know its the rookies getting in trouble all the time because its a small company, people know what goes on.

Good for him, I too got my cdl at 18, I pulled a belt trailer for two years until I got into doing heavy haul, I now pull hopper doubles and am just shy of 24. I'm glad to hear your boy is doing well on his own. Hard work and common sense really does pay off.

I can agree with this, I'm not slamming on rookies in general, I'm slamming on the rookie "professional" drivers that you mentioned.

 

I know said young contractor well. The situation is exactly as his dad describes. My advice to all you young wannabes...get the most diverse experience you can within your state. Develop a stable work history. Learn how to be humble and listen. I assure you, whatever company you are going to work for knows trucking far better than you do. So don't be ####y or mouthy, just listen to how they tell you to do things. Definitely keep your nose clean. We will bend the rules or fight our insurance company to allow a young driver that we believe in. If you have a DUI, moving violation, etc, there won't be much any company can do for a young guy. Get a mentor. A lot of you young guys will have a dad or older sibling that was a driver. Regardless, you will really need an old hand you can call when you run into a situation you don't know how to handle. Oh yeah...last but not least...check the attitude...listen to the old hands. These guys have forgotten more about trucking than you will know for several years. If the last sentence offended you, you are not ready to be a trucker.

 

I started at 18 and knocked on doors until i got a local job, the rest is history been out here working and putting on the miles ever since...

 

I think this isn't the best advice, if they really desire to drive then why waste 5 years they could be out getting experience and making money???

 

i got my license pretty much the day i turned 21 and didn't have a problem finding a job because of my age. there are plenty of companies you can go to at 21 and get your 6 months or a year and go from there. do not wait until ur 23 to start driving. i am 23 now and have already found the company i plan on retiring from. i couldn't imagine just starting out now.

 

I'm spacetrucker's son. I highly recommend for a young guy as myself to go and do harvest, whether it be wheat, corn, silage etc. This will accurately teach you how to handle a truck on gravel, dirt etc. Hualing wide and heavy loads at a young age got me to where i am today. The feedlot was the best experience i got bc getting into and out of pens with cattle running around and the tight quarters we worked with. the 95000 lbs. we hauled was nerve racking bc the distillers grain was partially liqiud. you learned very quick to not get yourself in any situations such as running fast or following to close bc if you slung DWG on the ground it was a pretty big deal. todays so called " professionals" wouldnt last very long with their driving styles.

 

they would surely be paying some very large clean up bills anyway.