New to trucking and car hauling, I need some advise!

Hey brother best of luck to you on your plan- I kinda did the opposite of you though, I got my CDL with my tuition assistance on Camp Pendleton in 2010, started with a dually and a 3 car, and now use a Intl cab over with the same wedge, looking to buy a bigger trailer. Just retired from the Corps OOHRAH!

 

Many 18 yr. old drivers start out with household goods moving companies and drive intrastate. You could start out as a helper and move into driving. Check the yellow pages or online for household goods moving companies and also their agents. Get the CDL now so you can show your experience started the date you got your CDL, even if you're only a helper. By the time you're 21 you can show 3 years CDL experience.

 

Ahh your big huh. I robbed a bank for my cdl. Lol

 

freebird ...let me preach on ...
Auto transport is a complete different animal. I owned A 3 truck/trailer operation for about 8 years with 7-10 car capabilities. I learned the old fashioned ( and expensive I might add) way. Realize you will be wet,cold,freezing, hot, ridiculously hot and even HOTTER in the summertime. sweaty ,nasty and dirty at times and have a grin on your face in the teller line at the bank...! Most corporate transports will train you in load planning etc. Just realize a stinger truck turns and handles different. Good luck and it's a great career.

 

I work for Cassens out of Louisville,KY..And I can tell you that you have to be 21 years old to work for us..Sorry dude..get your cdl and wait till your 21 and apply

 

Many excellent replies and encouragement for Freebird: Well done gentlemen.

The sore spot for me in this discussion is the age discrimination on behalf of our government(s). There is no reason why a person should have to wait 'til 21 to drive interstate commercially. The military will happily snap him up and put him in harms way to do similar work, so why restrict him from civilian roads? Is this a law based on union lobbying? Yeah, I went there - all due respect to my Teamster friends.

While I understand age requirements are necessary, the arbitrary "21" restriction is odd and indefensible.

Politics aside, the best advice, IMO, is to hire on with a tow company. That will help you get a feeling for moving cars, earn you a fair living and possibly a career as a car hauler, as many tow companies run big rigs too.

 

Id say 18 should be the year of a CDL, it would have allowed me.to get out of state alot sooner