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How soon can I start trucker School?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ded, Aug 25, 2014.

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  1. Aug 25, 2014 #1
    ded

    ded Bobtail Member

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    Aug 25, 2014
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    I'm 22 years old, and I should be getting my regular license in two weeks. I'm extremely interested in going to school to get my class A, how soon do I have to wait before I can? A friend who attends 'All State Career School' said you need to have your driver's license for a year before getting your cdl, is that true? Will companies be weary of hiring me after I get my cdl because I'm a completely new driver?
     
    ded, Aug 25, 2014
    ded, Aug 25, 2014
    #1
    Chinatown Thanks this.
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  3. Aug 25, 2014 #2
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    When you get your drivers license, ask the official at the DMV when you can get the CDL.
     
    Chinatown, Aug 25, 2014
    Chinatown, Aug 25, 2014
    #2
    xlsdraw Thanks this.
  4. Aug 25, 2014 #3
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    No its not true, And the wont care. New is better than a string of accidents and tickets.

    Most local companies I have deal with want 25 years old, OTR will do 22.
     
    Powder Joints, Aug 25, 2014
    Powder Joints, Aug 25, 2014
    #3
  5. Aug 25, 2014 #4
    lowrider123

    lowrider123 Bobtail Member

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    no its not true, however, with you being 22 and just now getting your license, you should get some driving exp. in general under your belt before thinking of jumping into 80,000# truck.
     
    lowrider123, Aug 25, 2014
    lowrider123, Aug 25, 2014
    #4
  7. Aug 25, 2014 #5
    gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    When I was your age I was in the same boat, couldn't wait to go OTR. Looking back, I would rather have started trucking later in life, or not at all ... It is a rewarding career, but it becomes very repetitive and the time away is what sucks the most. If you can take another avenue to do some other line of work and still earn a good living, take a good hard look at that, before you decide that you want to drive a truck. I think a lot about what I would do if tomorrow I could not do trucking anymore. I can't come up with many answers. I am making good money, but not getting rich. I don't know what I would do with the amount of free time I would have if I had a regular 40 hour or so per week job.

    Point being, don't be in a huge hurry ... trucking isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
     
    gokiddogo, Aug 25, 2014
    gokiddogo, Aug 25, 2014
    #5
  8. Aug 25, 2014 #6
    xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    I agree with lowrider. Get some driving experience. Even take a 3 day road trip in your car. See if you can handle the hours of driving.
    I suggest you start in a local delivery job driving a medium duty truck. This would give you a lot of experience in traffic.
    Work your way into a class 8.
    I think all cdl should have a progressive/experience graduated rating. Good luck.
     
    xsetra, Aug 25, 2014
    xsetra, Aug 25, 2014
    #6
  9. Aug 25, 2014 #7
    ded

    ded Bobtail Member

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    Aug 25, 2014
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    I have thought of that. Weekend after I get my license I'm going on a trip to see a friend in cleveland (i live in philly). 500 up, 500 back. Then I have a trip to parris island 1.5 weeks later, and this is all before I would theoretically start school, so I guess I'll see how I am with driving long distances.

    I've tried other things, I got my associates degree before I turned 19, and I've worked two dead end part time jobs since then. Spending another two + years in the classroom to get my bachelor's degree isn't right for me atm. I'm a female and a loner and honestly spend my days watching 14 hours of television, and working out for an hour a day. I need a job where I can actually earn money, (and being able to pay for medical insurance would be boss tbh) I don't mind working and I don't think I'll have a problem with spending all of my time driving (tho I guess I'll see after my driving trips coming up. Even if I only work as a trucker for a year or two, it would pay off the minor bit of college debt I currently have (i'm good with money, but I don't make money to pay it off atm)


    Thank you all for the advice! I'm going to talk to the school after I get my license, see what they say. And maybe apply for some small driving gigs in the neighborhood.
     
    ded, Aug 25, 2014
    ded, Aug 25, 2014
    #7
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  10. Aug 25, 2014 #8
    gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Ontario Canada
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    I take back what I said earlier. We need more females driving trucks. Preferably ones around my age ...
     
    gokiddogo, Aug 25, 2014
    gokiddogo, Aug 25, 2014
    #8
  11. Aug 26, 2014 #9
    Kevin_L

    Kevin_L Light Load Member

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    Jul 5, 2014
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    This ,there will be small things that happen when driving a 4 -wheeler that will stick with you . Maybe you make a right turn on red and you didn't notice people waiting to cross on the corner ,in a truck this is deadly but in a 4 wheeler this is a lesson.


    Maybe you forget to yield when turning left on green ,once again life lesson in a car but deadly in a truck
     
    Kevin_L, Aug 26, 2014
    Kevin_L, Aug 26, 2014
    #9
  12. Aug 27, 2014 #10
    walterjacobo15

    walterjacobo15 Light Load Member

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    Aug 23, 2014
    Here and there
    0
    A year AGO...
     
    walterjacobo15, Aug 27, 2014
    walterjacobo15, Aug 27, 2014
    #10
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