20 years old, what can I do until I turn 21 to prepare?

The OP is on the right track (doing his homework and preparing as best he can) and this is a good start.

Best thing I could recommend is decide where you want to be if you could do anything you want TODAY. I mean decide on type of trucking you'd like to do in terms of geographic scope any hauling type. THEN, there are often ways to approach the entrance portion of the trade to fast-track you to that goal, instead of going down endless dead end paths like many of us have over the years/decades before we finally found a gig we liked.

I will admit, deciding on flatbed, tanker, reefer, oil field, food service, etc is hard to do until you actually give it a go for 6+ months and get a REAL sense of what it is, as opposed to the conflicting feedback you'll find here, but at least you can learn what to look for and add these points into your considerations pile.

 

Some good advice is already here, I'll just add if you haven't already go get a copy of the CDL manual at your local DMV & Carry it with you so when there's extra time, you can study it & know it forward & backwards. Also start doing the practice CDL tests here on this site as well as other sites. Also youtube has lots of videos to watch on backing, shifting, etc. Save up as much $ as you can for when you begin in orientation somewhere. Live your dream out, along with your IT experience one day you could become a dispatcher if it turns out you don't like trucking. Just don't job-hop too much, the good trucking companies won't take you. Here's a video to start you off...
Good Luck

 

I disagree, the majority of people here are always eager to help as this thread has already proven. The miserable trolls are the minority.

 

Chinatown gave you the best possible advice in post number 6...heed every word. Good Luck !

 

A lot of beverage companies will hire you with nothing more than a permit. Once you've driven a smaller day cab, with a licensed driver for a bit, they typically give your CDL road test "in house". Try companies in your local area, such as Coke, Pepsi, Budweiser, Miller/Coors, etc. It's a lot cheaper this way, plus you get the experience you need. Get an appreciation for the actual size of the vehicle and road "manners", before you try and jump into a sleeper and take off down the road. I drove a beer delivery truck for 8 years and a food delivery truck for 5, before trying sales for a year. Sales sucked and I missed being in the seat; not the labor of delivering, but the actual driving. So, after all those years, I bought my first truck this past January! Good luck young man!

 

You're one for one coach....one post , one thanks....gave you your 1st one....great advice to the OP...

 

Thanks Tony... I wore my body down for so long. Finally signed up for Truckers Report about 10 minutes ago and thought my past could help this young man. That's why they call me the Coach.

 

Steps to prepare to be a truck driver:

1. Learn to pee in bottle

2. Learn to sleep in box

3. Don't shower for 4 days

4. Pick a spot on the map.... say about 3hrs away... now go out at rush hour, try to make it to that spot in 2.5. If not you lose the game. Now the best part once you're there you must sit and wait for 3 more hrs. Pretty much either way you lose.

 

keep posting advice just like your first one , I'm retired...But i also drop in here to help out when I can...you and Chinatown , both beat me to this one. welcome to the site !

 

Possibly... But I researched what I wanted to do as an O/O and I don't have this issue!