Why do some companies have a minimum age requirement?

insurance ...

 

Its their policy and their insurance probably requires it.I don't know why they think 23 is a more mature age then 21 just take a look at the many crashes and accidents this industry has.

 

I've never really understood the age thing either. I've trained a lot of guys over the years. And regardless of age, they all seem to make pretty much the exact same mistakes. Those mistakes are a result of experience level and training. Not intelligence, maturity, or age. A well trained 21 yo can drive a truck just as well as a well trained 23 yo or a well trained 50 yo. But in answer to your question, insurance companies usually have the last say on you getting hired anywhere.

 

Sorry..i didnt even read what you wrote to be honest bc like already said.
Insurance. Some compaines want 6 mo ths experience some 1 yr some 2 years..
Insurance has a play in that also.
Passengers in your truck have age restrictions..insurance purposes.

 

that was my biggest problem. i being 18 can not find a job anywhere. luckily i have a real good friend that let me drive. i drive my own truck now pulling a flatbed, with my own truck insurance, yes they will insure me but its for a pretty good amount of money each month..

 

Woody --

The minimum age requirement of 21 is for interstate trucking. It is a federal regulation; it's been around since the 1930s. It's based on an assumption that some degree of maturity should translate into a safer driver; I won't argue that. It is what it is. The 23-year old minimum for many motor carriers is based on the same thing: an assumption of some degree of maturity; again, I'm not going to argue about that; it's of course true for some drivers and not true for others. So if an insurance company tells a trucking company, "No drivers younger than 23 or your rates will go sky high," the insurer is looking at statistics: younger drivers get into more accidents for their age group, and no motor carrier wants to pay higher insurance rates.

In most states -- maybe all, I don't know -- 18-year olds may earn and possess CDLs and drive big rigs WITHIN the state. Maybe there's a carrier in your state that would give you a shot. Also, you'll have to start somewhere -- we all did -- and your first company probably won't be your last.

As to what MrEd said: +1. I've seen any number of arrogant/stupid/incompetent/know-it-all 50-year old trainees who should never have been allowed near a truck.

 

Where is your location? There's dozens of companies that hire 21 yr. old drivers.
I have a pretty long list of them and will give you some names if I know the hiring area you live in.

 

There is a guy that drives for the company I work for (which is a very small company,as in 5 trucks) that started driving when he was 13 years old. He is now 29 years old and a really good driver. He was of course running highly illegal for years. He worked for his Grandfather driving North Dakota to Texas on regular routes taking mostly grain combines. He worked around his school schedule mostly summers and weekends. Says his Grandfather knew how to get around all the scales and that he was very lucky.