Interested 20 Yr old.

Hey man, I also started as soon as I turned 21.

My advice: either go to a Community College CDL program, or go apply to be a dockworker now at an LTL company (from the list in post 9), and you can move up to driver from there.

I do not recommend going to a private CDL program (such as Roadmaster), or a company CDL program, with companies such as CR England. With that sort of arrangement, you will either have to work for them for a year to pay off the "free" schooling, or pay it off yourself in cash if you decide to go to another company before the year is up, and many of them aren't cheap.

Some of the guys on Youtube talk up their company because they get a bonus when they refer someone. So, be aware.

Some companies will not hire you until you're 23 because of insurance reasons, but that's ok. I didn't have an issue finding a job at 21.

It's a good career with decent income if you make the right choices. You are already making a good decision by doing research here.

 

CDL training costs about $5k. At a lot of those "free training" companies, you will make so little that it will cost you more than 5k in that year than if you were to work at a higher paying company.

If you're short on cash, you could go get your CDL through one of those companies, then pay for the training instead of working for them for a year. Member @Friday went through Swift's CDL school, and then went to work for another company.

 

And don't forget that I used the other company tuition reimbursement program to pay swift for their cdl school.

 

I don't know if it's possible to start at 20, but it sounds like the perfect amount of time to get the permit and do a community college course. Then as soon as you turn 21, get your unrestricted cdl-a and apply to wherever hires new grads.

The dock to drive could also be great. I'd go straight to ups if you want good money in a few years. Also with them you could always transition to a local delivery if life calls for it.

 

Many companies hire 21 yr. old drivers and hire PA drivers.
Many suggestions already that will get the job done. If you like being around people all the time, then the local beverage companies or dock to driver program is good. The beverage companies, you're more of a delivery guy than a truck driver; in and out of stores all day.
If you prefer long trips and more solitude, then try long haul companies.
Here's a few long haul outfits that hire 21 yr. old drivers. You can attend a private cdl school or trucking company school. Most trucking company schools pay for lodging & meals.

Roehl Transport - has their own cdl school and pays $500.00 weekly while in their school. Flatbed, dry van, refrigerated to choose from. If you want to see the country, go with their National Fleet. One of their schools is in Besalem, PA.

Veriha Trucking - has their own school & can be home weekends if you want. One of their terminals is in PA.
Millis Transfer - has their own cdl school and runs Eastern half of USA.
Maverick Transportation - has their own cdl school.
Knight Transportation - has their own cdl school.
Carter Express - has their own school.
MCT Transportation - has their own school. Coast to coast refrigerated trucking.
Online Transport - has their own cdl school.
Prime Inc. - has their own cdl school; flatbed, tankers, refrigerated. I recommend tankers; they pull food grade, not hazmat.

Plenty more to choose from that don't have their own school, but do hire 21 yr. old cdl grads.

 

To be 20 again.. yeah that monthly pension from the military sounds about right if I only had my head screwed on straight when I was that young that's what I'd done had a few buddies that went that route one of them gets 2,500 a month the other one I'm not sure what he's receiving now. Anyway I'm sure there's a lot of young guys on this site that can give you great advice but if you run across @Dye Guardian pick his brain a little bit he's Young fella from one of his other posts on here I believe he is 21 or 22 running flatbed out of Canada. Indefinitely follow some of the advice from these seasoned drivers they're only trying to help you because I remember being 20 nobody could tell me a #### thing don't be a blockhead like I was make sure you take their advice