20 year old man looking to get into trucking

Each State has a few caveats that may differ, so need to check out the California DMV for specific requirements. I think in AZ you have to have a Class C for something like a year before you can get a permit to get a CDL. Also, at 20 you will be restricted on a CDL to intrastate only, so won't be able to commercial drive outside of CA until you're 21. That will limit you options considerably, but you'll probably still have some options. But, 1st need to find out if and how long you have to have a regular Class C before you can attempt to get a Class A.
No guarantees any of this information is correct. Go to the CA DMV website for the official information.
Best of luck to you.

 

One-on-One Training - Morning Star
Training Opportunities

The Morning Star Trucking Company offers one-on-one Class A truck driving training with an experienced Morning Star instructor in both Los Banos, CA and Williams, CA.

The cost of your truck driver training will be fully covered by Morning Star if you agree to drive for us this season – July through September/October. (Training is Unpaid)

Class C trainees accepted.
Class A permit? We’ll help you get the rest of the way.
Driver training starts as early as February.

Questions and Answers
You have questions. Let’s see if we have the answers.

How long does training typically take?
What if I decide to not work with you the season, will I get billed for training? If so, how much?
What is considered a reasonable DMV record?
Where can I upload my documents?
Are drivers paid by the hour or by load?
How much do drivers make during the season?
Where do we haul and is it

 

If you do end up going to a school down there, or anywhere for that matter, make sure they train in a truck that does not have a synchronized transmission (like a manual transmission in your car). My brother's company sent him to "school" for his class B maybe 12 years ago. He got back ready to drive their new truck, maybe a freightshaker not sure. But anyway he had no clue how to shift so he got a little bit of phone training.

 

Don’t bother with trucking, here’s a better option. I started out in trucking at 22 and wish someone pointed out the railroad sooner. There’s other jobs too but nothings as cool as doing 70 down the mainline in a 14,000 foot train. Seniority is everything the sooner the better…you’ll thank me later. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

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Job Posting- Union Pacific Careers

 

Oh, the impetuousness of youth, whatever happens to that? 1st, it's good you have at least some kind of plan for the future, many 20 year olds don't even want a drivers license today. There are many things to consider. You going to stay single? Can you be left alone to make decisions on your own? Do you have ANY mechanical sense at all? Oh, it looks glamorous to a 20 year old, but many find out, it's not what the recruiter told them, and why aren't I making $100 grand, like they told me?
I say, decide what aspect of trucking you want to do, and involve yourself more with those types of trucks. Forklift and moving trucks, gravel pits, construction sites, even a truck stop, and see just what you might like, but at 20, a bit early, even though, at 20, I was already driving pickups and straight trucks, so you're on the right track. Besides, I think it's still 21 for insurance in most places. Hang in there,,,America needs you.

 

They've honestly destroyed this industry. Free market! Woohoo!

And to OP, I may make good money, but...I'm a statistical anomaly in the overall landscape of this career. I may as well not exist.

 

Well, if you go into trucking thinking you want to be noticed, it won't happen. Trucking appeals to loners and people who generally don't want to be noticed or thanked, or appreciated, it's not that kind of job. It's ironic, it's the least appreciated, yet most important job in our country today, kind of like LEO's, you have got to love it and can't rely on recognition. With Walmart paying $22.00/hr. I don't know what "good money" is anymore, I could certainly live on that, quite frankly, I don't think you can make enough today to be really happy.

 

I've also recommended refueling locomotives.
Couple of guys went to that right out of cdl school.
One told me he made $85K his first year.
~
Velocity Rail Solutions – A. Stucki Company

 

A minor correction. If the original poster of the question wants the maximum benefit ofhis CDL, aim toward taking his road test for his license in a "manual transmission" truck rather than one of the various flavors of "automatic" trucks. I think using thr terms "manual truck or truck with manual transmission" rather than "synchronized transmission" will be understood to more people inside and outside of the industry. IMO, there is no reason for a truck driver to know if his truck's transmission is a automatic or Automatic Manual Transmission. If the truck has a gear shift lever in the floor or if it does NOT have the gear shift lever in the floor, is all that the driver needs to know. If the new CDL holder takes his road test with the state in a truck where there is no gear shift lever in the floor he will get a CDL with a restriction to only drive automatic trucks. Auto trucks are about 90% of CDL trucks, but some jobs are primarily using manual transmission trucks. EVERY unrestricted CDL holder can drive an automatic truck, but not all CDL drivers are allowed to drive a manual truck. I wouldn't go far out of my way to take the road test for CDL in a manual truck. But if I could take the test in a manual truck without much extra expense or time, I would do the test in a manual truck.