advice about getting into trucking

Yes, but your main problem will be the rules the insurance companies impose on your potential employers. Some have the age requirement set at 19 or 20. Not saying you won't be able to find a job. You'll just have to look harder. Don't get discouraged.

 

You are pretty young to have already made up your mind about your future. Some people find out early what they want to do with their lives while others never seem to find their direction. Feel free to ask any questions that you may have and I will be glad to try to answer it for you.

The CDL is like a national drivers license for commercial drivers. Although issued by individual states, the rules should be the same in each state. So, you should be able to get a CDL at 18 in any state, but will be restricted to only driving a commercial vehicle within that state. We call that intrastate driving.

I would encourage you to get your education. You may not want to drive for the rest of your life or you could become unqualified as time goes on. For instance, you could get hurt or have medical problems which would prohibit you from driving and the degree would help you find other employment. It will also help take up the time between the time you graduate high school and can drive over the road. A good education will expand your horizons and offer more opportunities in the future as well as give you some options that you may not have without the degree.

 

Most over the road carriers will not hire drivers who are younger than 23 or 25 years old due primarily to insurance regulations.

 

I am glad that you plan on furthering your education. I think that it is great that kids can take college classes while in high school. An associates degree is good, but I would advise you to move forward to get your BS degree or even an MBA if you choose to get a degree in business. I don't think anyone can have too much education.

 

Here's something to think about. Try to get on at a UPS loading facility while you go to school, they will help you get your CDL while you are working. All the while you are building seniority with them. If after finishing school you still want to be a driver, you are in line for one of the best driving jobs around.

 

It is refreshing to see someone at your age who wants to save their money. Most seem to want to buy the latest gadget. You could go ahead and get your CDL when you turn 18. You might even find companies that will hire you, which will give you some driving experience. I would not pay for driving school until you can actually go to work. If you do then you will need to do it all over again before most carriers will hire you once you get older. I don't know where you live, but local logging companies and other types of operations might hire you at an earlier age as well as driving a dump truck. If you choose to get your CDL then I would suggest that you get the CDL A rather than the B. You need a class A to drive something with an 18 wheeler. If your dad or you know someone who owns a truck that will allow you to practice then it could help you to get your CDL without going to school. You will need to have a truck and trailer in order to take the driving test for the CDL.