CDL at 18?lots of questions!

I don't think it will hurt you to get it at 18 but just realize that you aren't going to drive over the road and that you are going to run into some hurdles as far as getting insured. At the very least though you can run a dump truck or really any job that requires a cdl. I think its a good thing to get as much experience as possible as early on as you can. There maybe jobs out there also where a CDL can help you get your foot in the door. For example, working for a power/utility company. You may get hired on just reading meters but you have your CDL and that shows that you have some incentive and are eager to climb the corporate rungs. 3-4 years down the road when a lineman position opens up you will be there for the taking!

Another thing is that when you finally do turn 21 if an insurance company sees that you a have had your CDL for a few years they may cut you a little break.

Now on the down side, you need to be very responsible as a younger CDL holder. You will be a professional driver and will need to act like it! Any slip ups between now and 21 -23 years old and your chances maybe null and void! Keep your license as clean as possible and remember that your license is your "bread and butter".

It's really good that you are wanting to get your CDL and get yourself a decent job. Ideally you should use that decent job and money obtained from having a CDL to put yourself through school. Wouldn't you rather own a trucking company then drive for one?! As a young person having your CDL will most likely bring you more money than most jobs at that age and you are going to feel as if you are making great money! However once you are out of your teen years its not going to seem like very good money.

Stash your cash and put yourself through school! You can do very well for yourself if you choose the right path!

Good luck man...

 

Not sure if I really want to own a trucking company...I want to do some major traveling while Im still young.But I understand your point completly.Who knows?I might be burnt out travelng in five to ten years...so maybe it would be better to own?Ill think about it.thank you for making time to answer my question.

 

I'm counseling my nephew about this very issue. His parents had been pushing him to go to college, he's been hankering to get behind the wheel of a big rig. Had dinner with them and spelled out the options in dollars and cents. Graduate college in four years with about $100,000 debt.... or get your CDL and within weeks or months you are hired, making money, and getting experience to move up to anything you want to do in the trucking world at the age of 21. Gave them some food for thought (and the lasagna wasn't half bad, either).

 

I got my cdl at 18 mainly because it was needed to test drive trucks for the shop I worked in. I was not able to find a driving job until I turned 20 then got hired on pulling milk. The only thing I will caution you on us most companies will not view local work as experience. Every company I talked to said I would have to go out for six weeks with a trainer even though I had a year under my belt already.
That being said, I still wouldn't do anything different if I could, it did open up a few more doors than might have been available otherwise.

 

Interesting story lepton....pretty sure the lasagna helped!

 

Got mine at 18. Drove my dads dump truck part time. Worked for 2 construction companies driving dump trucks, laboring and operating from 18-20. At 21 I bought the truck I had been driving and did the whole family business routine. I'll turn 22 at the end of the month. Thankfull I had such a good situation, the family business part did help with insurance especially at 18. I live 20 miles over a pass from Idaho I misses out on a lot of work cause of the stupid under 21 intrastate regulation. Like others have said look at local construction companies they will likely be your best bet. May even get to pull a pup trailer or transport equipment. And you'll get PLENTY of experience backing into tight spaces. Good luck and keep us updated! Also, it sounds like you have but research the laws. I had one scale house lady think I have her a fake I.D. when I gave her my vertical under 21 drivers license!

 

Yeah this too! I remember getting a letter saying if I got anything bad ex:
More than 5mph over even in personal vehicle
Anything reckless
Even not using my turn signal
DUI obvious no no for truckers, but you'd be surprised

They won't even look at me again till I'm 23 or 24.

Makes me glad I talked my way out of a 3,000lb overweight ticket today!

This year I did actually change insurance carriers and didn't receive such a letter from my new carrier.
,