College or trucking, what to do between 18 and 21?

Do college... determine if you don't like that, then go trucking. It's almost impossible to start trucking for a few years then if you decide you don't want to do it anymore go back to college because by that point you may already have payments like house...car...wife...etc. and can't survive on the starting lower pay if you are an apprentice as a diesel mechanic for example.

 

I went to college for O about 2 days and I dropped out. Got my CDL's officially at age 21. I started driving a truck at 19 for Lowe's part time Intrastate. I am now almost 31 and I have been driving a truck for over 11 years. Me and my dad are in business together, so If your passion is to be a truck driver then do it.

Honestly my passion wasn't driving a truck. I Honestly did it because it was the fastest thing going to make money at that time. Even today it still is the fastest thing going to make money. My passion is Home design and art work. I have a passion for painting so if things do not get better this year I will probably get out of it.

DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY AND NOT WHAT MAKES MONEY!

 

Everyone thinks you’re crazy!!! Of course they do, they’re not going to even consider Driving or working on Trucks. Get on Utube and anywhere else you can learn about repairing Diesels. It’s free and maybe start working on that Truck. You’ll learn fast if it’s something your interested in. Diesel schools sometimes aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Met more than 1 graduate doing grease jobs at the Truckstop. Just getting involved will lead to more opportunities. Meeting more people in the business. Having a can do attitude goes farther than anything. In no time you’ll have a lot of offers either working or driving them. Good Luck.

 

I can’t help but think, You got the fever!! That’s what happens when you go Trucking with Dad. I was 4 yrs old, Got the fever!!!

 

Do both, but do college first. You'll do better in trucking with at least a basic business degree. That's something most drivers don't have, and why they find it hard to become an OO. Going back to school after working for a few years is never easy. Once you get a taste of the real world and making some money, school always seems to take a back seat.

 

Best advice

 

College has turned into an institution of brainwashing. Im glad I drive truck and can still think for myself. I have to use for liberal b.s. ideals.

 

Join the military, have them pay for your school when you get out.

 

If you can fix and maintain your own truck you've got a good shot at being a successful owner operator and who knows? Someday own a big trucking company. I second the suggestion of joining the military. Great experience great benefits and service to your country. Win win win. Best of luck to you.

 

Almost nobody runs a mechanical engine today. They don't get good MPG that is really important in today's trucking. You can't go to California unless you a modern emission truck. That's not really a big list you could skip California loads

I had a 2011 emission truck and it broke the bank. So I can't say they are the way to go. The newer like 2015 and up trucks are better. I'm driving a 2017 company truck now and it been pretty reliable.

They have air disc brake now and they are BIG improvement over drums. They have auto shift transmission now. I know lots of driver will put down this auto shift transmission but I'm driving one as a company drive. So I don't have worry about repairs. They seem to be the future and are very nice to drive.

We might see electric trucks like Tesla semi be the future. Almost no moving parts and 1,000 HP