Having a hell of a time finding work UNDER 21

Look up and see if there's a Helena Chemical by you, they operate auger trailers, hauling fertilizer both non and haz, (ammonium nitrite) for those endorsed, I started there at 20 and stayed til 23 left the company then went on the road pulling flatbed. It's a good start for experiance, pays hourly.

 

FMSCA requires you to be 21 to drive OTR, that reduces you chances drastically.

I agree with the check in with farmers, to get that experience.

 

He's in Texas. DFW. Good central location to run intrastate.

 

Like mentioned before if I were you I'd check into a harvest crew. Start in TX and follow the harvest north. Good experience moving equipment and trailers back and forth. The fact that you're 20 won't matter, you'll be able to drive out of state doing that. And there's a good chance you could run the truck local during the winter months to keep working.

 

Just apply everywhere and remember every NO is you getting one step closer to a YES.!

 

Try local towing companies, most tow companies will put a younger driver in a non-cdl truck until he can prove himself then move you up. It will help give you some experience, and you may meet some local trucking customers that may give you a shot. I started driving a light duty wrecker at 16, had my class A by 18 and drove school bus, worked as a diesel mechanic for the bus company and drove heavy wrecker on nights/weekends until I was 21.

 

It's kind of an exemption. You're hauling farm to market so as long as you have a CDL you're good. You couldn't load a load in TX and head north with it. It has to be harvest related so you'd have to be moving combines, trailers, etc but once you got to where you're going you can haul out of the field. Ag rules are totally different. If a farmer owns a truck and hauls his own product he doesn't even need a CDL or an annual inspection. But for a young person it's a good way to get experience.