Hello, Name Is Jacob

Just because you have been driving since you were 12 in NO way makes you an expert!

The best drivers of today are the drivers who have been driving for years, and can still say, thru bad weather, bad circumstances, or whatever the situation may be, they learned something new today.

THE law is the law. YOU have to wait till you can drive a big rig up and down the highways of life.


As far as paying for diesel, drivers who work for companies don't pay for diesel the company does.

 

With your age you will be limited to driving within California. My advice is to go looking around for place that delivers plants, wood, etc that owns a straight truck/ semi. Apply for a loader, driver assistant position, or any position that puts you close to the drivers and work up from there.

KH

 

Worth reading again!



.............. Jim

 

If you want a plan, Start with a community college or a private driving school. Save company schools as a last resort. That way you can choose who you go to drive for, or change to another company if you don't like the first one you chose or even be able to quit trucking all together just in case you realize trucking isn't for you without getting a BIG bill in the mail.

I started planning to become a truck driver when I was little. All my plans went fine until I turned 18 and got my CDL and no one would hire and inexperienced 18 yr old driver for a intrastate job. Now that I'm about to turn 21 hopefully the rest of the plan will stay in line lol

So go ahead and make a plan and take your time do ALLOT of research! This forum has tons of great info. But be prepared to change your plans, nothing ever works out as planned well at least not 100% as planned.

Good Luck hope to see ya out there on the big road someday!


American Trucker

 

gt4jk

I started truck driving school when I was 22 in Dec of 09'. Check out my thread here for my journey during truck driving school:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ster-orlando-campus.html?highlight=roadmaster

I hooked up with a O/O running east to west coast in Feb. I recently took off a month in March to solve personal and family issues. Now I am getting ready to go out as my options are limited.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...students-point-view.html?highlight=roadmaster

Now I for one would seek the help of an O/O that runs California exclusively if there are any besides the job I listed in my previous reply. I say this as you will learn not to abuse his/her equipment. You will learn pride, honor and the camaraderie that exists amongst truck drivers with this O/O.

KH

 

A second option that will help you is look up companys &read about them on the web. Then find that companys thread on here and read about eveything drivers are saying about them. There is a lot of info on here. Good luck.

 

Jake,
You might look into getting a job with one of the custom wheat harvesters for the summer. They start in Texas and go all the way up to the Dekotas. You may be able to get some experience driving a semi, although it may only be in the fields or on back roads.
Do a google search and see what pops up.