High school student looking at a job in driving big rigs

1) i do not know

2) YES...!!!

stay in school get your education, maybe go to a college for management/business courses...


some companies WILL NOT even look at you till you're 21...some until you are 25, 26..!!

then you would only be able to drive "in state" or "intrastate as it's called....(if under 21)

and at under 21...i think this will be a difficult job to obtain....

 

KEEP YOUR DRIVING RECORD CLEAN!

That will be your first goal, your driving record...your age right now will be a large factor...in CA, 19 or 21, I can't remember exactly the minimum age, but check with the WA DMV to get those specifics.

But your driving history and driving habits will be something you should really keep in a good standing.

good luck to you!

 

Your best bet under 21 is:
1) freakin anyone that will hire you
2) which is realistically something local, whether it be beverage, dump truck, or some other vocational work (best possibility)
3) sad part is, your 3 years of local work (assuming you drive local til your are 21) in most cases, does not count as OTR experience. Your schooling will count as experience, but that was 3 years ago. A refresher (as ridiculous as it sounds) may be required.
4) Your driving record most definitely counts, as well as criminal record if there is one.

Not trying to be harsh, its cool that you want to enter this industry, its just tough. And at your age (i'm only 21 myself) its difficult to get on somewhere unless you know someone that counts on the inside. Hang in there

 

Go to school! If you don't, come back and read this in 20 years!

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

 

1- CDS, Lakewood WA: Independent school. They have a lot of connections with local (intrastate) companies to help you started. That said, your age will be a factor.

2- Most definatly. Any accidents, tickets, DUI, driving on suspended, driving without insurance will factor.

Advice: at your age, I would try to get on an LTL company working the docks. They (most commonly) recruit dock workers to become drivers. Plus you earn a decent income while waiting to turn 21. This assumes that college is unavailable to you for financial reasons.

 

Western Pacific Truck School in Kent,WA does training. So does Bates Community College, CDS in Lakewood, WA, theres one in Spokane, WA which will get your foot in with TSI and they might be able to hook you up with a local job doing tankers. You might look into running dump trucks or a job with Lowes doing class B until you can move up to class A. I know they're looking for drivers right now. Best of luck to you.

 

Trans Union in Tacoma (actually closer to Puyallup on River Road)