Is it stupid to get a CDL at age 18, 19, or 20?

You only need one CDL job to get paid, not most CDL jobs. IMO you are better off if you identify the job first and then decide about when, how, where to get the CDL.

Maybe I'm missing something. What do you think is the reason you would want to have the CDL? IIRC, if you have a CDL you can face a lower Blood Alcohol Concentration level if stopped for suspicion of DUI/DWI, or whatever your state calls driving after having too much to drink. I have hardly had any alcohol to drink since I've had a CDL, but that is more a coincidence than a choice, so I just remember some drivers have asked questions about a situation with the cops and I vaguely remember something about a 0.04 and 0.02 BAC in the regs for CDL holders. I might be wrong about that.

 

I had my cdl in high school when I turned 18 before i graduated.
Worked intrastate til 21, the next week after birthday went OTR flatbed.

 

Wow that’s funny you were just slightly north of me in upstate NY and now your slightly south of my home in Venice Florida lol
I just returned to NY today and I was in Fort Myers this passed Sunday.
I travel back And forth from that area often.
I’ll bet the many opportunity’s there are a little overwhelming to you compared to the few in the North country?
Glad you are doing well there and believe me in my opinion you made the absolute best decision getting out of NY!
Although the snowmobiling isn’t very good in Fort Myers the jet sking is awesome and so is the weather lol

 

Get your Class A and run local, but I'd recommend starting with something simple like roll off trucks, they pay good and it's easy work, you can practically take a roll off anywhere like a car. Build that experience so when you turn 21 and go interstate you'll know what you're doing.

 

Foodservice is a good job for a young fella. I think it pays ok too.

 

Other than you now have to pay out of pocket to go through cdl training I would absolutely get it. Got my cdl the day I turned 18 and could have plenty of jobs if not self employed

 

Ha. I actually lived in Lysander, NY, northwest of Syracuse but spent alot of my time off up in the Tug Hill, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, etc. That place will always hold a place in my heart. But yes, It was tough to decide which job to take, but on the plus side, If I dont like this next job, I can get a different one easily. lol

 

I haven’t left my state in a semi in 3 years and I am doing just fine… get you cdl work local… and when you’re old enough if it’s even attractive to you you can go otr/regional

 

Just don't do this at one of those rasslin' matches. The bump to end all bumps.

 

So I guess gone are the days of studying the CDL manual, taking the written test, getting a permit, borrowing someone's truck for the road test, and going to work?

Seems if that's the case, it benefits only the big companies that offer training in return for a year of indentured servitude.