Just a few questions...

Dozens of companies hire 21 yr. old drivers.
Where is your location, city/state?

 

Good; lots to choose from.
If you can afford private cdl school, there are many trucking company choices.
Here's some that hire 21 yr. old drivers:
Navajo Express
Don Hummer Trucking
Melton Truck Lines
HO Wolding
TransAm
J&R Schugel
May Trucking Company

If you want inhouse trucking company school:
Earl Henderson Trucking - reefers
Prime Inc. - tanker division or flatbed division
Millis Transfer - dry van

That's my take on it!

 

Either way is a good option. Personally, I think the private school option is better, others may disagree. The advantage in my view of a school is that you can apply anywhere you want after graduating (or like in my case back in 1993, I had a job offer from Dick Simon waiting for me, my instructor handed me the info as soon as I passed the test, and I was flying out to Salt Lake City two days later). The upside of a company program is that they cover your tuition, as long as you agree to stick with the company for a set amount of time.

 

I always suggest looking for a community college program especially at your age. The better you learn the safer you will drive.

 

My recomendation would be

Community college or Private school. Lots of schools pushing 16 week courses,for big $$. That's total nonsense, just get the 160 hour course. Be proactive and call the company's your interested in and make sure they hire from the school you choose.

 

In regards to community college programs; it would be a good idea to ask if truck driving program is treated like a traditional academic course that requires placement exams. A year or so ago, a buddy of mine checked into the driving program at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) and was told that the program would require him to take the COMPASS exam, which is basically just a set of placement tests that score your math and reading / writing ability. Essentially, he would be treated like any other prospective college student even though the course was vocational in nature.

Granted, this may be an isolated case, but something to keep in the back of your mind when considering community colleges.

 

USA Trucking hired me at 21, was quite a while ago ha, but just saying