Looking For Advice From Experienced Drivers

Come back and ask this question in 3 years. You can't do interstate trucking at 18. In the meantime try to find a job maybe operating a yard truck switching trailers, etc. Unless you have a driver that can drive I highly recommend you not buy a truck. Those trucks will still be around in 3 years.

 

Study up and get your CDL, then get a job with a local contractor — lots of Pete’s hauling gravel, water and equipment — if you show initiative and keep your nose clean, you will not only make good money, you will learn to handle a truck — forward and backward — learn upkeep and maintenance —learn basic securement —basically have 3 years to prepare yourself for the big show.

 

@HammerSlammer
Go get a medical card make sure you can get a medical card you can’t drive a cmv without a medical card and CDL.

 

Dombrowski's Lawn and Garden Center - Florida, NY
This one is driving a "hotshot" truck pulling a flatbed trailer.

 

If you live in farm country you might be able to get your feet wet driving for a farm during harvest.

Edit: I understand you like that Pete, and it is a great looking classic truck but the truck itself won’t give you a lot of job satisfaction. Once you are sure you like the work, then you can start looking at freight to pull on your own. I too thought about buying a truck and now I can safely say I definitely will not.

 

There is absolutely no reason to go OTR unless you want to see the country, stay away from home, or it is the only job offered to get experience. Some guys love it, many do it only for the money.

As far as buying your own truck, you need to spend hours reading the O/O threads to really understand what is involved and what kind of time and financial commitment you are making. 10k a year would probably be cheap insurance. I don’t own a truck, simply because I read enough on the forums to decide it had too much financial risk for my liking.

 

Get a job with a dirt hauler or with a shipping company. Get some miles with them. Some of them may even train you for the job. Unfortunately, you cant get a hazmat endorsement until your 21. Or at least that was the law in 2007 when I got my license. Mega fleets will want drivers with hazmat.

As to owning. I wont say it is a good or bad idea. Yet it requires you to be maintenance oriented. It also requires some business training. You may want to get some college training with how to run a business. At least learn the basics. You will need it if you ever buy a truck.

 

Honestly. You want the 389. And I can totally dig that's your dream.

That's a flatbed heavy haul thing in today's world.

If it were me, I'd join the Army or Air Force and drive truck.

When you're 22, you'll be fully qualified, a vet, you can get a loan easy, and you'll be experienced.