Looking to get into trucking, need advice

Hey all,

Turnin' 21 in a few months now, and I'm just dying to get out on the road, and make some money. My stepdad did it for a few years a decade or so back, and I remember him doing pretty well.

My situation's pretty simple- My work history's okay, I ended up moving a lot between 17 to present, everywhere from Phoenix, AZ, to Lincoln, NE, doing random jobs ranging from car salesman(Do that too long, and you'll begin to question your own humanity) gas station attendant, to electrician, with a few gigs in between. I'm a hard worker- and I'm also willing to settle with what I can get. I'm the kind of guy who'd rather be working for less, both in pay and in treatment, as long as I'm still working. Right now, I'm working a telephone canvassing gig, and it's just not me. First off, I'm a raised republican, and I'm raising money for democrats, so that I can eat, heh. Secondly, office life isn't for me. Trucking's been a dream since I was 18, but I just never thought I could make it real till now. Got a fiance, and if I can figure out a company who'll allow it, she'd love to be with me out on the road.

So, I was wondering if any of you guys out there knew a company with a driver school, easy to get into, that had a reasonable rider program? Dont care about home time right now, just hoping to get a few years experience and eventually get into the oil industry with it. As long as I get a check, I'll be happy. I don't have a cdl, #### for credit presently, and the gig I'm at right now pays crap, so the driver school's pretty much a must, if I can swing it. One speeding ticket(5-9 over), and a goofy park after hours ticket I got when I was 19(What happened, my buddy's truck had a flat, and we got it on at 11:03 pm, when the park closed at 11. Towards the end of the month, and the cop must not have liked me.)

Also,

what's it like out there on the road? Are mountains that bad, and that common of a problem out on the road as a trucker? Is it difficult to get into a position to be an owner/operator? Is the money significantly better than minimum wage? (7.25/hr where I sit)

I know it's not an easy life, being a trucker, but it's one I've had my eye on for awhile, and I'd kill for the chance to get out there, even if it's a bad company, as long as they fit my ticket- Driver school, rider program, and that they have low enough standards to pick up a guy like me.

Thanks,

Mick, the Vagrant

 

BTW, if I didn't mention it, I'm most interested in OTR driving, if you had any easy-to-get into companies, that'd be great

 

Thank you all for the advice.

As for location dictating who'll hire me, I'm willing and able to relocate. I'm not locked down locationwise, whatsoever. I know not many will hire at my age, but I don't need many- heck, honestly just one is all I need. I'm fine with horrid work conditions- One of my last jobs I had a supervisor who actually nailed me in the face with a shovel, then told me to shake it off and get to work. Money's money, in my opinion, and unless I get rich, I don't have much room to complain. And this is something I'm pretty resolved to doing. I'll check out Werner and the Crete triplets(Crete Carriers? My aunt was a dispatcher there, so I might have an in if that's a place worth looking into..) The way I look at it right now, there's either this- or going out to be "all that I can be" with the army, or maybe try the marines. Not all too opposed to the latter choice, but I'd prefer, as would my fiance, that I go trucking and see if I fit.

Anything'll help, still, for the side of advice- I just don't think there's any talking me out of it. College is too expensive an option for me right now, and even if it weren't, hitting the road seems like a more suitable option for a guy like me. I'm gonna finish up this post and keep scouring the forums, and the rest of the net.

Thanks everyone,
-V