need to know which companies are best for me

alot can happen in 3 years. companies could change hiring policies, the economy could make an upswing or barry could get re-elected and finnish sending this country completely down the crapper. I would wait till i was eligable for a job before i start looking. Maybe a job in a maintenance facility till then would be a good foot in the door.

 

Get out and talk to some of the trucking companies now. It doesn't hurt. Just don't go out and get a CDL at your age without a job to go to. You just have to show the companies you're worth the job. Keep your same aattitude and seek out what it takes at a good company.

 

I can pretty much tell you this at 18 your not going to find anyone that will hire you except for maybe a yard jockey. most company's want you to be at least 23 and i have met quite a few people working at Werner who are 21 and doing OTR so there are company's out there that will hire under 23 but you have to have a #### near perfect driving record and criminal history.

But as said in prior post's Do not get your CDL early without a job landed, If you get your CDL early and when you turn 21-23 and go out for a job and they see you havent been behind the wheel of a truck for 3-5 years you will not get hired its pretty much throwing money away for a .04 BAC licence

 

Welcome and good luck. You've got a ways to go, but at 19 I was you. At 22 I was on the road. Just keep working toward your goal. If you can pass the test do it and rent a truck (possibly strait) and get a lob at a lumber yard or something.

Do a lot of research on this forum. Find out what the industry is about. Driving is a small part of the job.

 

I admire your willingness to work hard to get to the point you're at right now. However "head" knowlege will never be a substitute for practical knowlege. Knowing the shift paterns for different trans although admireable may not serve any usefull purpose in the real world where hand, eye, foot coordination reign supreme. Knowing how to back a trailer is different from being able to back a trailer. Some backing situations have been know to bring a veteran to the verge of tears.

Which company to select really starts with which ones hire where you live. Next thing is what kind of freight do you want to haul, van, reefer, or flatbed. They all have their good points and their drawbacks. What "perks" do they offer?

It's the carefull consideration of all the different variables that will lead you to the best company for you.

In the meantime go through the pre-trip test as often as possible, and keep yourself in the best physical shape possible. Oh, and keep your driving record spotless.

 

Dude in the mean time why don't u get ur class B lisence and go drive a dump truck or somthin? and then when ur 21 u can for A and ull already have expereince driving a truck just not as a combination unit.

 

Another possibility is getting a job as a forklift driver because knowing how loads are placed on a truck will definitely help you in terms of guaging how weight is distributed later on. If you plan on driving espcially like flatbed you'd like to know the load is loaded correctly. Also by then you can get your cdl and yard jockey because you will be a multi skilled person and more useful to the company. Hopefully this helps and keep your hopes up it will all workout.

 

Lots of good suggestions. You have to decide what company is best for you. The suggestion that Heirforce1 made is great. It will give you contacts too. Someone "might take you under his arm" mentor you.