Query about starting a Trucking career!

Ok newbie heres the answer. First if you really want this kind of life and are serious about it do the following. 1-go to a well established driving school for your cdl. 2-after you graduate try to stay away from big companies such as Swift,schnieder,warner, etc. Its going to be hard at first and you are not going to be at top pay right away. But a smaller company who have well experanced drivers that will train for otr. the right way. Been driving on and off sence 1975 I love it and it just keeps drawing me back. Most people would say I'm crazy for coming back but they too have envested most of there lives in this venture. It'll be hard and take some time, but you'll pull down more than 200 an month form sure.And yes you have to have a your normal lisences before you can obtain your cdl. Sounds like your only 16 or 18 yrs old but alass you must be 21 to drive a big truck and hold a class a cdl. Hopes this helps and keep the fire burning but remember there is alot of disappointment in this venture and you need alot of patience too good luck keep us posted on your progress.

 

Sounds like your only 16 or 18 yrs old but alass you must be 21 to drive a big truck and hold a class a cdl.

Thats only half true. You can hold a CDL-A at 18. I got mine at 19 and been driving truck ever since. The thing is you got to be 21 to have your haz-mat and go OTR. That aint gonna be a problem for her as she's 23 and can do all that good stuff.

 

My Post was not against you!!! I said rude but funny, it was! But that was directed at his comment! Nothing to do with you! Hope You get your license and blow my doors off! I'll enjoy eating your fumes! Hope you make it! A lot of people dont! Good Luck!

 

most states you can get a cdl at 18 however you can not go interstate (across state lines)untill you are 21

 

It will cost you about $150 or so in fees just to be qualified for a Class A regardless of how you get your license. I believe there is a clinic on brodway that gives free DOT physicals on saturday mornings around 5 or 6 AM somewhere around the Department of justice. I really believe that Foodlink is the best way to go as all you actually pay them is $50 for the drug test and there is no better training nor do you need a permit to get in as they help you get it. Foodlink has a very good reputation with employers in the sacramento area. All i had to say to get my first driving job was foodlink and thats no bs either.

The only similar program was through the Charles A. Jones skills center which was recently cancled. You may still be able to get into Mike Lowrie Trucking's free (provided you work the whole tomato season for them) driver training program which garuntees you a seasonal job. Not having reputable training puts you at a disadvantage with potential employers so i don't recommend finding someone to train you unless a job comes with it. good luck however you decide to do it.

 

read the post on the other companies, don't get tied to a single company