Wannabe driver with serious questions!! PLEASE HELP

1. 21 years of age
2. Most probably have already driven a manual transmission car before CDL school, but either way, you will get the hang of it a little in your CDL training. Many have never driven a stickshift before though also.
3. Once you have that CDL, it is not hard to find work- as long as you show yourself to be a responsible, hard-worker, with a good clean driving history, and a good work history.
Good luck!

 

You have aways yet.Can't start till 21 but most companies require 23 to be the starting age.Truccking I woul say is one of the easiest jobs to find as long as you live in their hireing area.Most companies hire all 48 states.I would strongly suggest waiting till you turn 21 and find a company youre interested in that'll prehire you before getting your CDL.You get it now it'll just be a waste of money.But there is an unless.Unless you can find a training company that'll take you to drive intrastate.That means you can drive within your state an ONLY your state at age 18.Interstate is 21.

 

You'd want to check locally for companies hiring CDL-A drivers for "Intrastate Only" as Pattyj stated. If you want to pursue that route for the next 3-5 years... I can't come up with a reason why not, but I've no experience on that end.

Check with the local companies and see what they say.

I admire your attitude... good luck.

 

1. At age 18 you can only drive a commercial vehicle within the state that you have your CDL license. As others have said, at age 21 you can go interstate. Some companies want age 23, but most starter companies will use age 21. You could work for a local company doing short hauls, such as a Farmers Co-op hauling corn, beans, or fertilizer. Don't know where you live from your post.
2. It is helpful to have an understanding of how a clutch works, and how to be able to use it. You will be taught how to double clutch in school, which is a requirement to get your CDL. So knowing how to use a clutch is one less thing you have to learn in school. It takes practice to use a clutch. The shifting in a truck is so much different than a car or a pickup that you will have to learn that in the truck or in a simulator machine....you cannot duplicate truck shifting in a car.
3. Truck driving jobs are plentiful, but many companies want 1 or 2 years experience. But there a still plenty of companies willing to hire new graduates from a school. Trucking companies have very strict and specific rules on how clean your background and driving record must be, in order for them to hire you. They publish those requirements in their ads online, and you can see what they are wanting.

 

One good way to start your trucking career at age 18, is with household moving companies & their agents. You can drive within the state and become a helper & driver. Google will help you locate household moving companies and their agents. You can still go to a CDL school, and then apply with the moving companies, or do it the hard way, and work toward you CDL while working with the movers. I recommend, if you can, go to a short CDL school, then start work with the moving companies. You will be known as a "bedbugger". Best wishes.

A few bedbugger companies :

NAVL
Bekins - bekinsA1jobs
United Van Lines
Wheaton World Wide
Allied Van Lines
Mayflower Transit
Atlas Van Lines
Graebel Van Lines
Global Van Lines
Corrigan Moving Systems

 

If anybody has connections it's you.You have been great on this forum with advice an leading ppl in the right direction.You helped me out with tanker which I lost the list of companies,but i'll ask you for the list again when I decide to make the move.

 

Ok What I was going to say been said, but one other thing I did not see other than keeping your MVR clean is also keep out of trouble with the law with DUI and Drug related charges. If you use illegal drugs you have 2 choices Risk it and lose any chances of working or drop the habit. I seen to many lose out due to drugs.

 

At 18, you can drive a truck in the US Army or reserves. You'll get experience driving a big rig. And then you'll also have the GI Bill when you get out, which could be 21 or 22 depending on what you go in for, and you should be able to get your CDL when you get out.

Or you could go in the Air Force and learn how to repair aircraft, which might serve you better in the long run.

Or you could go in the Air Force for a different skillset, one that will set you on your way to becoming an engineer or something that will set you up for the rest of your life...

.02

 

1) 21 but there are comapniea that say 23
2) I, like you, have never driven a stick till I got to school. My trainers told me better you dont know because eaiser to teach.
3) I, too, live in Ohio and there are jobs aplenty here. I had 11 pre hires before I went to school. Seems like Ohio one of best places to live if you want to truck.