19 years old - any point getting a CDL at this age?

25?


I've been truckin since i turned 18!



Until you Turn 21 it'll be VERY hard to find a job, my advice try to line up a local job, if you can do that go get the license and take the job.

IF

You cannot do that wait till about 2 weeks before you turn 21, and go to CDL school, that way you'll finish about 2 weeks after turning 21, which is enough time to get all your hazmat, passport stuff togther. Then you can go OTR.


There are 20+ companies that hire 21yr old drivers fresh outta school.




American Trucker

 

I got mine the week after I turned 19. It's not something I think I will be able to use till I'm 21 . Companies will hire you at 21, but remember that for every job you apply for with the stipulation of being 19 there are 15 people that are over 21. Not very good odds be if you want to get it by all means get it and sit on it "gaining experience" till your 21. Pound the pavement looking for a job, talk to the smaller trucking companies and see if they will give you a shot in a dump truck. Good luck.

 

Not if you go OTR for 2 years. Doors magically open then.

 

heres a short list that hire at 21:

Watkins Shepard
Millis Transfer
Prime
May Trucking
KLLM
Roehl
Werner
JB Hunt
SNI
Navajo
GTI
Conway Truckload


and many many more





American Trucker

 

The thing is Buck, that if you go through a school now and get your CDL, you probably won't get hired for a few years yet. Which may very well mean you will have to go BACK TO SCHOOL again to qualify as a "recent" graduate, for insurance purposes.

I'm not saying it is impossible to get a driving job at your age. But before you spend the money going to a school, at least know of some company that WILL hire someone your age.

There are other possibilities here. You can possible go to work for aggregate or construction companies as grunt labor, and work your way up to driver. Also you might think about doing that with an LTL where you start out on the dock.

Just be sure that these companies will allow you to "train up" to a driving job before you start with them.

Otherwise, you might just as well go do something else for a few years, then when you are old enough to get hired, go through the driving school.

Good luck.

 

Wouldn't be allow to do OTR till your 21.You can still do local gigs.Also turning 21 doesn't mean it get easier,there are few companies hire people under 22 of age,some do hire at 21 but not many as far I know.Most companies I came across age requirdments where between 22-25.You would have to check with each company.

 

Try getting some experience at a local construction/tri-axle company. the pay is usually halfway decent and your home everyday.