Age requirement

Most likely not since the schools are set up to work with major motor carriers and you have to be 21 to operate in interstate commerce. You may find a community college with a cdl program that will take you under 21 but unless you have work lined up local you may be wasting your time as most major carriers will require a refresher course at their school if you do not start driving right after getting your cdl. Also, depending on your home state you may be restricted to a class b and unable to get a class a until you are 21.

 

I was in the same position you are in now when I was 18, I got my cdl a with my dad's truck but ended up driving school bus and straight truck until I was 22, it was hard finding anyone that would take me even at 22 but I kept at it until I found a really good job, one I would still be with today if they didn't go out of business. I would try to find a local job even though most big companies will not count the experience it will make you a better driver if you get some miles in before you turn 21 and in my opinion it shows commitment and dedication to being a driver. Good luck with what ever you do.

 

Some have posted on here, they got their CDL-A as young as 18 yrs. old and are restricted to driving intrastate. until the age of 21. One of them got a job with a household goods moving company, delivering and picking up, within the state.

 

I remember a couple of other examples; one driver under 21 said he hauls steel to construction sites within his state and another hauls hay and feed to farms/ranches within his state.

 

Where are you from? That will help narrow things down. Just about every school will train you at 18. They're all ready to take your money they just won't be able to help you much in getting a job. There aren't many companies aside from the trash haulers, grain coops, etc. You're limitted to intrastate driving so that puts you behind the 8 ball but it can be done. I know a couple kids that have got their cdl before the age of 21 and have made a decent living running local. Home every night and make as good of money as an or driver starting out all depends on the school and connections they have. If a school doesnt at least have options for you before the age of 21 as far as I'm concerned you shouldn't be paying them for training. No school can guarantee you a job they all give you options but all schools should have the option to place drivers that are under 21. That's my thoughts on the matter. Good luck

 

I was a mechanic myself before I started driving. Try a community college, that's where I got mine through and they had no problem taking me when I was 18. I found a job driving instate milk trucks when I was 20. It can be do e but the difference for me was I knew the owner of the company that I hired on with, my shop worked on all their trucks.
Good luck!