Comments By Allison M.

Keep your head up and don't let them bring you down! Not a lot of people understand why we choose to do this, and they don't realize it's something that makes us happy or will make us happy. Don't let the lack of support bring you down. Once you get out there and are doing it, they may be a bit more supportive. Safe travels!

You think you're confuzzled now, wait till you try to figure out cb lingo :)

I can only imagine.........

http://youtu.be/a_Tje6kdeLg

Breathe Take your time, there's no rush. Don't let your nerves get in the way of your concentration, but don't overthink it. You've got this!!

Allison is gullible:

Just my strategy since I've seen a lot of horror stories from major company schools.

I've seen it many places, not just a few drivers who got angry. Not being gullible just paying attention.

That, and it should take longer than 2 or 3 weeks to learn to drive one of these things. I don't agree with the CDL-mill schools tossing out students left and right. I also don't agree with sending new CDL grads with trainers who have only been driving a year or two. That's why I'd just rather not go through a large company school.

Want to get it asap so I can get some experience, as I'd like to stay away from the Swift, Prime, J.B. Hunt, etc. companies that have the training. Just my strategy since I've seen a lot of horror stories from major company schools. And I want to make transitioning to OTR life easier on myself health wise, nothing in my health will make it harder for me to drive but it's the mental security of "ok, you know how to handle the driving, just learn the lifestyle." I don't know, just my thinking.

Yep, I know accident and insurance rates are sketchy. That's why most companies won't hire until 21 or 23. I totally understand the reasoning and everything behind it, and I know there's a huge risk. But I must add in a comment that some 18-year-olds have better judgement than some 35-year-olds. Just a thing.

And I'm definitely staying close to my instructor friend, she taught me to pull a horse trailer and is keeping her eyes open for a potential position for me next year. That being said, I already know backing a *slightly smaller* trailer, turning radius, just general things about pulling a trailer and I've been driving that for about 5 months.

To clarify: I won't be 18 until next year

So I'll be 17 in just over a week and have made a career decision... That no one in my family wants for me, so I'm pretty much on my own here. I do have a very close friend who is a CDL instructor who has helped me a lot recently. Yes I would like to drive, and I know where I'd like to go to school. It's not a company school and since I'll be 18 when I get my CDL (hopefully) I can't get the three months or one year of OTR experience most local companies in my area require. I know if they're truly desperate they'll likely take someone just out of CDL school. But how would an 18-year-old female be seen to companies? Would I be taken seriously, or be seen as somebody that can be taken advantage of? I'm not willing to let that happen and am usually the first one to spot something "off" around me, so if something like that happens I will get out quickly. The local jobs that I have seen consist of making a lot of stops and me unloading the trailer and moving everything myself or with minimal assistance, something that I'd like to stay away from simply because I have a bad back and chronic pain. I can still function, have no problems driving long distances, and I am still pretty strong, it's just hard for me to stand and work more than half an hour at a time. **i am seeing a rheumatologist very soon, so this may change** I need to drive in-state. My goal is to go OTR as soon as I'm 21, I just want experience. I'd like to go for tri-axle but most around here want a minimum of 3 years experience driving truck.

So I guess what I'm asking is would it be worth it to get my CDL when I'm 18 (not necessarily as soon as I'm 18, but I'd like to get it as soon as possible) and try to find an in-state job? Would companies take an 18-year-old female seriously? Is there a way I can "get around" the minimum experience requirement? Something I've noticed is places want experience but no one wants to give experience. I live in Pennsylvania if that makes any difference.

Her commercial literally brought tears to my eyes. My family doesn't approve of me wanting to drive truck (I'm almost 17 and female) and they'd be happy with me doing anything BUT that. Naturally, it's the one thing I want most to do. Been struggling for a while now trying to figure out the plan for the next few years. Everything about her commercial rings true for me, I love it! I've been watching Allie on YouTube since September/October and a few other trucking YouTube vlogs.

Hey there, I'm in a very similar situation! I'll be 17 in September and have wanted to drive truck for a long time. Parents don't approve, but hey, it's where I know I'll be happy and I'm not going to be happy stuck in one place. I love driving! I plan to go OTR asap which would mean 21, but I've really been thinking hard about getting my CDL when I'm 18 and doing some local work (stone/dirt hauler, something just to get me in a truck). I've checked out a few places in my area online and so far no dice, but I still have a lot of "homework" to do. It's good that you're already in with UPS! I'm still technically jobless, lol, but I'm saving up when I can and already have a CDL fund. One question: have you ever hauled/pulled anything? I ride horses and have started pulling our horse trailer... Know it's not very close to a 53' but it's something... And I can work on mirrors and backing, backing is the most difficult but I'm getting it. You said you're already practicing the UPS driving method, just reminded me of what I'm doing :) but if you get a chance or know anyone with a trailer of some sort, get them to teach you how to pull it. It really opened my eyes up to the challenge of backing but if I can get this down with my trailer, I'll already know the basics.

Anyway, good luck and keep us posted!!

Hey there Mountain Girl, just want to send you some encouragement!! I love that you posted this, being aware of your mistakes, the reasons, and looking at all the positivity. I think we all need to think the same way you are. Keep it up!!

Isn't it sad that we have to worry about things like this?

Great tips though :)