Comments By Carl S.

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.

I would wait to get the Class A. Once you are 21 you can not only get you license but you will most likely be able to attend company sponsored training which is great due to the fact that they pay for your training and see to it that you get experience.

Schneider, Swift and Prime all have company sponsored training. I'm Pretty sure there are many more but I can't think of them at the moment. Stick close to the CDL instructor you know. You will have a tremendously beneficial grasp on the industry most don't have when you first start.

Get a dash cam and start a YouTube page that is just about cars cutting off trucks. People love watching idiots.

That sounds like an awesome start. A place that's like Wal-Mart for truckers? That's amazing. One of the big reasons I want into this is to see stuff, even if it's trucker Wal-Mart.

Did you end up driving in NY yourself?

Thanks for keeping us updated.

I only did half of NY as my trainer said some of the hills required a bit more skill than I had at the moment.

My first week on the road has been a very interesting and testing one. I haven't hauled a load that was below 42,000lbs. Hauling mostly Beer and meat from Cargill. I have to say the scariest parts are the grades but my nerves are building.

A few high points for me

1. I got to see Primes home terminal in Springfield and my god I have never seen anything like that in my life.

2. I got to see Iowa 80 on my 5th day on the road. It was like Walmart for truckers.

3. Ran great miles (4,500) from Upstate NY to Jacksonville FL, then way back up North all over again.

4. Learned a wealth of knowledge from my trainers. He is a owner-op at prime with 7 trucks under him and 30 years experience.

5. I got to see the worlds largest Peterbilt dealer. My god, I understand why they have such a religious following.

I can honestly say I'm having a blast. I don't miss home but I do miss the comfort of my own toilet. I like the smaller family owned truck stops like Sapp Brothers. They feel a bit more welcoming and home-ish.

Now the part that sucks.

The cars. JESUS CHRIST. The cars. The amount of disrespect when when it comes to lane changing, merging and just plain courtesy. I truly think some people have a death with. Never in my right mind would I cut off 78,000lbs of 60mph truck.

All in all this trucking thing is everything I thought it would be plus more. Again, I feel like I owe TT a world of thanks cause you guys prepared me for this job more than my CDL school and anyone else I've talked to. The knowledge and know-how you experienced guy share with us rookies has a unquantifiable value and I appreciate it more than words can ever express.

Congrats brother. I'm in my first week of TNT with Prime. TT was good to me as well. Best of luck to you.

Server Tech at US Department Of Justice.

That's the place Brett. The funny part is that once we weighed at the guard shack they sent us back to the dock for another 5 kegs.

Oh yeah. They don't mess around at any of the beer companies. They load you to the max.

I don't know if you had the chance to look around inside that place but all of the Budweiser plants are immaculately clean and you'll rarely see more than one or two workers wandering around the place. Most of their entire operation is automated. They even have computerized pallet movers which are nothing more than small platforms on wheels which read sensors built into the floor. They'll go pick up a pallet of beer off the assembly line and the system tells it which dock to take it to. It just follows the sensors in the floor. Pretty amazing operation they have.

Brett, I seen a thing they had on the Discovery Channel about the automation. The efficiency is out of this world. My Trainer said that's how Skynet and the machines take over......... with automated beer movers.

But with all that said its a heavy load but a nice haul. Delivering in Jacksonville Flordia. It shouldn't take me anytime to get to 40k miles.

Downgrades........ Why God? Why would you create 45,000lbs and downgrade. Why not be merciful and just pick one

That's a fair question!

Did you happen to pick that up in Baldwinsville, NY outside of Syracuse? I used to go to that plant quite a bit.

That's the place Brett. The funny part is that once we weighed at the guard shack they sent us back to the dock for another 5 kegs.

My first official full day of driving..... 79,420lbs through the hills of NY/PA. I think my heart rate is back to normal finally.

Downgrades........ Why God? Why would you create 45,000lbs and downgrade. Why not be merciful and just pick one

Hats off to guys like Daniel B. who use to drive for LW Tractors with 49,000lb loads for Prime. You sir are a Titan.

I'm 6'7". I guess ultimately I will look like a taco shell.

You might just want to throw a mattress in the trailer. Best of luck to ya.

My trainer finally made it to Pittston to get me. I only drove for about 2 hours before we shut down for the night. Being 6'5 and trying to get comfortable in the top bunk is a battle but I'm in it for the long haul (see what I did there?). This is my first time driving with weight and we are hauling 22,000lbs of taco shells. Current in upstate NY and the roads are not bad.