Comments By Max E.

Here is the problem with being 18 with a CDL.. Insurance, and lack of Experience. Unless you have a connection within a local trucking company it will be very difficult. Insurance rates for a CDL driver are already insanely high.. add in that you are 18 that could be a cost that a company isn't willing to pay. So unless you have a connection to a company it could be hard before you are 21. I am 24 and some companies still won't hire me because of my age. 25 is when you finally graduate to the "I'm a safe driver group." (at least according to insurance companies.) Just try getting a rental car before you are 25.. It is insane the fees I have to pay.

If you are paying money to get your CDL I would defiantly hold off training until you get a for sure commitment from a company that says they will hire you out of school. 3-6,000 dollars is a big bill to pay for CDL school if no one hires you.. Even if you get your CDL and just wait till your 21 to find a job most companies will make you take a refresher course.

Just adding to what has been said before.. don't believe the internet when it comes to a lot of these major companies. Plenty of people on these forums have worked for those companies and have loved it. Trucking like most other jobs in life is all about what you put into it. Are these companies 100% perfect? No. But nether is any other company. Find a company that works for you and your situation and make the best of it. Get your experience and then find a new company. Most of those companies are "starter companies." Be grateful they are giving you up to a 150,000 dollars worth of equipment and a load that can be worth a million bucks.. its a lot of responsibility for someone who has never driven a big rig before. You will quickly understand that on this forum we don't put up with company bashing.. 95% is what you put into it. Work hard and this career will bless you. Blame others for issues that come up? You will not last in this job or in most jobs.

Best of luck to you.. Like you I wanted to start driving at 18.. probably would have if they let me but it is very difficult at 18 to find a CDL job.

Those private fleets seem like awesome gigs.. I hear Walmart treats there drivers very well also. I'm hoping to do transfer and regional type work with my company instead of local. It would be paid by the hour which is almost unheard of for regional work. They would be a private fleet and they also have overnight detention pay. Pretty much guaranteed 70 hours a week.. time and a half after 40 plus detention pay makes a good paycheck.

Just wait till winter. You will be begging to go down south. Hahaha

The only thing I don't like about winter is ice. The temps are right up my alley.

Speaking of winter....does reefer freight drop off in the cold months?

Never pulled reefer.. but from what understand it stays pretty constant year round compared to van. People always need food

Just wait till winter. You will be begging to go down south. Hahaha

They will not let you do that as long as you are wearing the Dbacks gear....

Watch yourself.. love my Dbacks hahahaha

Saw the season premiere, but have been on the road since.....no mention of the Polar bear in that episode........is he off this season?

This is the first episode I have seen in over a year.. but I haven't seen him yet.

Ice Road Truckers is on right now, Its interesting watching this again after about a year of driving and a majority of a winter spent in North Dakota. All though some of this show is dramatized I still enjoy it. Its a good watch. Plus.. this show really spiked my interest in trucking and made me want to hit the road. Would like to hit the Ice Road for a season still.. Maybe one day.

Hopefully this works out.. I was very interested in working for them but they don't hire out of phoenix. Bummer for me. Are you still going to team if you make the move?

I always new I was going to hear a rant about something stupid whenever a driver comes up and begins a conversation with "When I started driving." I knew I was going to be stuck listening to this guy for a half hour while trying to watch Sunday night football in the TV room

Hahaha this guy ran the oil fields where I was for awhile. All I could think was if he was complaining about being tired before.. can't imagine he will be here for to long. Well.. he wasn't after about a month he said the company fired him because of his youtube video where some news lady came and interviewed him. Just more excuses from him really. He is just one of those guys where nothing is his fault. Last I saw he was back with some OTR company wanting to lease and or buy his own truck. All I could do is laugh. He is a fool.