How To Start Under 21

Please withhold all responses such as waiting until I'm 21, not doing it at all, or joining the military. I'm almost 19, and I've been looking at Sage for training because of the one on one factor, but the funds aren't available nor is any loan possible to my knowledge. Another school I looked into is all state career school. The only problem is their program is 6 months, and 10 grand. I could get half paid for with federal aid, and the rest with a federal student loan, meaning I'd have to pay roughly the same as if I went to Sage. 6 months feels like an awful long time, however. The state is very very hesitant to help financially and ends up being little help at all, so that's out of the question.

I've got only a few options.

Make the money myself to pay for Sage, $5800, which may take just as long to save as all state in itself or more but I do get work history out of it and can likely keep the job while taking classes on weekends,

Take the 6 month course which still seems unnecessarily lengthy, with $5k to pay back afterwards.

Find an oil/fracking company or otherwise that will train. In that case, does anyone know of such companies that operate in southwest Pennsylvania? Willing to drive out of my way for this if need be.

The certificate I would get from a school would be very beneficial to get a job at my age, but I would take what I can get currently.

Any advice?

Please withhold all responses such as waiting until I'm 21, not doing it at all, or joining the military. I'm almost 19, and I've been looking at Sage for training because of the one on one factor, but the funds aren't available nor is any loan possible to my knowledge. Another school I looked into is all state career school. The only problem is their program is 6 months, and 10 grand. I could get half paid for with federal aid, and the rest with a federal student loan, meaning I'd have to pay roughly the same as if I went to Sage. 6 months feels like an awful long time, however. The state is very very hesitant to help financially and ends up being little help at all, so that's out of the question.

I've got only a few options.

Make the money myself to pay for Sage, $5800, which may take just as long to save as all state in itself or more but I do get work history out of it and can likely keep the job while taking classes on weekends,

Take the 6 month course which still seems unnecessarily lengthy, with $5k to pay back afterwards.

Find an oil/fracking company or otherwise that will train. In that case, does anyone know of such companies that operate in southwest Pennsylvania? Willing to drive out of my way for this if need be.

The certificate I would get from a school would be very beneficial to get a job at my age, but I would take what I can get currently.

Any advice?

Hate to break it to ya, but 6 months is about average for trucking school... also keep in mind that you aren't allowed to cross the state border 'till you're 21, so most companies won't hire you until then.

Please withhold all responses such as waiting until I'm 21, not doing it at all, or joining the military.

Samuel, if you want good, solid, honest career advice then you're at the right place. If you want us to tell you what you'd like to hear then you're at the wrong place. It doesn't make sense to seek the guidance of experienced professionals but then tell them what they're allowed to say or not say.

Do you want the truth or do you want me to give you some false hope and a failing strategy?

Please withhold all responses such as waiting until I'm 21, not doing it at all, or joining the military.

Samuel, if you want good, solid, honest career advice then you're at the right place. If you want us to tell you what you'd like to hear then you're at the wrong place. It doesn't make sense to seek the guidance of experienced professionals but then tell them what they're allowed to say or not say.

Do you want the truth or do you want me to give you some false hope and a failing strategy?

No disrespect of any sort was intended. I simply asked to leave those out as I felt that failing other options it was a no brainer that those were what's left. I cannot join the military as I don't meet their physical requirements, and not doing it at all sounds country productive to what the forum is about. And the third option of waiting is the only one if nothing else can be figured out.

By all means, I'm open to any input, but I was looking for a specific type of help and i unfortunately came across differently than intended. Again, sorry for coming off as kind of picky, it's just that I've been working on this for a while and I'm eager, given that I haven't even had the chance to set foot in a truck since my dad passed three years ago. Any help is appreciated from you guys, I'm just having a rough go at it. I don't want to resign myself to waiting unless I absolutely don't have a choice. Thanks for the replies so far.

Oh I didn't take it as being disrespectful. And I totally understand what you're saying - you want to know if there's some way you can get going right now without having to wait. But the age thing is a critical factor when it comes to hiring truck drivers. In fact, many of the major companies won't hire anyone under the age of 23. When I first started trucking I was 21 and I only had a few well known companies to choose from. The top ones on my list required you to be 23.

So to try to make any headway at 19 is just a losing proposition. It's not completely impossible, but almost. And if you do find something it's not going to pay diddley squat. You'll be lucky to get $10/hour working for a local farmer or a family owned paving company driving a tiny dump truck. That sort of thing.

Another school I looked into is all state career school. The only problem is their program is 6 months, and 10 grand. I could get half paid for with federal aid, and the rest with a federal student loan, meaning I'd have to pay roughly the same as if I went to Sage. 6 months feels like an awful long time, however.

The reason All State has such a long program is because the Federal Government requires the schooling to be a certain length or they won't back the loans. That's why it's nearly impossible to get student loans for truck driving school. All State is one of a few schools that decided to put together an extra long course that met the Federal requirements for student loans. That's where that 6 month course comes from. And you're right - that is a really long time. There's no reason to be in school that long other than to qualify for a loan or grant.

Seriously, I would love to be able to help you out. If I knew a way you could get your CDL and get rolling right away I'd be more than happy to give you the scoop. But I honestly don't know of any opportunities you'll find that are worthwhile. You wouldn't be able to leave your home state, and no one is going to put you in a tractor trailer driving locally at your age because their insurance company won't allow it and because those jobs tend to involve a lot of city driving and tough backing so they require some OTR experience first.

Have you spoken with any companies in your area by chance to see if they'd be interested in hiring someone your age? Take a look on Craigslist and see if you can dig up anything. If you can find a company that would be willing to hire you they might even help train you so you can get your CDL and go to work for them.

Oh I didn't take it as being disrespectful. And I totally understand what you're saying - you want to know if there's some way you can get going right now without having to wait. But the age thing is a critical factor when it comes to hiring truck drivers. In fact, many of the major companies won't hire anyone under the age of 23. When I first started trucking I was 21 and I only had a few well known companies to choose from. The top ones on my list required you to be 23.

So to try to make any headway at 19 is just a losing proposition. It's not completely impossible, but almost. And if you do find something it's not going to pay diddley squat. You'll be lucky to get $10/hour working for a local farmer or a family owned paving company driving a tiny dump truck. That sort of thing.

Another school I looked into is all state career school. The only problem is their program is 6 months, and 10 grand. I could get half paid for with federal aid, and the rest with a federal student loan, meaning I'd have to pay roughly the same as if I went to Sage. 6 months feels like an awful long time, however.

The reason All State has such a long program is because the Federal Government requires the schooling to be a certain length or they won't back the loans. That's why it's nearly impossible to get student loans for truck driving school. All State is one of a few schools that decided to put together an extra long course that met the Federal requirements for student loans. That's where that 6 month course comes from. And you're right - that is a really long time. There's no reason to be in school that long other than to qualify for a loan or grant.

Seriously, I would love to be able to help you out. If I knew a way you could get your CDL and get rolling right away I'd be more than happy to give you the scoop. But I honestly don't know of any opportunities you'll find that are worthwhile. You wouldn't be able to leave your home state, and no one is going to put you in a tractor trailer driving locally at your age because their insurance company won't allow it and because those jobs tend to involve a lot of city driving and tough backing so they require some OTR experience first.

Have you spoken with any companies in your area by chance to see if they'd be interested in hiring someone your age? Take a look on Craigslist and see if you can dig up anything. If you can find a company that would be willing to hire you they might even help train you so you can get your CDL and go to work for them.

There are a few companies open to the idea locally, yes. Apart from farmers there is a cement supplier. Vac truck, tri axle, garbage truck a tool and die company that I already have an in with, but the issue is they can't or won't help with the process. The upside is I don't have any dependents and can stay at home so long as I'm paying my way or being helpful, so expenses are low and I don't have to be picky with wages. It appears that I may have to settle for some related job in delivery for the time being until I'm more marketable and/or have the money to do it. Advice for what to do in the mean time if no miracle solution pops up?

Sam, I've been reading and commenting on this forum for over a year. One thing I've read here that might help out is for you to get a job on the dock at an LTL terminal.

Try searching here for "LTL dock". You'll be at the right place at the right time to ask about driving. The company may even arrange the training, I think. Look for it using the search box up at the top.

I've been in your shoes, when I was 18 I wanted to drive a truck. But being 18 that wasn't going to happen and I knew that. The best thing you can do is wait but get a job where you can still somewhat get a grasp of the industry (dock work, shipping & receiving). Thats exactly what I did. I got a job at a small company and I became in charge of the shipping and receiving and worked the docks loading and unloading the trucks. It taught me how to properly load the 53' trailers firsthand and I also got to spend time with the drivers. It was a fantastic opportunity at that time.

Here's something I wish I would have known, when you go OTR you will lose your entire life. You will rarely be home, your friends will forget about you, say goodbye to dating ot girlfriends because you will never be home and there's not many girls our age willing to put up with being a trucker girl, you will be a 21 year old working like a 50 year old who is trying to support a family of a dozen children.

Im 24 right now, and from someone who has been in your exact shoes and has walked the walk, I say to you, slow down. Enjoy life while you still can.

I've been in your shoes, when I was 18 I wanted to drive a truck. But being 18 that wasn't going to happen and I knew that. The best thing you can do is wait but get a job where you can still somewhat get a grasp of the industry (dock work, shipping & receiving). Thats exactly what I did. I got a job at a small company and I became in charge of the shipping and receiving and worked the docks loading and unloading the trucks. It taught me how to properly load the 53' trailers firsthand and I also got to spend time with the drivers. It was a fantastic opportunity at that time.

Here's something I wish I would have known, when you go OTR you will lose your entire life. You will rarely be home, your friends will forget about you, say goodbye to dating ot girlfriends because you will never be home and there's not many girls our age willing to put up with being a trucker girl, you will be a 21 year old working like a 50 year old who is trying to support a family of a dozen children.

Im 24 right now, and from someone who has been in your exact shoes and has walked the walk, I say to you, slow down. Enjoy life while you still can.

I suppose I could pump the brakes a little here. The girl I'm talking to knows what may come. Whether she can handle it or not, will eventually find out. Appreciate the feedback, Daniel.

I recently had an uncle offer to try to pull some strings at work to get them to okay me accompanying him and using a truck for some instruction. It would be about a month but unpaid, and he works some awful long and sporadic hours, unfortunately. He usually runs tri axle dumps within the state. If he can make that happen, would it be worth it? I know that even if I got an A, I'd probably not be considered by most for class A work with only b experience. Having class b experience is better than none though I would think.

Really the only thing pressuring me is myself. Kind of just a personality thing.

I like you Samuel, you're going to go very far in this industry. You came off a little wrong but you cleared the confusion and even gave an apology for it. Then you actually listen to our suggestions, you're very mature for your age.

But you know what the hardest part about all this is? You want to do it more than anything, you know you can do it, you can do it, but the world tells you that you can't because of your age. I used to repeat myself all the time saying "just because everyone else my age is stupid and immature doesn't mean I am."

And I would totally jump on that opportunity with your uncle just not fulltime. You still should try to earn money and put some in savings so I would look to earn an income with a job thats related to trucking and go out with your uncle part time when you're available. That way you get to experience his world of trucking but without running out of money. Thats what I would do at least.