No Driver's License During Driver Shortage = Workable?

Hi there,

I just made an account because this was the first site to come up when I was trying to find info on this (read on), and you seemed like a bunch of nice, knowledgeable people. I was recently gathering some input on what I might be able to transition into as I just became...not homeless, as I found a room to rent for the time being and have semistable income, but let's say "in between homes".

One thing someone mentioned was truck driving, and she even mentioned the stuff I've seen you all recommending about finding a school that will pay to train you and get you on the road ASAP after you get your CDL etc. The only catch is, I'm 31 and never had a driver's license. I would think that would preclude me from being able to do one of these programs, and told her so, but she said that because there's apparently a huge driver shortage right now, places might have changed/be willing to also get you your normal license first. Is there any truth to that?

I've got 0 ties holding me down and could go literally anywhere as long as I was able to afford it (say if they covered travel and training, or even paid a stipend-type thing like I've seen you guys mention?). I'm not looking at this on a whim (even if it might seem that way), and if I saw a financially viable path forward and the license thing could be figured out, I would tackle this with the same hard work and dedication that got me through graduate school (I know driving semi trucks and academia are vastly different, but I just mean, it seems like they both take a lot of time and dedication and I'm willing to put that in).

Any thoughts on this besides a direct answer to my question(s) would also be appreciated if you're willing to share them. :)

#1 NO Matter what, you WILL need to have been licensed, to drive a car for 1 year minimum...... Trucker shortage, or not, don't matter either. Their insurance companies hire you, not the company in the real world.....Another reason you will need to be trained thru a 160 hour course....

So basically, you will need to get a drivers license first and go from there.

You will need to hold a car license for a minimum of 1 year, some companies might require longer.

Get your license ASAP and keep it squeaky clean in that time, try and hold down the same job in that amount of time. Then apply for company paid training you will probably get some bites, the driver shortage isn't going to end anytime within the year.

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

Lots of city dwellers never have a license or a car.

Some states require you to have held a regular driver's license for two years before they'll issue you a CDL , gotta check with your state's DMV.

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

Well, during high school I lived within walking distance of the campus, then during college I lived on-campus or within walking distance, then moving back to AZ it has a surprisingly robust public transit system (and I lived a 15 minute bus ride from campus while working on my master's. There's certainly been times it's sucked, like when I had a 2 to 2.5 hour commute ONE WAY to a job, so double that round-trip...but given that I wouldn't have been using a car outside going to work/school, 98% of the time, any suck was outweighed by not having to ever buy or maintain a car/car insurance. Plus, public transit commutes are perfect for reading/drawing/time to learn and better myself.

dozzat answer your question there, Mikey? :)

Otherwise -- thank you guys for the responses, message received, I shall plan for a longer-term...plan, then. Good luck on the roads out there!

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

Well, during high school I lived within walking distance of the campus, then during college I lived on-campus or within walking distance, then moving back to AZ it has a surprisingly robust public transit system (and I lived a 15 minute bus ride from campus while working on my master's. There's certainly been times it's sucked, like when I had a 2 to 2.5 hour commute ONE WAY to a job, so double that round-trip...but given that I wouldn't have been using a car outside going to work/school, 98% of the time, any suck was outweighed by not having to ever buy or maintain a car/car insurance. Plus, public transit commutes are perfect for reading/drawing/time to learn and better myself.

dozzat answer your question there, Mikey? :)

Otherwise -- thank you guys for the responses, message received, I shall plan for a longer-term...plan, then. Good luck on the roads out there!

Nicholas;

I was born in NY. My mom NEVER held a D/L !! I hear you there.

I've been doing some 'independent' research on this, myself . . . with the 'new' laws coming out next month... it almost will make proper licensure MORE stringent, actually.

"Beginning February 7, 2022, all entry-level operators of CMVs in both interstate and intrastate commerce who are applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL) must first satisfactorily complete minimum training requirements before taking their state-administered CDL examination."

I hear you, and I feel you. At 31, it would make SENSE for them to give you a chance, but then again, not being familiar with highways, byways, roads, and infrastructures behind the wheel of a Personal Vehicle (PV,) at all yet . . . sadly it won't happen.

Please don't take offense, y'all vets and mods; I can actually 'see' the O/P's viewpoint here!

Best to all,

~ Anne ~

I would be extremely surprised if yiur State of residence would allow you to apply for a CDL permit if you have never been licensed for, nor driven any type of passenger vehicle. Driving a 70 foot Semi-tractor and trailer combo with 80,000lbs is an entirely different animal, than driving a car, truck or van. None, that you have any experience in doing.

Federal law requires a driver's license before applying for a commercial learner permit.

I think the OP is underestimating this a bit. Going from not driving at all to driving an 80k lb truck for 11 hours is a huge leap.