Looking For Some Guidance

I am 18 and i want to get my CDL and become a truck driver after i graduate high school (june1st) but i'm just not sure of the process this entails, also i would love to drive national but knowing i cannot do this till i am 21 i was curious if there were company's that hire intrastate drivers with opportunities to start driving national?

I am 18 and i want to get my CDL and become a truck driver after i graduate high school (june1st) but i'm just not sure of the process this entails, also i would love to drive national but knowing i cannot do this till i am 21 i was curious if there were company's that hire intrastate drivers with opportunities to start driving national?

Gonna be a tough road. You might get on with a farmer or a sand and gravel/construction company. Road construction is where I would look. You will start with dump trucks, belly and side dumps. Garbage trucks might be another avenue for you.

You might be able to find a trailer mechanic or diesel mechanic position for the company you want to drive for.

Hey CJ. There are very few companies that will hire someone under the age of 21 to drive much of anything. What I would do is check on Craigslist and any other sources you can find for local work and make some phone calls. See if you can find some companies that would be willing to hire you once you've gotten your CDL. I wouldn't go to school unless you can find at least two or three companies that say they'd consider giving you a shot. Otherwise you might wind up with a CDL and nobody willing to hire you.

At 21 you'll certainly be able to find work in trucking but even then your options will be somewhat limited. A lot of companies require you to be anywhere from 23-25 years old minimum. But plenty will still hire at 21 so you can find something then for sure.

I usually recommend exploring some other career options first for anyone just getting out of high school. You could go to a trade school, join the Army, or get a two year degree (on your way to a four year degree) before you'll be eligible for OTR driving. Trucking will always be there for ya. If you have other career ideas you're interested in then give em a shot. If they work out, great! If not, trucking will be waiting for you whenever you're ready.

CJ, Brett had the best move. Since you're 18, talk to the military recruiters. I'm a veteran but I didn't do truck driving. However, on TT here, I've read many entries by vets who drove. And, yes, doing a hitch in the Service has a great many other life benefits, also.

Well, that's a bit of a bummer but thank you for the help guys.

I did exactly what Brett said to do as well. I grew up a farmer and my brother has his own trucking company so I been around it. But when you first graduate you can't leave the state and really insurance companys just don't want you as liabilty.

So I started working for our local telephone company and I farm (drive truck/combine/drive tractor/etc.) with my dad, brother and I. I am now 25 and been at telephone company 7 years and now I am getting my stuff around to looking into driving truck and getting my ducks in a row. I have a semi waiting at the farm for me I just need to get ready and have everything ready when I do make the switch or if I do.

You might find another route that you have just as much fun if not more in. But go check out some other things in life. Grow up a little. Figure out what lifes about and how some other industrys work and when time comes in few years climb in a truck.