should I become a truck driver?

[Cntrygrl22]

Hey Shell

I'm going to a tech school right now for driving truck....and it's a great experience. I would HIGHLY recommend it !!!!!!! It's a great way to learn the insides to being a good trucker. If the program is like mine.....your instructors have been truckin' for a while now. They know the in's and out's. You'll feel pretty confident once you leave with good quality training. Hope that helps !

[BanditsCousin]

Hello, I'm goin to be 21 in 2 months, should I go to a trucking school for a CDL licence. ?

You can. I didn't. I am 2nd generation though :wink:

I live in Michigan and I read somewhere that age discrimination, most companies don't hire 21 years olds.

Age discrimination would be NOT hiring someone for being too old. Being 21 is policy, kind of like being 18 to buy cigarrettes or being 30 and natural born to be president

Can I become a truck driver? I haven't had any jobs in last 2 years, do they hire someone like me?

All depends- were you at school/college, the peace corps, caring for a terminally ill relative? Or were you playing halo on Xbox and/or incarcerated? That will have a bearing on a carriers decision.

[DieselDog]

Your lack of work history will be more of a hindrance than your age. What Erv you have not been doing this last 2 years, I suggest you find someone with their own business to provide a work history. You need to account for your life back to February 2004. W-2s, 1099s, employer reference in rare cases a affidavit from an attorney, former business associate with verifiable business will be wanted. Without these you are likely SOL

[bikerboy]

Hello, I'm goin to be 21 in 2 months, should I go to a trucking school for a CDL licence. I live in Michigan and I read somewhere that age discrimination, most companies don't hire 21 years olds. Can I become a truck driver? I haven't had any jobs in last 2 years, do they hire someone like me?

gee why is it that KID's today think that thay don't have to follow the rules and that rules are discrimination..? the reason that most companies will not hire someone under 23 is insurance, it's also not disrimination to only hire drivers who have 2-3 years experience.

now with that said what have you been doing for the last 2 years..? as that maybe an issue.

you will have to look around as a few companies will hire a 21 year old inexperience driver.

best of luck to you.

Refusing to hire a worker based on age, is called AGE DISCRIMINATION!!
A 21 year old is legally able to drive a tractor trailer anywhere in the USA
So the only reason companys refuse to hire 21 year olds, is cuz the company is too cheap to pay the insurance!!
I think that should be illegal!

As long as a worker is legally able to do the job, why are companys allowed to refuse employment based on there being too cheap to pay insurance?

I also don't think a 21 year old new truckdriver is any higher risk than say a 25 year old new truck driver. So its stupid insurance company can charge a young guy higher insurance, even tho he has a perfect driving record!

Just because a driver is young, doesn;t mean they are a bad driver!

[BanditsCousin]

Why can't you join the army after a certain age?

Landstar requires 23 y/o, lets sue them

If a company is too cheap to hire 21 year olds based on insurance costs, and thats discrimination, then should they be sued because they won't hire a 35 year old with 3 recent DUI's? Policies are there for a reason. Does it make sense? Probably not to the losing end of the deal.

You guys are spouting off once again about laws that DO NOT exist!!! Basically the laws for age discrimination apply to people over 40 and are very specific.

Hertz won't rent a car to someone under 25.
Insurance companies charge 5 times more for a driver under 21.
Insurance companies charge more for a young mans insurance than a young girls.
You can't join the Army after a certain age.
You can't operate heavy machinery unless your a certain age.
You can't drink unless your 21
You can't smoke unless your 18

There are no laws for age discrimination with regards to this topic and many more.

If you didn't get a raise and you think it's because of your age, well, maybe.

[Cluggy619]

Hello, I'm goin to be 21 in 2 months, should I go to a trucking school for a CDL licence. I live in Michigan and I read somewhere that age discrimination, most companies don't hire 21 years olds. Can I become a truck driver? I haven't had any jobs in last 2 years, do they hire someone like me?

Well, you can learn to drive a truck. Becoming a truck driver is much further down the road. Alot happens on the road, from having low miles, no home time, sitting at the truckstops waiting for the next load, to breaking down in the middle of nowhere, 4 wheelers cutting you off, and so much more.

Can you get a job at 21? Yes.

Will you become a truck driver? Maybe. Many people learn to drive a truck, but few remain to be truck drivers. It will solely depend on you.

Have you heard the saying "you don't have to be crazy to take this job, but it helps..." , well........ :wink:

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[mf2004champ]

If you enjoy being by yourself, not with family, or friends, living out of a truck, eating at all-you-can eat buffet's, stuffing yourself silly! while playing video arcade games , then you might enjoy trucking.

I'm going to be otr trucker. Hell, I might stay out 3-5 months at a time b/c there is nothing for me at home. The past two years of my life I've been cutting off my schedule, hanging with friends, anything that was required of me to attend. Now I've set my life up to hit the road and leave nothing behind!

No one will miss me when I'm on the road. I'll shoot a few e-mails here and there to my family.

[malbojah]

If you enjoy being by yourself, not with family, or friends, living out of a truck, eating at all-you-can eat buffet's, stuffing yourself silly! while playing video arcade games , then you might enjoy trucking.

I'm going to be otr trucker. Hell, I might stay out 3-5 months at a time b/c there is nothing for me at home. The past two years of my life I've been cutting off my schedule, hanging with friends, anything that was required of me to attend. Now I've set my life up to hit the road and leave nothing behind!

No one will miss me when I'm on the road. I'll shoot a few e-mails here and there to my family.

That's pretty much the way I feel, although I may only go 2-3 months at a time. By that point, I need to do some laundry.