should I become a truck driver?

[shell]

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?

[millersod215]

there's a handfull of companies out there that will hire you at 21, Swift, USExpress, just a few that come to mind. Use this website here and go under trucking company listings, and they give an in depth analysis of what the companies require, and who they will hire.

[Mackman]

CR ENGLAND

[millersod215]

CR ENGLAND would be my first choice :shock:

[rockstar]

give the guy good advice, who wants to pull a reefer, noway, dont go to cr england, try us express , a great compaqny to get started with

[Mackman]

well me and miller are just messing with you CR ENGLAND is one of the worst company's out there to work for keep that in mind. But they do hire 21 year olds. BTW i never drivin a day in my life OTR and never worked for england but just talk to some of the OTR guys on here they will tell ya. 8)

[ssoutlaw]

give the guy good advice, who wants to pull a reefer, noway, dont go to cr england, try us express , a great compaqny to get started with

Whats wrong with pulling a reefer??

[jnk2001]

give the guy good advice, who wants to pull a reefer, noway, dont go to cr england, try us express , a great compaqny to get started with

Whats wrong with pulling a reefer??

Nothin if you wanna sit all day waiting to get loaded and sit all day waiting to get unloaded by a bunch of dock workers at some grocery warehouse with a stick up their *****...

[4roses]

shell .... you didn't bother to say where your located at. That will make a difference of who will hire you ... most company's want you to be in 'their' hiring area. ..... My vote for the best company to start out with would be #1 ... CFI ... their main office is in Joplin, MO. but they have terminals in Michigan, TX, West Memphis. Give them a call and see what they have to say.

Next question ? .... where do you plan on going to school at to get your CDL ? ..,.. be sure you don't sign up with one of those 'mills' that run you through like cattle. :wink:

good luck

also, CFI runs Vans ..

[Brown67]

CR ENGLAND would be my first choice :shock:

Make sure to sign up for their lease program to really pull down the big bucks.

[ssoutlaw]

give the guy good advice, who wants to pull a reefer, noway, dont go to cr england, try us express , a great compaqny to get started with

Whats wrong with pulling a reefer??

Nothin if you wanna sit all day waiting to get loaded and sit all day waiting to get unloaded by a bunch of dock workers at some grocery warehouse with a stick up their *****...

You can sit with a dry van the same as a reefer. You do not have to sit and wait at every place you deliver! This waiting game so many talk about can happen with about any type of trailer you pull, its not just for REEFERS!
If you run as hard as a lot of drivers do, then some wait time is a godsend, get a little sleep, relax, eat and so on. There is good and bad in any part of this industry, and to say because you pull a reefer all you will do is sit is pure hogwash. Telling someone new to this business something like this is wrong to do. Let me let you in on a little news flash, your dry van will SIT longer than a reefer in most cases. I have hauled most every type of trailer except livestock in the last 30 yrs. I have experienced wait times at one time or another with all trailers!! If you find yourself waiting to much, I would be thinking about a new job, unless of coarse you are being paid for the wait, or you can incorporate it into sleep time on your logs!

[ssoutlaw]

CR ENGLAND would be my first choice :shock:

Make sure to sign up for their lease program to really pull down the big bucks.

Saying this is a whole new thread...lol

[flood]

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.

[malbojah]

Hey Shell, if it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. I'm going through almost the same situation: 28, no strong ties to family and want to make some more money versus my current job. But I don't know if I want to pull multiple 14hr days in a row (I get a little cranky after 3).

Yeah, the money would be better, and I do so hate my current job, but I like my job security...so many things to consider...

[glasman2]

give the guy good advice, who wants to pull a reefer, noway, dont go to cr england, try us express , a great compaqny to get started with

Whats wrong with pulling a reefer??

Rockstar was just promoted as a recruiter and is looking for his first kill, thats why he said that.

[ssoutlaw]

give the guy good advice, who wants to pull a reefer, noway, dont go to cr england, try us express , a great compaqny to get started with

Whats wrong with pulling a reefer??

Rockstar was just promoted as a recruiter and is looking for his first kill, thats why he said that.

I like the ones that say, I think flatbed is to much when you first start out...lol

[sbruner305]

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?

There are several reputable companies that hire drivers at 21 just do your research. And as far as the CDL school goes, don't pay big bucks for some private school because they are not going to teach you a thing and will charge you a small fortune for it. Go to a community college much cheaper and you should learn how to drive a truck not just pass the DMV course.

[driverboy]

I would recommend not working for a puppy mill large carrier that feels the need to pay you barely enough to eat and ship a little back home to pay the bills for the first few years, it's sickening.

Go bang down doors locally, present yourself well, go get a new tie, whatever it takes. Find out what those around you are doing and making and try to achieve the same in your city. Walk up to a driver and flat out ask, most will take a minute to share their thoughts.

It's the local business man with 8 or 10 trucks that maybe your uncle's best friend used to date your third cousins half sister where good things can happen.

Good things do not happen at Walmart wages for piloting an 80,000 pound missile down a highway, your worth more than that.

Your young, no job and nothing to lose. Go with a company, let them get you your CDL and training. You'll make more than working at Burger King and see the country. You can decide what to do down the road in a year or so.

Right now, get off your azz, put down the X-Box and do something.

Good luck and let us know what you end up doing!

[Skywalker]

shell .... you didn't bother to say where your located at. That will make a difference of who will hire you ... most company's want you to be in 'their' hiring area. ..... My vote for the best company to start out with would be #1 ... CFI ... their main office is in Joplin, MO. but they have terminals in Michigan, TX, West Memphis. Give them a call and see what they have to say.

Next question ? .... where do you plan on going to school at to get your CDL ? ..,.. be sure you don't sign up with one of those 'mills' that run you through like cattle. :wink:

good luck

also, CFI runs Vans ..

I agree with "for4roses". You should look into CFI. They do hire down to 21 years old. They also have a special setup with regards to CDL training.

If you want the particulars, you can call Christine at CFI 1-800-641-4748, extension 5718 and talk to her. Also, you an do a search on this site for information on CFI. I posted alot of it since I drove for them for over 7 years. Then you can check out http://www.cfidrivers.com If you register on the site you can ask questions and discuss the items with drivers who are there, both new and old. Thats if you are inclined to do so.

If you talk to Christine....tell her I said HI!!

(PS... I left CFI because of personal issues, not because they did anything. I enjoyed being with the company.)