recent highschool graduate looking for entrance into truckin

[AquaW900L]

I'm a recent high school graduate looking fo entrance into the trucking industry. I have grown up with my uncle in the trucking industry but he has recently gotten out of OTR trucking. I'm looking for others advice on what I should do. I'v spent ots of time with my uncle out on the road so I know what its like. I'm 18 years old and i'm looking to get my CDL. I live in Georgia and I can get my Class A CDL and drive a truck as long as I stay in the state lines. I'm currently trying to get on with a company doing dockwork or something that will get me closer to trucking until I get my CDL. If anyone has any advice or anything that may help me..please send it my way. Thanks.

Terry.

[Cluggy619]

I'm a recent high school graduate looking fo entrance into the trucking industry. I have grown up with my uncle in the trucking industry but he has recently gotten out of OTR trucking. I'm looking for others advice on what I should do. I'v spent ots of time with my uncle out on the road so I know what its like. I'm 18 years old and i'm looking to get my CDL. I live in Georgia and I can get my Class A CDL and drive a truck as long as I stay in the state lines. I'm currently trying to get on with a company doing dockwork or something that will get me closer to trucking until I get my CDL. If anyone has any advice or anything that may help me..please send it my way. Thanks.

Terry.

Here is the advise I'll give you. You just gotton out of high school. Go to college, and get into a decent career. Truck driving is not the world it once was. Go get a education, get a degree. I know that most will tell you different. This is the advise I'm giving my boys. Your young, and just starting your life. Start out right. Besides, not many companies will hire you until your 21-23. After a few years in college, you will be able to make much more than what truck driving can give you.

And i want you to know. If you were already over 25, I would help you out. But in my heart, I know I'm right.

[greg3564]

I'm a recent high school graduate looking fo entrance into the trucking industry. I have grown up with my uncle in the trucking industry but he has recently gotten out of OTR trucking. I'm looking for others advice on what I should do. I'v spent ots of time with my uncle out on the road so I know what its like. I'm 18 years old and i'm looking to get my CDL. I live in Georgia and I can get my Class A CDL and drive a truck as long as I stay in the state lines. I'm currently trying to get on with a company doing dockwork or something that will get me closer to trucking until I get my CDL. If anyone has any advice or anything that may help me..please send it my way. Thanks.

Terry.

You can only do intrastate. You must 21 to do interstate by law.

[AquaW900L]

Yes. intrastate is what i'm wanting to do until i turn 21

[greg3564]

Yes. intrastate is what i'm wanting to do until i turn 21

You might be able to find something. I think most insurance companies will not want a trucking company to hire someone younger. But there are always exceptions.

[truckerpreacher]

AquaW900L,
Good luck breaking into this field, it is not as tough as it once was. If you take the advice to get a college education that is fine and nothing wrong with higher education, but the truth be told many college educated people are coming to trucking because there is money to be made. Get your experience and then get on with a great company, i.e. wal-mart, you could very well be set for life. Make your up your own mind, as with any job, you get of trucking as much as you put into. Attitude is everything in this career.
Again Good Luck to you!

[inmate1577]

Go to college, get a degree and set your sights..........higher than trucking.

[silvan]

Go to college, get a degree and set your sights..........higher than trucking.

I went to college. I got a degree. My sights are set higher than trucking.

I'm still trucking.

If you don't want me to be a truck driver anymore, then hire me to do something else that pays at least $40K a year.

Nobody else will. I tried to hire myself, but I couldn't make enough money to even dream of taking a chance that there might be more money later. My father has been dreaming that dream, and he's $180,000 in the hole, and the company he put all that money into has gone out of business, and he is so, so, so screwed. At least I only owe $16,000 (aside from my house.) It could be a lot worse.

[AquaW900L]

Thanks for the advice truckers. I have thought about the whole college thing but I already know college is not for me....i thought the 4 years of getting through High school was bad enough. My uncle drove OTR for about 25 years and has taken me on alot of trips with him and I love being on the open road. I learned how to drive his truck when i was 9 years old. and to this day I enjoy watching the rigs and driving them with my uncle. He is currently driving a heavy duty recovery truck...he got burned out on the OTR so he's trying other stuff around to do with the trucks but he's looking at going back OTR soon. I would go to college and get a higher education but I dont want a job of sitting behind a desk doing paperwork. So the best thing I can see myself doing is getting into the trucks and driving them. Trucking has been my whole life dream. I know money is a big thing is everyones career but happiness is also a big importance.

[Mackman]

You sound just like me aqua when i was 18. Well just to let you know i quit high school at 17 (Got my GED). I started work as a laborer running a jackhammer etc. Got my CDL at 18 my dad is a O/O of a tri axle dump truck. Started driving dumps at 18 when i was around 20 i started to drive a tanker. The Money is good i made alittle over 50k last year and for only being 23 thats damn good in my book. But trucking is a tough road and its getting tougher with all the BS laws and regs.

[Folsom Flash]

The military can get you driving a tractor trailer and give you a darn good mark on your resume for when you get out. Army transportation corps is probably the best for being a driver but the Air Force, Navy and Marines all have drivers as well.

The training is good but usually not recognized on the outside as you don't get a CDL but a military license although it will make it easier to get into a company program later.

[AquaW900L]

yes thats what my uncle told me. He told me to looking into the military because i thought about joining the usmc and driving a truck for them and when i got out I could look into starting somewhere hauling the heavy and wide loads...so that is something that i'm still thinking about.

Do yourself a big favor and RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN away from irregular-route over-the-road truckdriving. Too many hours on the job. Too much time away from home. Too much BS for the $$$$. WAYYYYYYYYYY too many freebies.

Stay home, get laid, have a life outside of and away from the truck. Head over to your local vo tech and pick up a skill or trade: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, glaziers, etc. Pretty much anything in the health care field pays good and you'll always have a job. Diesel mechanic, ASE-certified...now you're talking. Still want to drive? Then take a ride down to your local UPS sorting facility and put in an app. Do your time and bid your way up to package car and then feeder. 30 bucks an hour plus overtime plus Teamster pension.

OTR was a good job some 20-odd years ago. But nowadays it's nothing more than a tax-funded work release program for the homeless and recently paroled. Just look at the astronomical turnover rates: 120% per year!!!! :shock:

[GTR SILVER]

feeder.............what is that????

[greg3564]

feeder.............what is that????

Feeder drivers are the ones you see driving the double pup trailers. They take the loads in between cities to the various package centers. There the local package drivers deliver them.

[Ridge Runner]

feeder.............what is that????

Feeder drivers are the ones you see driving the double pup trailers. They take the loads in between cities to the various package centers. There the local package drivers deliver them.

Here I was thinking you were talking about the drivers crowded around the buffet at the J. :wink:

[GTR SILVER]

feeder.............what is that????

Feeder drivers are the ones you see driving the double pup trailers. They take the loads in between cities to the various package centers. There the local package drivers deliver them.

Here I was thinking you were talking about the drivers crowded around the buffet at the J. :wink:

ya those are "feeders" too...................lol :shock:
well now i can sleep in peace....... 8)

[zexersix]

OTR was a good job some 20-odd years ago. But nowadays it's nothing more than a tax-funded work release program for the homeless and recently paroled. Just look at the astronomical turnover rates: 120% per year!!!! :shock:[/quote]

So im guessing you have a low opinion of OTR driving,I would take offense to what you typed,but as someone that just got paroled from the military,its just too hard for me to comprehend.

Not all jobs are meant for everyone,it takes a special breed,to do what we OTR drivers do, being in the military you get used to working for free, but i tell you what i make 3x more than i did in the military. My opinion of OTR might change later on,but right now im loving it.Noone breathing down my neck,just me,truck, and my doggie on the open road,with a load that will be delivered on time.

If you do go the Military route,i suggest you get that college education on there time and money,take as many college classes as you can,online courses.These will all be avail to you,then when you get out you will have your gi bill that you can use for the rest of your college degree.

[Ian Williams]

Working the dock at a LTL(Yellow, FedEx Freight,Con-Way, UPS Freight etc) or parcel company(UPS) is a great way to get into trucking if you really want to do it.

Its also a good PT job while you go to your Vo-Tech or Junior College and get a skill. Any type of skilled blue collar work will be better than the low pay and Capt. insano hrs or long haul drivers.

I have a college degree and am content with my job at an LTL dock/city guy... for now. Would I want to do this for 20-30 years HELL NO!.

I'd steer clear of the Army right now until we finally pull the plug on Iraq. Despite what the recruiters might tell you there are good odds of going getting injured or killed.

If you really want to do the military look at the Air Force ,Coast Guard or Navy. Just don't volunteer for Subs in you go with the Navy, my friend and college spend 3 very long miserable years on a missile boat.

[AquaW900L]

well I have put in several applications to different LTL companies in my area...Yellow Freight and and another one..cant recall the name of it...but i havent heard anything from Yellow yet...i put the other application in today but cant remember the name of the company. I also put some in a distribution centers in my area..so now i can sit and wait.[/quote]