Hi all,*
I have a question regarding my age and my ability to get my Class A CDL. I am only 18 years old, and I know that I want to become a truck driver, it is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when. I was planning on waiting until I was 21 to get them, but I really just want to get the ball rolling and get started with my career already. I know that because I am only 18 years old, I will only be able to drive intrastate. But I am wondering if I should get my CDL's now and try to get a job in my home state of Ohio, or wait until I am 18. Would you recommend me to wait it out for three more years. If I decide to get my CDL's now, will I have trouble finding a company that will hire me? I am assuming I will because of the insurance policies.. Is there any hope for a hard working, self-motivated, fast learning 18 year old who is willing to do any type of Class A job out there? Or will I just be wasting my time, energy, and more importantly, money?*

Please, any advice/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!! *

BTW, I am planning on attending either Great Lakes Truck Driving School in Columbia Station, Ohio or Trainco Inc. Truck Driving School in Milan, Ohio. Do any of you have any advice or have you heard anything about these schools? They are pretty expensive, with Great Lakes costing around $5,000 and Trainco Inc. costing around $4,000. But I am willing to pay the money because I want to learn from the best school possible so I know that I will be confident in my abilities when I hit the road; you get what you pay for.. Anyways, here are the links to the schools' websites.

-> Links: *Great Lakes Truck Driving School-*Great Lakes Truck Driving School - Cleveland, OH
* * * * * * * Trainco Inc. Truck Driving School-*Norwalk Ohio Truck Driving School : CDL Training Trainco Inc Truck Driving Schools

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to hit all aspects of my questions..*

Again, any information on these topics would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

WAIT!! You'r right about the insurance co. Without there blessing you don't stand much chance of a driveing job. If you do get a CDL-A now and can't get a class A job within a few weeks-a few months then you'll just have to go thru it all over again. Company's only want new drivers that are just out of school, not some one that hasn't been in a truck for a year or more.
I don't know much about a class B but you might want to check that route out and maybe upgrade later, who know's by that time you might have a good "B" gig .

 

If you decide to pursue getting your CDL, you may as well go ahead and get the A rather than the B. But, you will likely find it difficult to find a driving job, at least in a Class A truck. You might find a local job doing deliveries. Lumber companies, furniture companies and others do employ local drivers for straight trucks. There may also be some LTL carriers with terminals in your area. Many start by working on docks and backing and pulling out trailers. A CDL would be a good asset in that type of situation. Most carriers don't hire drivers who are not at least 23 years old. Some will hire drivers who are as young as 21, but may require as much as 3 years driving experience. If you can find a driving position at your age and stick with it, you could have a good career ahead of you. If you plan on paying for your own schooling, I would do more research before spending money. Check your local state employment office and with any companies that you thing do local work. Any carrier that hires you will take a hard hit due to your age. Another factor is your driving record. Hopefully, you have a clean MVR. If you cannot find employment shortly after going through school and getting your CDL, you will likely need to take a refresher course before anyone will hire you. I started driving a truck at about your age, but that was a very different time. We didn't have schools and insurance companies didn't run motor carriers. Many started once they reached 18 years old or so. Insurance companies dictate who carriers can hire. In short, if you can't get a good job lined up before going to school, I would suggest that you wait until you reach 21 years of age. In the mean time, you may find an LTL carrier that will hire you to work on the docks or operate a forklift. At least it would be a foot in the door and if you do a good job, they just might help fund your tuition to obtain your CDL. One carrier that I would check with in your area is R & L. They have a terminal near Columbus. Holland is another that may have a terminal in your area. Don't forget the state employment office. You may be able to access their website online.