I'm 18. I Just Got My CDL. Is Anyone In The Houston Texas Area Willing To Take Me On As An Apprentice?
Topic 34376 | Page 1
Hello Tobias, welcome to the forum.
You can drive a commercial vehicle within the state at 18, (intrastate), but not across state lines, (interstate), until you are 21. Have you tried to find a driving job in your local area? Maybe agricultural or Municipal? You want to find something to drive so that your license doesn’t get “stale”.
Many companies won’t allow their drivers to take a passenger with them at all if the passenger has a CDL. I know my company has that restriction. So, your chances of getting another driver to train you on the road are not very good. Finding a local job of some sort seems like your best bet. Maybe check into distribution centers to see if you could get a yard driver job or doing trailer shuttles. Perhaps someone else here will be able to give you some other ideas.
Very impressive that you got your CDL at 18. You sound like a real go-getter. I know it’s going to seem like a long time until you turn 21, but time will pass and you will have many opportunities. Keep us posted about your job search and with any other questions you have. Good luck!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Intrastate:
The act of purchasers and sellers transacting business while keeping all transactions in a single state, without crossing state lines to do so.
Welcome and congrats getting your CDL at 18. That is awesome.
This is kinda a new area for us. I’m not up on all the do’s/don’t on this situation other than it is intrastate only.
Look into ag jobs and if you can get hazmat at your age propane companies doing home delivery. The big propane companies are buying up the small folks and you could build a long good career with them.
Any driving job would be helpful.
Keep us posted on how things go.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Intrastate:
The act of purchasers and sellers transacting business while keeping all transactions in a single state, without crossing state lines to do so.
Thank you both.
My license does have a K restriction (Intra-state only) like you mentioned. I can't get any endorsements until I turn 21, Doubles/Triples, Tanker, HazMat , or HazMat/Tanker.
So far I've mostly applied to local jobs, such as steel mills, lumber yards, food delivery, yard shuttle, box trucks, equipment rental places, garbage truck companies (Yes. For some reason Waste Management won't hire me. And they don't require so much as a high school diploma or GED to work as long as you have at least your class B.) I'll keep up the search, and keep y'all updated. Thank you for your positive feedback, it really helps keep my spirits up, despite the number of companies who I think don't understand that someone who doesn't look good in a resume (I've only done volunteer work and farm work, so no formal warehouse or delivery experience.) can be one of their greatest assets. Again thank you for your time, and I can't wait to have some good news to share. :)
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
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I wish I knew I couldn't even get a job with the megacarriers like Swift or Schnieder before I spent the money I got through odd jobs to get my CDL. I have a perfect driving record. No tickets, accidents, DUIs, suspensions, revocations, felonies, misdemeanors, any legal trouble of any kind. EVER. Period.
I'm a hard worker, fast learner, and excited to impress whoever would be willing to give me a chance. So far I've applied to over 75 jobs, have gotten 25 or so rejections, and have 50 outstanding applications in all fields of driving.
Any advice (Other than "You idiot, why did you get your CDL so early") would be appreciated.
I'm excited to hear anything from y'all, and even more excited if one of you could give me some opportunity, you seem like wonderful people.
Your time is appreciated, regardless of outcome. Thank you, and God bless you all. - Tobias Sterling
+1 (713) 319-6071 creative_co23@coldzero.net
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence