No college debt required!
Not interested in the old 9-to-5 grind? Imagine hitting the open road, exploring new places, and earning BIG bucks before your friends graduate college.
Truckers usually get paid around $50,000 annually with opportunities to DOUBLE that depending on your experience or the type of freight you haul.
With proper planning and training, you can begin your career in trucking by your late teens and be on your way to becoming a successful owner-operator in your early 20s.
[DOWNLOAD 6 Steps High School to Trucking Guide]
Here’s how:
- Start Planning Early
Research trucking companies, owner-operator options, and different types of freight. http://bit.ly/3BV3rDO
Pro tip: Specialize in high-paying freight like refrigerated (reefer), flatbed, or hazardous materials (hazmat), where rates are higher. - Obtain a Regular Driver’s License
Get your standard driver’s license now. You can use this to haul loads with a pickup truck and a smaller trailer. We call this hotshot trucking, but frequently farmers, construction, and others haul loads this way. - Consider High School Courses
Focus on courses that improve your mechanical, finance, mathematical, and organizational skills. Many high schools offer vocational programs in auto mechanics, which could give you an advantage in understanding how to maintain and troubleshoot trucks. Finance courses are critical in managing your money, whether saving to become a trucker or managing your own trucking company. - Enroll in a CDL Training Program
Once you turn 18, you can enroll in a truck driving school to start training for your CDL. These programs typically last several weeks and cover all aspects of driving a commercial truck, from safety regulations to practical road experience. At 18, you can get a CDL to drive within your state (intrastate), but to drive across state lines (interstate), you’ll need to wait until you’re 21. During this time, you can still gain valuable experience driving locally or regionally.
Our CNS truck driving school cost $5,315 and much can be done online with 1-on-1 teacher training. With that said, there is only one way to receive free CDL training: find an employer who is willing to pay for your CDL training (you should expect at least a one-year commitment working for them after training).
- Gain Experience
Work for a company to build up your skills as a truck driver. This experience is crucial for future starting your own owner-operators business. This also gives you time to save money, learn the ins and outs of the industry, and understand how to manage deliveries, logistics, and customer expectations.
We recommend working for: CNS Companies, Rohrer’s Quarry, Jagtrux, Boger Concrete, Henkels and McCoy, Denver Cold Storage, NHT Logistics, GFI Transport
- Explore Owner-Operator Options
After gaining experience and financial stability, you can Look into purchasing or leasing your own truck. This opens the door to owning your own business as an Owner-Operator, where you’ll have more control over your career and potentially higher earnings. On average, truck expenses alone for a new owner-operator are usually around $15,000-$20,000 per month for a single truck. Before starting out, you should save up at least twice that to manage the first couple months of your new business. Learn more: http://bit.ly/3BV3rDO
As an owner-operator, you can own your own truck, set your own hours, choose your routes, and take charge of your business. Many successful owner-operators go on to expand their business by purchasing additional trucks and hiring drivers. This can turn into a full-fledged trucking company, providing even greater wealth opportunities.
While trucking offers many advantages, it’s not without its challenges.
To make the most money, being “married to your truck” is recommended. This can be physically demanding, and long hours on the road can be tough. But the grind for a few years can be worth it!
Ready to get your Commercial Drivers License?
Now is the time to receive one-on-one CDL training with CNS Driver Training Center and get your CDL license.
Learn more about all levels of truck driver training. If you have questions about our CDL training packages, give us a call at 717-496-9145 or email us at support@cnstrains.com.