I have my CDL but don't drive for a living, just occasionaly to help people out. I'd recommend getting on with a smaller, locally owned company. I think you could have better luck with them because you could get to know the boss's and other drivers better. Also being your age it might be easier to get on with a small company. As far as trucks go, I like peterbilt. Then that's what I've drove the most. I've also drove a Freightliner a couple times and an International. The Pete just won me over for some reason. From what I've learned about the DOT guys, some can be a real PIA. Just try to do your best to stay within the law and after a while they'll get to know you and that you aren't try to get away with anything. It can be a fun job to have. It does take a lot of work and dedication though. If you're like me and don't mind having a lot of time to yourself then it would be a good job and you can make good money if you watch what you spend. Good luck with your future. Oh yeah, I'm the same age as you by the way.

 

Don't even think about it. You will be better off if you can find a 9 to 5 job, and keep going to school at night. Life is too short to throw away two years on the road. What you think about truck driving is a myth, there have been too many stupid TV shows about "rebel truck drivers" that have a woman at every stop and outrun the smokies. You will see very little of the country as you drive down the road. The problems and hassles sometimes outweigh your paycheck and what you are giving up to be in that rig. The first time someone you love gets sick and you are 1200 miles away you will understand the sacrifice you have made.

If you need a break and a little travel, excitement, searching, etc., why don't you see about the military reserves. You can go to bootcamp or officer candidate school and make some real progress in your life while serving for a great cause. Give a year or two to the reserves for training and then drill once a month, two weeks a year. I did it, and saw the world outside of my crappy town. Military service looks great on the resume as well, and opens doors as well as connects you to more people in the game of life. As opposed to truck driving which keeps you isolated.
Go to the bookstore and ask them to show you a book titled "Sweatshops on Wheels" it will tell the true story of the trucking industry and give you a good idea what your'e getting into.

 

Well well well.... Looks like another opinionated tread lol... So I will throw my opinion in on the conve lol...

I started drving big trucks when i was 21, I pulled refer for a small company which is in my opinion the worste type of company to work for because they showed me how to run 2-3 logs and work days on end and avoid scales, which when I did finally get caught cost me a nice chunk of change, and let me tell you if you run that way you WILL get caught!! So I got out of truck driving for a bit and tried that 9-5 crap which I am just not the type of person to do, personally i cant stand goin to the same place being with the same people all day long 5- days a week, sure your home everynight but its just not the life for me

I did a few odd jobs here and there for the next few years and just had the big truck disease (lol). Im not sure how some of you other drivers are but for me and alot of guys i know racing the super slab is like a drug you hate it while your doing it but miss when your not lol...

Then i looked into schneider Nation.. Being and expeirenced driver I had the option of goin threw trianing school or not (which I elected to go threw), and they trained me the right way to do thing and I learned that being legal is easiest in the long wrong because your not having to worry bout the DOT if your legal!! (amazing concept huh) Those DOT guys are people to just doing their jobs, and remember they have to to deal with alot of ******* truckers who think they are supertruckers...So if you are police and curtious they will(most of the time) treat you with respect in return,alltho just like anything in life there will be those guys who are just a major PIA lol

As far as making $$ on the road, what i always did was i had a refridgerator in my truck and a micro so i stocked up at grocery stores with meat cheese milk ect and didnt have to spend much $$ at the choke and pukes. I also carried a small propain grill with me so i could grill steaks hotdogs ect. There are many ways to save $$ as well as ways to spend money..

As far as the millitary thing the earlier post mentioned that to is a great idea. I was in the Marine Corp and loved every min of that life too.. So I guess my point is as with anything in life your carreer is just what you make of it and what you want to do with it

Im sure this post prolly dont help you much, but i thought i would let you know another point of view lol