Trucking: Getting into trucking, VERY early, long haul trucking, truck driving school

Question
Hey Bob,
My names Robert. Im from Arizona and im 13, eigth grade. I am already working to be a Ham Radio Operator. Just months away from my Technecian! I know im young, but I know many people who are in trucking, close family freinds, relatives, and freind relatives. Ive interacted with all of these people and asked them about what I want to know, but I cant get a clear answer.

Okay, so what I want to is;

How to start? Schooling, companies, what to have in resume.
Which type of hauling to get into? I do not want to work with any refriderated trucks, or heavy hauling such as logs and concret. Glass also.

Should I go from High School into trucking? I could get enough money from trucking to get money for college, then go.. Or take out a loan, do college, then truck to pay it off.

I think my questions may be too much or detailed, so please answer them as best to your ability.

Thank you very much!

Answer
Hi Robert.

It's great to meet a young trucking enthusiast.  The first thing I would tell you is to go to college.  Try and focus on a Major in Transportation and/or logistics.  It depends on the University on what they offer.  Without a degree, if you suffer an injury and your driving career is over, you have nothing to fall back on.  Also, you'll know how to run a trucking company!  This will help you run your company and be successful.  To go over-the-road (long haul) trucking, or across state lines, you need to have a Class A CDL and be 21 years old.  You can get a CDL with training from a truck driving school.  Something you can do right out of high school, but like I said, you should focus on college.

Hauling refrigerated pays the most, aside from specialized, so don't discount it yet.  Van (dry) freight is plentiful as is regular flatbed.  You usually won't have one specific product that you haul unless your leased out to one company or have a contract with them.  You may haul one truckload of dog food and the next is picnic tables.  It depends on where your at and what loads are near you.  Keep your options open.

To learn more about trucking, go to Amazon.com and type in "trucking".  There are great books that can teach you everything on trucking.

Good luck!

Bob Stephens