Bad time to be changing jobs. Ask any trucker out there how many miles they are seeing. Those that are getting the miles are lucky. Yet alot of them are parked with little or no miles.
DONT QUIT FOR WHAT A RECRUITER PROMISES!!!!!!!!!!!
Recruiters could care less if you suceed or not, their job is to keep their numbers up by telling you what you want to hear, and only that. They will promise you more pay, or ask you "what are you going to do with 35 thousand dollars?" . Ask anyone here, have they seen 35 grand in a year?
I paid 6grand for my license. Worth every penny. See if there is a technical college nearby that he can get training with. As far as your state you live in cares, if you pass the test, your a driver. So with that in mind find a school that will teach him. Ask at nearby colleges for what they recomend.
I unfortunately had the wife quit her job of $400 a week for a pipe dream of Western Express. She didnt care for the job she had, and we did have fun for a month driving up and down the eastern seaboard. I asked my manager "Will I see at least 600 a week take home". He said no problem. Reality is it cost around 200 a week just for food alone and we saw a total of 1300 for the whole month!
If you have work right now. Stick with it. If you think trucking is that great? Go to a Pilots or a Flying J in your area and ask the drivers that work for them before you commit. Ask them what they think of the job. Ask them if they get the miles. Ask them how confused they are about trying to find a place. Heck go to your grocery store, see if there is a trucker driving sloowly with a look of concern on their face. Or parked along the road and confused.
Take off the rose glasses and hear first hand. Get to those truck stops, yet make sure you are not talking to a trainer (just ask, do you yourself train drivers?). Your in for a rude awakening.
People here are going to tell you their side. Alot have been bitten by the recruiters promises. Alot have not found this board or only want to read about it and not post. Its hard not to be bias. Yet it sounds as if you want to hear the pipedream with out really asking the drivers at a rest stop. I am not trying to pick on anyone hear in any way at all. Yet being a truck driver right now is not glamourus. Its filthy, washing laundry must be watched as some out there may want your clothes more than you do, showers are available, finding the better stops is a challenge if you dont know.
Me? I wont lie, wanna be truck driver 100%. I have almost 21,000 miles logged, many a helpful trucker out there that have helped me in a bind, and I thank each and every one of you for your consideration. Made the mistake of hearing a recruiter. I am gullible, I believe people and often get burned. Trying to make a better life. Good companies are hard to find, I know of one and none here have commented on them. Yet I am no longer feeling lucky after being dismayed with 3 different companies. Fortunately no abandonements (threats there of yes, none listed that I know of). Now the wife is able to get unemployment (she has worked last 33 years, and feels terrible that she has to go on unemployment). I feel like dirt for promising her a better life. We are mostly ok, we only have 2 scary bills, credit card and a car payment. Our home is paid for, built it myself some 4 years ago. No chance it will get foreclosed, we feel for those whom are or have lost alot. Where we go from here is a hurty question. Fortunately on a bad year I will make 3 grand in a summer mowing lawns and other farm tractor work. Yet its depressing to me, the promises made so some one else could sleep better at night thinking they hooked another.
Good luck
12.30.2008
Thanks Lovesthedrive!
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