OK guys so I am at the point in my life that I need a career change.....My longtime gf of 7 years and I broke up - we were going to do a restaurant thing....Anyways, it's time for something new.....And basically I had decided that I would become a truck driver....I started selling all my personal belongings....And I was looking forward to spending time OTR living in the rig....My goal was to get out of all my debt - not have rent or a mortgage....Then perhaps buy a condo....Also, I was possibly considering opening my own restaurant perhaps a few years down the line....
Well, my father has worked on the railroad for over 40 years, and it recently became made aware to me that there is a good chance I could get a job driving trains after the new year.....I also have a sister who drives trains as well.....She has been doing it for like 12/13 years and she makes 100k/ year.
I put my application into the RR , and was declined about two months ago.....So that it why I directed all my thoughts and energy processes to driving truck....I'm genuinely excited and want to drive...I actually want to get away from everything, go see the country, and have some "me-time". Well apparently my application is now on a "supervisors desk"....Also if I got the RR job I would have to go back to renting....That would make it tough to get rid of my debt I think...I am basically paying $230/mo for like the next 25 years or something....I was hoping instead of paying that off in a couple of years driving....
So now I am not sure what to do....I was really into the idea of driving OTR, maybe someday becoming an O/O....Or maybe going into the food business...Texas Hots are a very popular type of hot dog here in western new york, and I have a recipe i made that people love....I think I could have a chance at being successful with that down the road.....
So I am looking for suggestions from truckers as to what you guys think I should do......I'm getting antsy and want to start driving trucks soon..The RR pays good, and has good health/retirement benefits.....If it matters at all I'm 41 years old.....thanks.
Tough Career Decision: Need Exp Trucker Advice
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by BlueThunderr, Oct 8, 2012.
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i would take the RR job, you can always come back and drive a truck, i didnt start driving truck until i was 40 yrs old
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Go for the trucking. That seems to be where your real interest lies; job satisfaction is very important. I recommend tanker/hazmat. Good pay and easy; nothing hard about usually just hooking up a couple of hoses and turning a pump on to unload. I hauled acid border to border/coast to coast & Canada, company driver and made $60K-$65K per year.
Made real good money in reefer hauling also, but not as good as tanker/hazmat.
That's my opinion from my experience.
I'll add, I made that money even with taking a month off every year to spend time in my condo in the Orient; you know, goofing off & stuff, which is difficult with the little wife and her eagle eyes. -
I notice you're in Buffalo, NY. During my reefer days I hauled many load of Ocean Spray out of there. Usually hauled newsprint(dry load) to some newspaper company in Buffalo then Ocean Spray back out, going to where ever. Best wishes.
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I always loved trains as a kid. There was a vacant lot near a switching yard in Chicago where my Dad would go to work on his cars.The fellows that ran up and down those tracks would always blow their horns for me . They were going slow and I could feel the ground rumble. as they passed. I always thought working on them would be the best job in the world.
Fast forward @ 20 years and I was hitch-hiking up I 57 when a truck pulled over to give me a lift. As we pulled back on the highway I felt that rumble I had felt as a kid. From the tip of my toes to the top of my head the power just grabbed me. Cool.... A train that steers.
It took me about a year to get the licence and get a job driving trucks. (most of that year was spent beating on doors till someone let me in to drive their truck)
To this day I still get the same rush when I'm going through those gears. I still pass by that interchange where that guy stopped to give me a lift almost 37 years ago. ( I'll pass in later today again)
If someone can feel that, have that passion I always say go for it. You won't be sorry.
To those who want to drive a truck because their "whatever" fell through and someone told them "hey you can always drive a truck". I really wish they'd re-think their options.Logan76, Lenrod and SurfingTrucker Thank this. -
BNSF has trucks too you know
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I got a few questions to try and compare the two careers, I'll put a few pros and cons for trucking and then you put up what you know about the RR. Then you will be able to see the differences in the two.
Pros.
See the country, yes you will, but mostly thru a windshield (not too time for sight-seeing)
Freedom for "me " time, yes long days and even longer nights
Pay, The 1st few years 2 to 5 pay will be commensurate with experience (read lower) after you get some time in it will increase as long as you find a good company to work for. You can expect as a company driver to make between 50 k and 65 k depending on the company you work for , the level of experience , and part of the country you're in.
Cons. ( There will be more added by others too! )
Its not an easy life, lots of stress daily...traffic, crazy shippers, unfriendly receivers, weather, etc....
Lots and lots and lots of, did I say lots of waiting
you will have limited choices of where to eat, sleep , park, shower (side bar here..some spots are really nasty)
As you can see there is some thinking to do and maybe some questions you might want to ask some of the O/O out there. Good luck! -
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As for seeing the country, I think it depends on how you define seeing the country. If being able to say you've been to a city qualifies as having 'seen it' then you might be happy with trucking. I've been to lots of cities and towns where the only things I saw were the highway running through it and the grungy dimly lit loading dock of some shipper or receiver 3 blocks from the highway. That ain't seeing the country in my book but I guess I'm picky.
I don't know what railroad you're trying to hire on to or what the particular deal is there. But I've known a few folks who worked for railroads over the years and for the most part, it seemed like a terrific job once you were there long enough to get an actual schedule. But with the folks I've known and the places they worked, it took many years (about 10 or so IIRC) to get to the point where you had some sort of set schedule. But other than that, it seems like a pretty low impact job with an above average salary. If you can hack the no schedule thing (I couldn't) you should definitely go for the railroad gig. It seems like a much better deal in the long run. -
Dinomite Thanks this.
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