Good Morning all, I have a question to ask, and I hope that it's not a crazy one. I am currently working in an office job that is not really bad, but I have really been thinking about getting back into the transportation sector. right out of high school I began working for RPS (now Fed Ex GRound) as a loader, and while working in that position, I became fascinated with trucks and the idea of being a delivery man. ( I know it seems weird, but it seemed like those guys were well paid and got mad respect). Now, my parents drilled it in my head that I was going to go to college and that I would get a degree ( which I did ), but ever since I began working at RPS, I have liked transportation. I have worked for Fed Ex Ground and Express, and before that I worked for 3 and a half years at UPS. Now after getting a college degree in 2002 and working at a bank and now a brokerage firm, I have been thinking about leaving the office and going to a truck driver training program to get my Class A CDL.... Some people say that I sound crazy, but I can't help it. I just enjoy being outside and talking to people I meet, and seeing the city, then coming home every night to my wife and children. I guess my questions are: 1. Does anyone know of any drivers who have spent money to get a college degree, but chose to follow their hearts and make the transition to go trucking. 2. I am not trying to go over the road, but I don't mind working the docks, and making quick runs either in the city (Birmingham, Ala), or making quick runs from B'ham to Nashville or ATL or any other nearby city, just so long as I can come home every night. Is this possible, or am I asking for too much? Help.... Can you recommend any companies to try for. I'm in Birmingham,Al

It's suprising how many people have made trucking a second career. I have trucker friends and acquaintances who are former policemen, firefighters, ministers, and even a tenured college professor. The call of the road is compelling.

But the change from a 9-5 job to living in a truck for weeks at a time is one of the most profound and radical that can be. Kinda sorta like joining the military - absolutely everything in your life is radically different. I can see why you want local. Most of us do that are just getting started.

But from what I'm told, you have to "pay your dues" over the road before you can get most local jobs. In theory it's because OTR you do very little backing and cornering and whatnot; it's all mostly highway. Whereas local driving is "city driving" and requires much more frequent use of skills (like cornering and backing) that take time to develop.

I had a terrible experience with my first trucking company (read about the Cypress Truck Lines Weight Loss Plan in the "bad companies" forum - so called because I unintentionally lost 30 pounds due to skipped meals, lost sleep, and heavy labor) and now I'm looking at Schneider's "home run" program. It's alot better than the "one day off for every seven days out" standard that usually applies to newbies like us.

Good luck,
Robin

Hello there,
I was a Mortgage Loan Officer for 28 plus years, Marine for 9 yrs. and yes I am doing what you are contemplating on doing, a career change. As for me, I will keep you posted as I start my 35 day training with the company that was good enough to allow me to work for them right out of Roadmaster School. I know this is something that will be hard, especially since we are use to working at a desk, but that is why I am going on with this new career. I want to work hard, be a professional in the industry and help my fellow truckers whenever I can. I wish you well, our hearts are telling us both to do something different, follow our hearts calling, talk with your family, and then god will give you a door to either walk thru, or you may choose not to. Good luck.
Semperfi,
Just Bob

Thanks for the info Robin and Semper Fi One....It was very helpful. I know that everyone around me is trying to be helpful by telling me that I should stay in the comforts of the office and try to work in an area related to my field of study, but I find myself drawn to transportation again. However, I have to keep praying for a company that will offer local training and runs because I'm not ready to leave my family, especially my two little ones ( one year and two years old). Oh yeah, Semper Fi to you too devil dog!!! I was born on 10 November 1992 by way of Parris Island, SC. I'm a former Cannon Cocker (Field Artillery Crewman-0811).....4th Battallion 14th Marines...... God Bless you all in all you do!!!

AND GOD BLESS all you servicemen who have served our great nation!!

there are PLENTY of folks with college degrees who are now driving a truck (either thru choice, or because there's nowhere else to work.) it's not just you, or me, or my brother. I got into it because I couldn't find a job in my field of study. and as time goes on, a LOT of folks who never thought they would end up driving a truck will find a steering wheel in their hands.

and most likely, you won't get local work starting out. and if you finally do go local, plan on putting in a 15-16 hour work day, plan on straining your guts out and wearing your body out doing the work. a lot of folks start out over the road, go local for a few years, then go back over the road.

I have a degree from a major university and 20+ years in corporate sales. I have driven to each of our 49 states during that time, and I learned how much " moving " appeals to me. Something about physical movement really excites me, and now I am scheming to get a company to pay for my CDL.

I decided to change careers to trucking after spending 14 years in IT Banking side of things, troubleshooting networks, and client workstations and user issues, would be on the phone most of the day telling people how to fix there problems. I worked in a square 6x6 box cubicle, could not see outside and stared at a computer monitor all day long with a phone stuck in my ear everyday for 14 years!

My wife and I are just sick of office jobs and ready for a change. I have suggested looking into Truck Driving before about 3 years ago because I was sick of office work, yes you could say at least I get to come home every night and sleep in my own bed, but that creates a problem, I have to get up in my on bed and go back to the office job! You see where I'm going with this, as of 3-3-08 wife and I are going to Trans Union Truck Driving School in Tacoma, Wa and will start our new careers as Team drivers we have a pre-hire letter from Interstate Distributor Company here in Tacoma we should be finished with the school by 3-28-08.

They say people change careers now days about every 7 years, not sure about trucking from the sounds of things Truckers change jobs about every 6 months to 1 year until they find that special place. We are going to give it our best and time and will see where the Trucking life leads us, we are hoping we will like it, but you never know until you give it a good shot, go through some growing pains and see what happens.

I know it will be a huge life style change for both of us, but the working conditions comparitivly will be the same sitting in a box, but at least I will be able to see outside and that will make me happy.

Good Luck to everyone and the selected Company you have chosen for your new adventures.

Rdman

I left the IT field too. Its not to hard to find an entry level job, but not many options for advancement beyond that. Most are contract temp jobs at that. I actually make more trucking, as long as I stay with a reputable company.

I'll join in with the others. I did the office manager bit for 29 years. To me, the college degree overall was a waste of time. If I new now what I knew then, I would have stayed stupid and bought a house! The most I made with the degree was $42,000 a year. I have now been in local trucking for over a year and have already surpassed that.
They can take their ties and political correctness and you know what. My cousin, who has two degrees and works as a receiver at Home Depot, and I talk about how it was our parents that pushedus into college. They wanted us to do "better" then them. We now have to many IT, office worker folks and not enough blue collar. As baby boomers retire, guys I talk to that are boilermakers,etc.. any type of trade our short people because younger guys aren't going to trade schools as much. Good luck to you.
Toby