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Stuff happens, life changes. I think OTR is where I want to be.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BeanDip, Dec 28, 2014.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Dec 28, 2014 #1
    BeanDip

    BeanDip Medium Load Member

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    Dec 28, 2014
    S.W Michigan
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    So, in August of '15, both my girls will be off to college, and I will be freshly divorced. The ex and I will be selling the house and using the profits to pay of accumulated debt. Basically I'm walking away from the house and starting from scratch. This is good. A fresh slate for us both, and finally being out of debt.

    OTR trucking is always something that appealed to me. Solitude doesn't scare me, and I've always hated the maintenance of owning a home. When I was single oh those many years ago, I always rented the smallest efficiency apartments I could find. I never wanted more than a kitchen, 3/4 bath, and a living/bed room. Less stuff = happier me.

    While the kids were growing OTR was often talked about, but I never did take the leap. Now, with nothing holding me back, I'm ready to roll. So here are my questions...

    1- I'm looking to live full time out of the truck, with no actual "home". I'll have an address at my folks house (or my brother's), and hope to take home time (occasionally) and resets in Montana and Michigan. Am I being realistic thinking I may be able to put 25 or 30 thousand in the bank with no mortgage, utililities, etc..

    2- Am I crazy thinking that I could run 8 or 10 years, taking the occasional vacation wherever I feel like stopping?

    3- It seam like a pretty sweet deal, what am I missing?
     
    BeanDip, Dec 28, 2014
    BeanDip, Dec 28, 2014
    #1
    Chinatown Thanks this.
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  3. Dec 28, 2014 #2
    dog-c

    dog-c Road Train Member

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    Its not all cake. It depends on your tolerance level for well, ( insert expletive here)

    But once you deal with the crap side of the business it offers great rewards, and makes sense if you want to be alone for a while. I've done it longer than I expected to be doing this, because when you're in the truck, time flies and the years will go by as you do this job.

    1You can easily put 25 - 30 in the bank.
    2 depends on what the actual vacation is and duration. I used to take a month off in South America. some companies are lenient with LOA and some are not (like JB HUNT)
    3. Theres nothing to miss. You just want to be sure you sign on with the right company.
     
    dog-c, Dec 28, 2014
    dog-c, Dec 28, 2014
    #2
    BrenYoda883, Chinatown and skyviper73 Thank this.
  4. Dec 28, 2014 #3
    BeanDip

    BeanDip Medium Load Member

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    Dec 28, 2014
    S.W Michigan
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    Oh, I'd say I have a pretty high crap tolerance. I'm used to the "business is business, it's nothing personal" and "Just tell them whatever it takes to stop the complaining" and fix employee morale by putting up happy motivational posters, and the usual crappy politics that goes along with just about every job I've had.

    Every job I've held had it's share of crap eating. It's just part of the job. It's why it's called work as far as I'm concerned. :biggrin_25519:
     
    BeanDip, Dec 28, 2014
    BeanDip, Dec 28, 2014
    #3
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
  5. Dec 28, 2014 #4
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    You're my kind of guy; I always took a month off in China. Some drivers I know went to Philippines. What a great life for a single guy. It's a wonderful feeling when the ex-wife tells everyone you're a pervert dating young Oriental hotties.

    BeanDip, you're not missing anything; go for it.Hook up with a 48 state carrier so as not to get stuck in a certain area or region.
     
    Chinatown, Dec 28, 2014
    Chinatown, Dec 28, 2014
    #4
    BrenYoda883, "semi" retired, TruckDuo and 4 others Thank this.
  7. Dec 28, 2014 #5
    Montgomery

    Montgomery Light Load Member

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    Virginia
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    This is exactly what I want to do... I'm thinking Thailand : )
     
    Montgomery, Dec 28, 2014
    Montgomery, Dec 28, 2014
    #5
    Lepton1 and Chinatown Thank this.
  8. Dec 28, 2014 #6
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Nope you're not crazy at all.You have plenty of time to think is this what you really wanna do.Keep in close touch with the forum and ask many questions.Observe from other drivers how they like trucking,study and by the time August gets here you'll be ready to start your new career
     
    pattyj, Dec 28, 2014
    pattyj, Dec 28, 2014
    #6
    Puppage, BeanDip, Chinatown and 1 other person Thank this.
  9. Dec 28, 2014 #7
    cabwrecker

    cabwrecker The clutch wrecker

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    Dump money into the 401k, get on with a good company that does a lot of drop and hook van work and your life is set till retirement.

    Course that's a boring life, but it's your choice.



    Gonna think of this every time I see you on here, from now on OP.
     
    cabwrecker, Dec 28, 2014
    cabwrecker, Dec 28, 2014
    #7
    Chinatown, Tennesseahawk and Lepton1 Thank this.
  10. Dec 28, 2014 #8
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Little known secret; lots of single women vacation in Manila, Philippines. You single female truckers out there, take note!
     
    Chinatown, Dec 28, 2014
    Chinatown, Dec 28, 2014
    #8
  11. Dec 28, 2014 #9
    Clyde07

    Clyde07 Heavy Load Member

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    May 28, 2013
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    BeanDip, man I read your post and it scared me. It was me almost 3 years ago. I was married 25 yrs when the now ex-wife decided to go for greener pastures. I traded the office for a semi, got my CDL and haven't looked back. My oldest just finished college and my youngest will finish this spring (the oldest was on the 5 1/2 year plan). What you're thinking can definitely be done. I'll say this much, I didn't save much my 1st year on the road. I put away a neat little number my second year and tripled my savings the first 9 months of this 3rd year. March will be 3 yrs out here for me. I didn't plan on staying this long, but now I'm looking at the potential retirement position I can create staying a few more years. Oh yeah, and the joy I get from telling my ex that I have no money and then taking my kids on 3 vacations in the last year and half. That's priceless!

    All I can say is go for it. You'll know in a year if it's for you or not. Good luck!
     
    Clyde07, Dec 28, 2014
    Clyde07, Dec 28, 2014
    #9
    Lepton1, Skydivedavec, skyviper73 and 3 others Thank this.
  12. Dec 28, 2014 #10
    dog-c

    dog-c Road Train Member

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    May 30, 2011
    New York, NY
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    Or Colombia, Good God the women there.......

     
    dog-c, Dec 28, 2014
    dog-c, Dec 28, 2014
    #10
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