I really want to give trucking a try but everyone says I would be a fool to switch careers at this point in my life. I have 10 years until I can take early retirement where I work. I will be 51 then. I currently make a little over $40,000.00 a year. There is nothing I can do in this job to make more money.
I am planning on going through a truck driving school next summer knowing that I will not seek a full time job driving a truck. I just can't get it out of my mind and I think I will know if I would like it by going through a school.
My question is...Is it possible to drive for someone on my days off? Part time if you will. I work four, ten hour days so I have three days off every week.
Is Part time trucking possible?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by milby, Jul 31, 2009.
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I have a few questions for you.
1) do you have a spouse who also brings in income to make your total gross more than $40K
2) Can you pay all of you living expenses on the $40+k on time?
3) Do you have enough $$$ for entertainment after you have paid you monthly living cost.
4) Do you have a decent saving account 401k,ROTH?
5) Do you have decent benefits ie: health insurance, vacation, etc...?
If you answer yes to all of these, then why in the world would you want to start driving a truck, even if it is part time.. There is no money to be made in trucking right now, with such a crappy economy, and many experience drivers looking to work. Not to mention the benefits suck, you wold be away from you family, and having to spend $$ a week to survive. Showers aren't free, and the food at truck stops can cost you lots of money as well.. Not to mention but companies would want you to have a least 1 to 2 yrs driving full time, before you could even think of driving part time.
Wait the ten yrs and take early retirement, then maybe think of taking up driving.. I know a guy who did just that, he enjoys driving and the money he makes is spending money as every thing else is paid for from his retirement money ans SSI.. -
Ditto what Doubledragon said. But something more to consider as well; If you go through a driving school now, and then don't get a driving job, that school will be totally worthless to you for getting hired ten years from now. You will have to do it all over again.
And to re-affirm what dd said: I don't know of anybody who would take on a part time driver that did not have actual experience. This is mainly due to insurance and the like. -
Stay put for the next 10 years. Don't lose that retirement for something that you may HATE!!! This is a cruddy time to break into the trucking industry, and I can dang near promise you, you wont make $40K a year driving a truck for somebody, at least not for the first few years. Absolutely do not be fooled by the ads that say you can make 60-70K a year, its BS!
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Look at places like Coca-cola, and P&D places in your area who may need relief drivers. Once you get experience you could move up to gas hauling as a relief driver or something. If there are DCs in your area, see if they need a part-time yard jockey driver.
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I saw an ad for a part time class A driver in the Macon, GA area recently but I think it was more than 3 days a week.
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Is there much of a dairy industry where you are??,....If so talk to the creameries,..They might be able to use a part time milk truck driver for farm pick up,.....Up here in WI they used to pay pretty well for that because farms are picked up 7 days a week and nobody want's to work 7 days a week!!!,......You might pick up some extra money for the next 10 years,.Get some smooth bore tanker experience and be in a good position in 10 years to move into a full time job when you retire from your current position...
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part time..... whats that about 50 hours a week.
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I haul grain part time. I work 8-9 months out of the year. But when I'm working it's 40-65 hrs/week.
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