I want to get into this career/lifestyle but is it right for me

40 tons is a hell of alot of weight. Its nothing to me. However, its still a hell of a lot of weight. Engineering has introduced disk braking and other pretty good nifty fancy over engineered stuff er... aw forget it. Eventually there will be robot trucks on a mass scale and the cost of a human will be eliminated essentially. They hope.

 

shoots, we can change spots. been wanting to work in office/IT since high school but took a different road straight to work after high school then trucking soon as I turned 21 literally. if you think you are a good driver on the road go for it. Community college is cheap truck training school but wanted 2k upfront cash to enroll when I started. Independent trucking is good too but is more money will need loans. no worries you will have it paid back at a truck company of your choice in no time or if you fail tests could also be money & your time down the drain for you. I have seen some people fail in my class and they didn't take it likely. Before you waste money on trucking school I make sure no pending courts no bad background, suspensions, etc on license recent tickets goin back however long their requirement says etc. just call recruiting to see where you stand before going through all this n cant get hired on some are straightforward.

once on to a company for on the job training Be prepare not to see your house for a while while in training and even after training. Most likely goin your over the road (otr) or if they really have a need might do regional or local. local work prepare to work a long 14hrs don't recommend starting but you will see your house every night working locally. I Recommend otr more room to learn the roads and backing skills and gain better at tight turns.

 

only one way to find out - JUMP IN THE FIRE !


Down in the depths of my firey home
The summons bell will chime
Tempting you and all the Earth
To join our sinful kind
There is a job to be done and I'm the one
You people make me do it
Now it is time for your fate and I won't hesitate
To pull you down into this pit
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
With hell in my eyes and with death in my veins
The end is closing in
Feeding on the minds of man
And from their souls within
My disciples all shout to search out
And they always shall obey
Follow me now my child not the meek or the mild
But do just as I say
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
Jump by your will or be taken by force
I'll get you either way
Trying to keep the hell fire lit
I am stalking you as prey
Living your life as me I am you you see
There is part of me in everyone
So reach down grab my hand walk with me through the land
Come home where you belong
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
So come on
Jump in the fire
Come on jump in, yeah!

 

Hah hah
Hah hah hah
hahahahahahahahahahah

You guys are mean, you didn't catch this and warn him?

I hope inefficiency doesn't bother you, because you will be subjected daily to boneheaded bureaucratic stupidity and if you DARE question it they will look down their nose at you and as "how could a knuckle dragger POSSIBLY know about BIZNES?!? It's WAAAAY to complicated for a simpleton like you."

I've seen stupidity bad enough to cause brain damage at 20 meters.
So I hope that doesn't bother you.
I've learned to smile and play dumb while trying not to laugh at them.

Okay, serious question: have you served in the military? Because your first year is gonna be a lot like basic without the pull-ups. You go where you're told, eat where you're told, sleep where you're told. You're gonna live in a 6x6x6 box for the better part of a month at a time. You're gonna be wasting a weekend 800 miles from home because someone didn't get a load booked before Miller Time on a Friday. And they may promise you you'll get home when you ask for it, but more likely than not, it's not a priority to THEM.

Learn as many rules as you can, (you can't bend them if you don't know them.) I've gotten out of a few tickets by being polite and smooth.

After you've put in about a year with a starter outfit, you can start looking for other companies if you've had a clean track record.

I'm not gonna lie, if $45k isn't enough for you now, you're gonna be sorely disappointed in your first year. Don't believe the hype you'll clear $80-100k in your first year, most guys at large companies are struggling in the $30's. I've been stuck in the $40's for a decade, but part of that is self inflicted.

Good luck.

 

Its actually a lot of fun. While you are in school, soak it up. Be coachable. I personally don't see what difference it makes whether you go company paid training or go your own way. Either way, you'll most likely have to go to a training company. Once you get to a company, be even more coachable. Soak it in, and let them teach you about life on the road. Then you'll be by yourself. Stay out of truck stops other than to do what's necessary. If you talk to other truckers, especially the negative grumpy ones, you'll start second guessing your every decision. Run hard, make money. Once you're burned out, go home.

 

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Go for it brother !!! As for the cat , @Dave_in_AZ could have some advice at how to get the cat thru training

 

That reminds me.

Your family and friends around the USA is your business. In my time if Dispatch finds out that you have family in say Chicago, you will not be dispatched there at all. =) its a way of keeping you busy with nothing to do wherever you end up.

 

Might we ask how much your making in IT?
If its more than $30K, you might be lucky enough to earn that in your first year.
$40K and above, might be whole lot harder to make that in trucking then some company advertising, "Make $50 - 100K" - even before the virus that would have been difficult to earn as a new driver, maybe 5 years to get there, all depends on you, your work ethic, your ability to really work hard, and live in a truck.

Time to end the fantasy! Start by moving into a small closet! Go to the grocery store, buy a HotPocket, tell the cashier you want to pay double! Get in your Camero and drive 600 miles in 10 hours, eat only at truck stops, how'd that feel? Sleep for 10 hours, get back in your car, and drive another 600 miles in 10 hours, go drive around a big city too, until you get lost, and can't find your way back to the interstate, nope not the the internet, THE INTERSTATE! Feeling refreshed, pay some money and take a nice hot shower at the truck stop, nice and clean showers too! Don't forget to pay $20 for shower shoes, that sell everyday at the Wakmart for $4.99! Scenery is nice, but you don't have time to explore, time to go again, take (2) 30 minute breaks, and no more than an hour for lunch. Gotta go in between, make sure you buy a bottle of something for $3.99, this will later become your bathroom! Don't stop!!! You can go #1 @ 60mph! You must sleep in your car every night! Have an old guy move into the closet, sharing is good! Not just any old guy, one who snores, burps, and farts! Who scares you a bit by looking into your eyes at 4am from 4" away, he's just making sure you are ok! He's also worried about global warming - so he doesn't shower but once in 2 weeks! And when he takes the wheel, you'll know why they call him The Flipper! Hang on tight and go to sleep!

If you decide to do it, prepare now, save as much as you can, your nest egg, even as a company driver, its nice to have that for a safety net. Read some of the horror stories here about trainees, running out of cash, before training is complete!

I hope you think long and hard about the comfy position you have now, before you take the plunge, your past experience aint't worth a nickel out here, behind the wheel.