Trucking vs 9-5 pros and cons

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Deadendcruiser1, Mar 5, 2021.

  1. Deadendcruiser1

    Deadendcruiser1 Bobtail Member

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    As a potential new O/O leaving a 9-5 in curious to know the pros and cons from those who have left the 9-5 to become a trucker and if you would ever go back to a 9-5 after having made the change?
     
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  3. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    Pros-
    No need to interact with people beyond a very basic level.
    No boss breathing down my neck.
    No need to fear saying hello to someone will get me slapped with a sexisim charge (yes this happens).
    If you get to leave the main roads you see a lot of pretty country.
    Little need to pay for rent if your smart.
    You get to avoid the worst of the current politics and wrong think charges flying for things you said 50 years ago when the mindset or meaning was diffrent.
    Extremely stable job market with little/no chance you cant find work.
    Tons of freedom in comparison to some jobs
    Dont need a multi million dollar degree to make good money.

    Cons.
    Healthy food is hard to find and expensive as all hell.
    Health tends to take a huge hit.
    Easy to get fat.
    High stress
    High risk
    Easy to lose everything
    Lack of family time
    Hard to go back to normal jobs
    Most people consider you as literally less then an animal and activily hate your guts.
    Most people consider you as being stupid and/or dangerious to society as a whole.
    Big brother always watching.
    Lack of handy bathrooms leads to some aquard moments eventually.
    Breakdowns where you get stuck in the cold.
    Exposure to stupidly dangerious areas of citys with all THAT comes with
    Lots of bordom
    Life can pass you by
    Easy to become bitter

    Honestly I wouldn't go back to a 9-5 myself...
    but i also dispise people in general and need a job with a little interaction with humans as posible for my own comfort. YMMV though
     
  4. Super-Trucker

    Super-Trucker Bobtail Member

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    Jul 31, 2014
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    I agree with most of what @Arctic_fox said.

    However everyone’s situation is different. Let me ask you, how old are you? Do you have kids for whom you want to be a regular presence in their lives? Those types of questions are some of the most important in my mind when considering such a career shift into trucking. If that was the case then perhaps you might choose to go into LTL where you will have more home time and make sometimes more than what some owner operators make; plus have benefits.

    If on the other hand you are single or retiring and you can afford to leave it all to go be on the road for 3-6 months at a time and your goal is to pile up cash then that may call for a different aproach. Then maybe you can become like some tanker drivers and go gross 300K. Very hard to do though.

    Weighing the pros and cons, at least in my mind, depends highly on what you’re goals are. What are you trying to achieve? What are your goals? If you can share that then perhaps there are some old timers here who can shed some wisdom. I would certainly share my two cents.

    BTW go watch “The Asian Mai Show” on YouTube. The guy interviews many different people in trucking. Could be very informative as far as choosing what trucking lane to get into.
     
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  5. Deadendcruiser1

    Deadendcruiser1 Bobtail Member

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    Thanks for this, a great reply! As @ArcticFox mentioned like him I'm no longer happy being stuck under a roof with the same childish people for 11hrs a day. Another motive is the business I work for is changing hands. I've been there 17 years and make about $100k a year with great benefits as well. I know it is a lot to give up however it is not worth my mental health. Nor do I expect my job to be promised under the new owner. Before this job I used to be a wrecker driver and that was the best job ever. Being behind the wheel. The freedom of turning up the radio and not having anyone else whining or breathing down my neck. I was always excited to show up to a call with the new challenges that should come with it. However the real purpose of getting my CDL is job security. I can pretty much be guaranteed a job anytime anywhere I go. Whether it be for myself or under someone else. The O/O deal has presented it to myself as a good friend of mine is retiring and selling his tractor and with that sale comes his client. He does 2 overnight runs down the east coast and back per week. He grosses roughly $250k a year with that client. Not to mention, I feel in my down time if I wanted I could always drive locally for someone else. Either way with a CDL the opportunity is endless. I am a homeowner, no kids and have a very understanding and supportive gf. I have always worked extremely hard, I'm a work harder play a little kind of guy. I started driving wrecker at the age of 16. On the clock 8-5 and then on call 5-8 and on call Saturday and Sunday. That's right, all day every day at 16 years old for 6 years. I have a savvy business mind. I bought a home in a place where the real-estate market only ever gains. It fluctuates but if you hold onto it it always gains. I made that decision when I was 18. I worked that much that I could but a home at 18. It is a retirement investment that I've constantly built up and put more money into. I now have a house and am apartment that being in rental revenue that are paying for me to build another new home. I hope this helps sum up MY situation. But really, I personally feel driving for myself is the ideal choice for me. As it's a job I can take anywhere and I am certain I will love the windshield time. I'm not afraid to log the hours to make the money. "If you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life" I actually follow “The Asian Mai Show” personally he's a little annoying lol but he does some good interviews with people and some great business insight. I actually enjoy "life behind the wheels" videos as well, he gives great driving insight and has a real nice Pete.
     
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