Not A Trucker...

It’s rare but it can be done. Going from your field to truck driving. It’ll be something you either hate or love. The first six months will bring you many challenges and frustrating adventures that you’ll have to work your way through and get better at each day. I agree with others, don’t even consider buying your own truck until you’ve been out here at least a year. And honestly 2 to 3 years would be better.

if you go full-time over the road you should clear a lot more than $40,000 with the rates what they are right now. Hell I made $75,000 my first year. You should be able to make at least that right now.

I drive party time, but still at about 90% of a full time driver. I love it.

 

May not need that, but will need "Hazmat endorsement" and TWIC card

 

You don't "need" those, but they can be useful. I worked for a company that wanted you to get them. Then if you did you wound up spending a day at the docks at the ports getting unloaded into some boat somewhere.

Screw that. No TWIC means I don't have to deal with ports.

 

You're not alone. I was a white collar office worker (GIS Professional) before becoming a trucker. I personally had too many years of too routine. I've been a trucker over a year and a half now. Still enjoying it, but it takes some getting used to and it is not without its problems. I'm still OTR, by choice, because I enjoy traipsing around the West. I'll occasionally go back East, but, once again by my choice I usually stay in the West.

I've always loved to drive and travel and am very comfortable being by myself for long periods ot time. For me, I think those are the biggest reasons I've managed to make this work for me. Alot more drivers try to do this and find it isn't for them than those of us who fair well with it.

I ended up going to Swift, still with them and recommend them. Good place to get a start. They are geared for newbies and the terminal I operate out of (I'm seldom actually there) has been really good to me and good to work with. I know Swift has kinda a bad reputation because of some of the knucklehead drivers we end up with. But, it's not all knucklehead drivers and those usually don't last too long. Maybe longer than they should, but still not too long.

Although my clearance expired years ago, I also at one time had a TS/SBI and was part of the intelligence community when I was in the Air Force. I've heard about government special contracts for drivers, so might be something there for you, although I think most will probably want a couple of years experience first. Unless things have changed, clearances are basically good for 5 years from the last update. They expire after that and an expired clearance is basically worthless for getting a job. Trust me, it doesn't matter at all if your clearance is expired or you never had a clearance. So, check out when your last update is and try not to jump ship unless or until it has a few years of good shelf life first. Most places want 2 years of experience. So, if your clearance has 3 years before it expires, you'll have enough time to get 2 years experience and them find a driving job where the clearance is relevant. I've heard rumor those jobs can pay handsomely!!! As for the experience. Due to 'driver shortage' many places are not being such a stickler for 2 years experience. IDK.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents and best of luck to you!!!

 

Are you dry van or refrigerated?

 

I've only been to the ports one time during my whole career. I kept all the endorsements plus TWIC. Needed them pulling hazmat tankers. Hazmat came in handy pulling refrigerated trailers because sometimes if there was no reefer freight until the next day, I could snag a hazmat dry van load, such as paint, and keep moving.

 

I refer to myself as a West coast reefer jockey!! Kinda funny, I started as reefer and the longer I drive, the more I feel like I would have ended up doing reefer regardless of where I started. IDK, I just kinda like hauling food and I have the patience for doing reefer work. I kinda fit doing this. I also prefer OTR over dedicated or local. I like the sense of adventure not knowing where I'm going or what I'll be hauling next. Although there are a few loads I commonly haul, they are just mixed up and no routine about which, where and when.
Only thing changed is going from OTR all over, to staying in the West. I am originally from the South and for reasons I left many years ago. When I started going back to the South, brought up too many emotional scars of my childhood. I asked if I could avoid going South and they offered to just let me stay in the West. So I said OK. And, on occasion, I will run back East somewhere, just not Southeast!

 

@Six9GS - I under stand that. I like refrigerated work also. Preferred 'irregular route' just like you do. Never knowing from one load to the next where next destination will be. I left Tennessee for the West and love it here in Nevada.