Looking for advice on my situation

I personally would look at Roehl, Schneider, or JB Hunt before I'd go to Werner or England. Not sure about Roehl but I'm pretty sure the others have CDL school/training programs. I understand your cash situation so you'll have to do what you have to do to get your training financed or fronted to you and "do your time". Good luck whatever you decide.

Also, wether you're obligated to a starter company or not, you still need to commit to staying there a minimum of 12 months regardless of the situation. So, a "contract" to work a given number of months is not all bad except perhaps as the time requirement may exceed over about 12 months.

 

With a wife and new baby girl your best start would be to...

STOP!!!

Not only is trucking not a walk in the park, it is not for such a young family.

Do you only want to be with your family 2-3 days a month?
You will miss seeing your daughter grow up.
You will deprive both your wife and daughter of the husband and father that is needed more in the home, than out earning barely enough to survive.
Because you will not make enough to support them, especially that first year.
Some weeks you won't be able to send any money home.

Your wife will be left to manage all the monthly bills with what you can send her each week.
She will also have to care for the little one by herself.
She will also have no help around the house, and be very lonely most of the time.

You will deprive your family to the point that you will lose them.


Do this only if you care more for the 'glamorous trucker lifestyle' than you do for being with, and keeping, your family intact.

 

Werner or England. Firing squad or lethal injection, um no.

I wouldn't go with any of the big outfits... but if you have to Schneider or conway are the one's I would do it with. Schneider has a tanker division in Houston, you have to move there but it's not a bad gig.

 

You have one year of trucking, I'm not being a jerk but all you have seen so far is the bad.

Don't scare the guy off of a good career. Trucking can be a wonderful well paying job with lots of home time, you've just need to be smart about it, pay your dues, and most of all keep a clean record.

You can make 50-65k a year and be home 2 nights a week plus week ends most of the time. That's a lot better then 20k a year retail and not paying your bills. Ya your going to lose some family time for awhile but family time sucks when bill collectors call.

What a new diver going into this industry needs is clearly defined goals before they start. You need a game plan, to many folks go into this business without one. So far yours sucks.

 

Well, maybe I'll hear from you again in a couple years.

You can tell me if I was mistaken in my assessment, or not.

 

Not so.

I have seen what has been, what is, and what can be.

And, I don't pull the wool over my eyes.


Sure, trucking can eventually move into a really good paying job with lots of home time and benefits.

More often, not.


And for someone thinking about going into this profession with a young wife and child...

Sorry, can't recommend it.

 

I'll bet your assessment was right on, and your take on the mater is what I would expect from a guy that has one year in a truck working for a mega outfit.

Not a burn on you so don't take it that way. You can only see it from the perspective you've seen.

It can be a good job, and a good family job, but you need a game plan. If you don't do it right you will be unhappy for some time to come.

 

Well, maybe you can give him a game plan.

Perhaps you have the answer he needs to make this work.