Hello all!

I've been trolling a bit recently as I'm planning on making a significant career change at 44 years old. Finally decided to make an account, post some questions. Maybe someday being able to help answer questions.

Seems like a lot of good knowledge in this forum!

 

Thanks all! Hopefully I get mode good advice/knowledge than bad. At least more than if I hadn't asked anything.

I'm looking to change from the IT tech world to trucking. It's not something I take lightly as I have a solid well paying career and it will be quite a change for not just me, but my wife and kids. A big reason I joined the forum, as the closer I get to pulling the trigger, the more I need to understand. I have no family or friends that are in trucking to ask.

We plan on moving as well, from Seattle area, to a small town (3-4k population) in Eastern WA. I'm done with big city living, the polluted tech industry with all its artificial politics and games, and the weather. I have no delusions that the trucking industry doesn't have some of it's own negatives, but taking everything into account as a whole, I'm quite confident that I'll be in a much better place for myself.

I almost went to trucking school back in 94 or so. But pure chance I found my way into a tech position and have been in an office chair 8-10 hours a day since. I have some serious lifestyle changes to make as office job has not treated me well physically. Nothing that going to a gym and some changes to eating habit can't solve. I've high high blood pressure for awhile and recently diagnosed with diabetes. Both of which Dr tells me are resolvable with such changes.

Right now, my basic plan is make sure I can pass medical for CDL. Then trucking school. Then find company OTR job. I feel that I will really like OTR, but won't know for sure until I do it. I figure if it doesn't work out like I think, I can change to something else with my CDL.

So I have a lot of questions, probably basic stuff I'm guessing. Things like, for OTR, how important is the location of your home to where your employer is? Do you "keep" company trucks and park them at home between runs? Options for exercise/gym while out on the road? Can you bring bicycles on a company truck? Will I have to drive with a partner at first, if so, for how long? Lots of schooling/placement questions, life on the road, etc. I'm not asking for answers here, just examples.