Hello

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by ERobb, Nov 2, 2020.

  1. ERobb

    ERobb Bobtail Member

    3
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    Nov 2, 2020
    Pleasantville Iowa
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    Howdy folks, I’m 51 years old, got my CDL in August of 2019, got a job offer to drive dump truck before the ink was even dry on my CDL. I took that job but only lasted 1 month, didn’t really like it because I was stationed on a road construction job 2 hrs away from home. It rained every other day in which case we just laid around the hotel room and collected $50/day. Or we could drive home and get paid $0. I really wanted to drive tractor/trailer anyway.
    So I quit and accepted a local, short heavy haul job hauling precast concrete products, some pieces are overweight/oversized. Also run a boom/crane to unload product. I’m home most nights, average about 1 night per week that I can’t make it back home.
    Now that I have my 1 year in Ive been getting longer runs so I’m out more overnight maybe 2 nights per week, but overall I like that better, more driving, less delivering.
    I was involved in my family’s construction company for 25 years before that, my Dad, my younger brother and I built houses from the ground up. Did everything except lay carpet and HVAC. My Dad loved concrete and framing, my brother was the electrician, tile layer, While I concentrated on plumbing, cabinets and trim carpentry. My brother got diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2014, and my Dad suddenly passed away in 2015, then after 2 brain surgeries, focused radiation and chemotherapy, my brother passed away in 2017. I tried to carry on in the construction field and did some work for a couple other contractors but ultimately I decided to leave it behind and do something else entirely.
    After working for this trucking company for going on 15 months now, I feel that ‘self employed’ bug biting me, and I’m considering buying my own truck, but I don’t want to be OTR, maybe do some out and back runs, home every other night, if I can find a gig like that.
    Overall I really like driving the truck, but I continue to struggle with the long hours, even tho I’m home most nights, I leave the house at 5:30am and usually don’t get home until 7:30-9:00pm. So I don’t really have any quality time with my family or time to play with my classic cars which is my hobby and I find myself desperately missing that.
    Ultimately I’d like to find something where I can work hard for 4 days then have 3 off, for family and hobbies. People just laugh at me when I say that, but I’m hopeful, also thinking that’s where buying my own truck might work, if I could find the right gig, I could drive 4 days per week then put a semi-retired driver in the truck a couple days per week, IDK just ideas floating around in my head.
    Thanks for letting me join, this site has a wealth of info.
     
    austinmike Thanks this.
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  3. Eddiec

    Eddiec Road Train Member

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    Feb 2, 2015
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    Buy a dump truck
     
    Badmon Thanks this.
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,034
    142,285
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    There's a couple of companies that have flexible work schedules, but those are for company drivers.
    `
    Have you researched to cost of insuring a truck and a driver?
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2020
  5. I glide 47

    I glide 47 Road Train Member

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    Jun 3, 2017
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  6. ERobb

    ERobb Bobtail Member

    3
    8
    Nov 2, 2020
    Pleasantville Iowa
    0
    Hi again, I didn’t fill out the info on my account earlier, I’m in Pleasantville, Iowa. Just SE of Des Moines.
    As I said in my original post, I have some ideas bouncing around in my head, but I don’t know weather any are viable or even remotely possible. That’s why I’m here, to learn.
     
  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    142,285
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Trillium is a CDL staffing agency and you can work when you want to.
    `
    drivers Jobs | Trillium Staffing
    drivers Jobs | Trillium Staffing
    Trillium partners with some of the nation's leading private fleets, third party logistics companies, for hire carriers, and LTL carriers to locate safe and professional drivers! Whether you are seeking casual or …
     
  8. notavome

    notavome Bobtail Member

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    Nov 13, 2020
    0
    Hello and welcome ;)
     
  9. Cobrakaiguy

    Cobrakaiguy Light Load Member

    122
    99
    Nov 16, 2020
    Dallas
    0
    Welcome from Dallas, Texas.
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
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