Talk me out of becoming an O/O

You said u dont like to be anyones punching bag ... Trucking is all about how much u can handle and how much bs ur willing to take. Everybody has their limit ... Trucking is not a job especially if u go into the business side... On your days off the truck needs to be fixed, there is always something that is breaking... To make a good amount of money out here it takes a hard work ethic and a no bs atttitude . you cant get pushed around out here by anybody.... Id highly reccomend starting as a company driver . there is just as much bs in this career as there is in retail work... Its important to find out if its something you can tolerate and if u even enjoy the job . before u drop 6 figures to start a business and find you absolutely hate it

 

I definatly get that. Atleast in trucking you dont have that. But have to deal with stupud drivers all day..... Definatly stand up for yourself out here is ehat i was saying.... Your retail experience will come in handy when delivering , set urself apart from the other truck drivers by being respectful and understanding when any problems come up at a shipper or reciever..... If you really wanna go for it , then go for it. It is a fun way to make a living if you are an independent person and like to be alone most of the time. Get to see alot of cool stuff , but it has its bad side as well just like anything. But yeah it sounds like u have ur mind made up u wanna come out here id say go for it.

 

Best advice I could give you is go buy real estate.

If you live frugally and you have money saved right now, in a few years you'll be able to quit.

By the time you are 45 to 50 years old you will be on the beautiful sand in some tropical location with multiple beautiful women fanning you, feeding you grapes, and.... ahem... taking care of all of your needs... while your real estate Empire happily and easily pays for all of it.

In the words of the great philosopher Hans and the equally great philosopher Frans, "Hear me now, believe me later..."

 

Most such as I that have been in this 30 plus years who have paid off trucks can't wait to be done due to dumb dumbs that we share the roads with now ...most truck drivers are idiots that are only concerned with themselves that make getting fuel a miserable experience.
Can't stay in theyre lane cause they are on a phone .
Block docks because they are to lazy to walk and properly park .
I can't wait to retire!

 

If you want out then you're doing it wrong. I don't want out.....ever. It has it's ups and downs and if I don't like it I can take my ball and go home. For months. The only people on earth I am beholden to are the DOT and the IRS. I'm fine with that.

OP, you have the mindset, it seems so far, to do well at every aspect of the job except driving. That takes years. Sure, you can get some quickie training out there and get on the road, and for the next two years you'll realize at least once each day that you did something that could've killed you or cost you.....or others....and you have to stay on yourself to be better and safer if you work for yourself.

I honestly think driving will be your biggest challenge for the first few years so that's why I'd recommend driving someone else's truck for a good while.

 

Hop the border you’ll change your tune. I sold my truck awhile back and stayed home 6 months then rejoined the industry as a company driver and kinda enjoy it again . I do my 3000 mile 10 to 15 drop rounder in 5 to 6 days and let someone else take care of repairs while I reset . This semi retired lifestyle suits me.

 

i would recommend driving for a company for at least two years and see if you even like the industry and all the bs first . while your driving the company truck run it as if you owned it and keep track of all expenses such as fuel and anything else the company truck needs . i know lots of experience drivers with 20 plus years driving who had their own trucks and guess what they said the hell with it and sold their trucks and went back to company . lots of headaches owning your own truck it’s not all fairy tales and rainbows and on your off days the work doesn’t stop when your a o/o because the truck will need maintenance oil changes grease job then there’s the paperwork etc etc . one big reason i sold my dump truck i hated owning and running my own show let someone else have the headaches . other big thing to look at with trucking is how is technology going to impact this industry in 5 or maybe even 20 years like self driving trucks . i worry about it at 35 will i still have a job at 55 because self driving trucks are coming i don’t care want anyone says . personally i would stay where your at and don’t forget being a o/o you will not have paid vacation benefits etc most of the time u have to pay for all that

 

Anytime you move to a new career is a risk - I am a trained healthcare architect - worked in Chicago for 9 years - life brought me to where I run my own trucking company.
It is not easy - it is 24/7 (like any startup) - it is also having to be 'nice' and kissing ### as you put it for loads, delivery appointments etc... so essentially it is everything you are doing now. You may not have weekends - will have to work hard (company driver (single) at least 12,000 miles/month to be anywhere close to what you are currently making) - I would keep your retail job while you get your AZ...it will take you atleast 8-10 years to own your own company as the best way is to be a company driver, owner/operator for a large company, then work for a small company and then see if you want to run your own plates.

UPSIDE - there are many - love the road and travelling - wherever we stopped we rented a car - sightseeing - and then got the next load - work as much as you want - you have money saved - invest that and live off that while you truck - if not for you get out with no losses.

After you experience this - you could even go and work at a trucking company in their logistics department....there are many options - but none of them will maintain a status quo moneywsie / timewise - so be ready to rock the boat

 

If you know retail, there are many empty stores.Buy 1 and operate it as you want. Trucking has many cameras, more regulations than retail.