Future Driver Here (hopefully)

Whats up everyone? I am looking at getting into the trucking industry. I am registered to start a 6 week-240 hour program on January 11. I had good enough credit to get a loan from my bank, so I am doing it on my own dime at a school in North Dakota. I don't know anyone who has gone through the program, so I guess I will find out how good it is once I get there. My grandpa was an otr driver for about 25 years til he retired a couple years ago, and my uncle was an otr driver for about a year, but has since gone on to a more local route so he can be home every night and be closer to his family. I personally don't have a family or really that much of a social life, so I would like to go otr if thats where the good money is at. I am 24.

I know there are a million different threads asking questions, so I don't really have too many questions that I cant find the answer to with a little bit of reading.

I guess my one question is: Is the trucking industry still strong and is it expected to stay strong through the economic crisis we are going through? I would think it is still strong and will stay strong being transportation of goods is always needed. Just wondering I guess from people already in the industry.

 

Although I decided to get my cdl back in October, I never knew this site existed until wednesday, or I would have asked this question earlier. But really, to be honest, I don't think it would have changed anything (me getting my loan and registering for school). This is my best opportunity of not living paycheck to paycheck and possibly being able to retire someday.

Yea I guess it shouldn't be a big surprise that the economy is affecting this industry, but there are always like 3-5 ads in the paper from trucking companies hiring, which is what I went off, and figured it could be a good future. Although the economy is affecting every state, everything I hear and read is that North Dakota is one of the top 2 or 3 least effected states by the economy. Hopefuly it stays that way.

I have never met him, because he lives about 300 miles away, but my bother's girlfriend of 3 years dad owns a trucking company that transports fuel around the state of North Dakota. Apparantly my brother told him I was going to school for my cdl, and he told my brother to have me call him once I get my cdl and he would set me up with job. I don't know what kind of pay I would get with a local state job, but I would probably rather get an otr job to both make more money and save more money being on the road. I do think that this local fuel transport job for her dad would be something good to fall back on if I can't get an otr job though

 

Thanks guys. There is a definitely a lot of info here. I've been reading this board all day and I haven't even scratched the surface on all the information here.

Yes I'm staying very positive and it has already helped me out through God. About a week after I registered online the school called me and told me the class was full and I would have to wait til late February to get in. I told them it was important to me, and all they could say was sorry, but you will be on the wait-list. I stayed postive. 2 days later they called me and told me they hired an extra instructor got me in for the Jan 11 class. I also should have never got my loan, but I stayed postive, and God helped the bank approve me. I know that I am destined for this and their is a 0% chance that I am in the group of wannabes that will flunk out or get fired within a year. This is what I am going to do.

And yes I will definitely start a thread about the school I'm going to in a couple weeks when I start. There are no threads about it, so I will let people no how good it is.