Retiring Early To become a Trucker... Should I Yes or No???

I retired 3 weeks ago and my phone rings off the hook from recruiters and driving buddy's giving me a what for guilt trip.
I imagine a cadaver would fit the bill in this cancel culture, to little to late , you can only kick a dog so long and it started with the CDL , ELD.

 

Wait till you Max out your money. Inflation is just going to get worse.

 

If you can earn 75k per year on average over the next 3 years then you would break even.

You could plan your retirement and see if that 3,900 would be enough for your situation. Maybe you don't need to work anymore. Maybe you can just...live life?

And MAYBE you can start your career end of June, and by end of August you'll have a better idea of what you really want.

 

First of all--THANK YOU--for your incredible service (navy nuke--wow!) to our great Country!!!!

Given where we all (as of the time of this writing) are in the trucking business cycle--I can't encourage you to start your own thing, until you've tried it from the company side--at least, for a while.

Think of it this way--the Navy doesn't start even its brightest pilots out in F-18 jets; they start out flying in something much more modest.

Besides--you don't even know for sure if you will like it--or not, without actually trying it first.

To really sample it out, without hocking part of your house--here's an idea:

USA Truck is dry van and has one great benefit--after you're there 6 months, you can choose your loads and run where you want to.
The Wife can ride along:

USA Truck (driveusatruck.com)

--Lual

 

My situation sounds similar. I can retire from law enforcement in 4 months. I'm done with career and wouldn't recommend policing to anyone anymore. I could stay 6 more years to max out, but ive lost the drive to continue. I got my permit before the changes and getting my cdl next month. I'm just 44 and plan on working at least 11 more years until my wife retires. I put back extra besides my pension have the money to buy a decent truck outright. There have been several local dedicated routes for o/o lately, but experience is required. Im trying to figure out the best way to get my foot in the door without going otr.

 

I’m fifty and left public service about seven years ago. If I was 25 I’d buy my own truck. Now. Being a company driver is better. However be ready for the 70 hr week. They expect it.

 

@tcurtsinger, if you tell us what city/state you are in (or near), the Forum can probably offer some help.

Also: in what type(s) of freight are you interested?

--Lual

 

I'm in central KY. I'd prefer dry van, but no dollar general type unloads.

 

If it were me, I'd drive as a company driver first. It's a great way to stack money, and fast. While trucking is good money, it isn't necessarily what people think it is, especially for owner ops. Owners fork out big money, and many often go under before they even have a chance to turn a profit. I'd just drive company, and 400k plus you mentioned you'd be giving up if you retired early, I think it would take 7 or 8 years to make that up driving as company guy. As an owner op, definitely a lot longer.