Considering Trucking

At this time I would ask you why not make a career out of the Air Force. Get a full military retirement. Then go trucking

 

Hello FireMike and Welcome to the Forum

If you would like, introduce yourself in the Welcome Wagon:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/the-welcome-wagon/

Best of Luck to You and to Your Success!!!!!

 

Good morning Mike! You're in an enviable position in that you are looking at new opportunities while you have a current means for income. Spend the next 6-8 months with us here on the forum. By then you'll have a really good grasp of what trucking is all about. Of course, you won't have the "hands on" experience, but you will be so much better prepared to make a decision as to which way to go when the time comes. I can only say this because I've done it, not the hands on part, but the spending time on the forum part. I've learned more here than I'll ever learn in driving school. I'll be in school next summer but I'll go in with at least an idea of what I'm getting myself into thanks to the gals and guys on this forum who have taken their time to educate me.

 

You are or should be able to Cross Train into another career field. There are very few jobs in the private sector now. So unless you like being unemployed or worse working for the Slave Labor OTR market My suggestion is to give the service some more of your time maybe in the transportation shop...Thanks for your Service.

 

Well; I would say this. Remember the dreams and plans you had when you joined the air-force? That seems to have fizzled out on you. Trucking can and very well may do the same. Trucking can not offer you the bennies and retirement that the air-force can. You have 16 years left to go. Where can you match that investment of 16 years out here? Best advice I can give you is re-up. Go to college while you are in. The air-force is the cleanest, easiest way to get your time in. You want adventure? Go for another trade. Special forces or something in that nature. You are young. 16 years seems like a long time, but trust me it will pass very fast.

Just the other day seems like I was in basic training... hmmm maybe a few days longer... OK 30 years has passed..

 

notarps is right. Stick it out in the Air Force for 16 more years...you'll only be 40 with a pension! Then if you still have the desire to go trucking, by all means go for it, because you will truly be in the "drivers seat" by drawing a pension and not relying on miles to survive.

 

Good advice in those last posts, Mike. I was a Jet Engine tech in the AF back in the day. Had the same feelings. Once in a while a bit of excitement (Ok, more than a bit while in SE Asia!), but of the routine stuff, I mostly remember dragging engines and nacelle down to the wash rack and getting soaked for a few hours, or scrubbing parts in the degreaing tubs. I ended up transitioning to the Army, as a Cav Scout. Not much one can there use in civ. life, but it was a lot more interesting. And I do regret I didn't go for at least 20.

For me, I wasn't so much enamored with trucking when I got into it, as much as it looked like a good break from the office culture I had been working in. And I have a strong case or wanderlust, always wanting to see over the next hill or around the next bend. It ain't as strong as it was, but it's still there. It's what keeps me riding a motorcycle!

If you are determined to do it, look into any local community colleges that offer CDL school. You could try to do the school on weekends, and have your license about when you get discharged.

Good luck, and thanks for your service, even if it's mopping floors

Jim F