Random thought

First off thank you for serving! if you want the corrct info ask all the questions you can read all you can and go and find drivers from the different companies and ask them. when thats all done put in some kind order that you sort and throw out half. why because many people complain because they like to complain tehn there are the guys and girls who think they deserve everything for free or they are better than thou. you have seen them in military " I know I did" after you sort it down you'll see a pattern and you can make a choice from there. sometimes there are a lot of posts about one company or another jsut make sure its not the same poster over and over and over again

 

GRUFFER,
Life is not always what it seems, I always wanted to drive a big truck, When I enlisted in 73 all I got was a dump. I quickly moved on to low boys and flatbeds, 22years later I retired and went to work for Swift. Six momths as a company driver, 3 years as a contractor, I then Moved to Crete. That was a gfood company. After 11 years of living in my truck I got a local job. I thought it was the best job in the industry, Cardinal payed me well, treated me great, and I was home every day. I am now back out over the road, company truck, hauling our own product, 3500 miles every week, home every weekend. I thought I would never drive a company truck again, but this guy treats me good.
I get on this site and I hear the good, the bad and the ugly on all these companies out there. Being on the road is a tough life. I use to stay out 3 or 4 months at a time. I made a good living. Lived in the truck, no life, but was able to save alot. The transition from Military to trucking was easy for me. I had spent 14 years overseas.
It will be what you make of it. I know I am just rambling on, and I wish you the best. You will make a living if you work hard at it, just like you did to make rank.

Good Luck

 

Here's a point you might want to know. When you look at the truck for the name of the company only look at the cab doors. You have alot of dedicated companies that pull for a company but do not own the truck. By law the company name must be on the doors of the cab.

Also, I don't want to preach but I've retired after 20 in the Navy and you say you already have 10 in??? You'd be way ahead of the game if you had money coming in and medical benefits when you start out in this field. Just 10 more and you'll be set. Trucking will still be here and you never know it might be alot better than today.

 

You will read the posts and it will give you an 'idea' of what its like - the problem -- until you actually experience it yourself you will not know what it's like.

Keep reading, but understand, that like the advertisements for diets your results may vary.

 

Gruffer: You've done the first 10 do the last! THEN decide to get a job in trucking! Trust me after 32 years this is a cesspool right now. The economy is in the toilet and these companies are treating newbies like trash!

Stay in until they RIF you out or you make it to retirement! With only 10 left you can do that standing on your head! Use it to pay off the house and then keep saving what you can so you can get your own truck and trailer and do it right as when you get out you can take the CDL and pass it as you have the experience and get someone to lend you a truck for the driving test then you're set. By then rates will be back where they need to be. Or you can hire on with a better company without the hassles of a school loan on you and go straight to work with a short training period.

Just do the last 10 get that retirement set and life will be a lot better! I wish I hadn't been RIFed back in '75 when Nam let out as I would have gotten in my first 20 at the ripe old age of 37 and could have decided my next move and had a nice retirement when I hit that mark in life as NO ONE has a retirement package worth anything as 401K's suck and get hit real regular since 9/11 and a lot of the other "packages" you can get! Let your Uncle foot the bill for the first one and you can add on to it when you ETS! This in in MHO!

Good luckTroop and thanks for the service!
Rollover

 

Agreed ... get that last 10 years in and then do what you want with the rest of your life ... that would be the smart move.


Thanks for the service!
We love you guys and gals!!!