Should I become a trucker?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by TimmyC, Mar 30, 2023.

  1. TimmyC

    TimmyC Bobtail Member

    1
    1
    Mar 30, 2023
    0
    38 years old and tired of working in government public service. People are more crazy and difficult than ever. I'm looking for a 40 hour a week job where I have less dealings with the public. I would also like to move somewhere slightly less populated.

    How much can I make driving a truck around PA? How profitable is starting your own company? Are dump trucks as profitable as semi trucks to drive?

    Is it true that a CDL is found at fault if a collision occurs and the other driver was clearly the cause?
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. roundhouse

    roundhouse Road Train Member

    2,859
    6,353
    Jul 11, 2018
    0
    Sounds like you’re at the DMV or something ?

    mid you already have a few years built up towards your retirement pension , I’d stay with the govt and just transfer to a job with little or no public interface .

    the guy driving the snowplow or the guy running the excavator for the highway dept
     
  4. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,354
    11,162
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    40 hrs/week and truck driving don't really match.
     
  5. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Few if any trucking jobs require ONLY 40 hours of work per week. 50-70 hours per week is very common. I retired from trucking because I got tired of everyone outside of the truck treating me like a diseased stray dog and lying to/about me so they could make their life easier. You can live anywhere but you cannot work anywhere. if you don't live where you work then you have to find the time to commute from where you live to where you work. Freight is not evenly distributed across the country. The freight is made an delivered mostly where the population lives.

    Tanker work is probably the easiest type of trucking, if you have experience, and the customers treat you much better than dry van, reefer. I don't know about flatbed customers.

    It would be foolish to buy a truck and "be your own boss" as an owner-operator until you have worked as aW-2 company driver for 1-3 years. About 80-90% of first year truck drivers leave the industry before they get 12 months experience. Just learning the job, as a company driver, is a full-time task. The difference between someone paying the full expenses of operating a commercial truck/trailer and being successful or going out of business is a lot of small decisions. You can't just read a book about playing poker and become successful. You need to do the job as driver, learn the smart tactics to make a profit, and THEN become and owner-operator.
     
  6. homeskillet

    homeskillet Road Train Member

    5,024
    33,771
    Jun 1, 2013
    Dayton, OH
    0
    Most of those crazy and difficult people drive cars on the highway, and you will be surrounded by them daily.

    Just sayin'........
     
  7. TheLoadOut

    TheLoadOut Road Train Member

    1,812
    8,188
    Nov 6, 2019
    0
    You won't find any of the things you are looking for in trucking.
     
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,033
    142,281
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Don't become an owner-operator until you have a few years experience being a company driver. With no experience just the insurance cost is enough to buy a new house.
     
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,033
    142,281
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Lawyers always jump on the CDL driver because they're seen as having deep pockets full of cash. Don't have to worry about that as a company driver.
    ~
    Move to South Dakota, Texas, Nevada for rural area living away from the crowds and also those 3 states don't have state income taxes.
     
    The Railsplitter Thanks this.
  10. rabbiporkchop

    rabbiporkchop Road Train Member

    9,634
    6,477
    Feb 9, 2012
    Wapwallopen, Pa
    0
    Unless he works the dock at YRC in Dorrance PA.
     
    The Railsplitter Thanks this.
  11. Born2win

    Born2win Light Load Member

    57
    114
    Aug 28, 2022
    0
    40 hour work week?? Good luck
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.