New guy here (17 yr ld)

You can work your way through college. You get in a truck and it is hard to do anything, but truck. I may have a 4 year degree in the near future. Will have taken me about 20 years to get it tho...

 

College may not be the best bet. If you want to go, and have the desire and aptitude to learn something there, then go for it. If you are not sure, or just do not want to go then don't.

In my case, going to college was one of the worst decisions I've ever made. Now, I've got tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, and still no job. I would have been far better off if I had jumped into trucking or construction when I was 18. Even if I still found myself out of work, I would not have the added responsibility of debt and a degree that is so far unused.

If all goes well now, the construction company I worked for during summer breaks will have enough work to hire me again. Until then, I've been scraping by with driving a school bus, part time.

College is not a silver bullet that makes life easy. It's also not a four year party, and it is expensive. You will still encounter people without principles or character. While I do not fully regret going, I could have made a better choice.

Look into community college, maybe take a couple of classes to see if it interests you. Then pursue it further if you would like to. Most have articulation agreements with state universities and are much more economical.

As to trucking, you could look for a smaller operation (where the owner will be at or near the shop) and explain your situation and interest. See if they will take you on as a shop assistant or parts chaser, and go from there. Another option is to find a paving or road construction company and get hired on as a laborer. They sometimes train if they are large enough to promote from within.

Good luck, our generation seems to have innumerable challenges ahead of us. Remember, when it comes down to brass tacks, you are responsible for your decision. If it's poor, you will be the one suffering, if it's great, you will be the one reaping the benefits.

 

If you think an education is expensive.... try ignorance...

 

Education is great, but information is better! Having a college degree doesn't mean you aren't ignorant!

Notarps seems a little resentful of his career decisions . . .

 

Intelligence doesn't indicate education and education doesn't indicate intelligence. It is not a causal relationship. Success in high school doesn't equal success in college either, fyi.

Ignorance has even less to do with it. How am I uninformed? If I am uninformed, please inform me. How is it that you came to know how valuable my degree is or isn't?

I was informed that college was the best path to success. I weighed the options; electing to go. I experienced that it wasn't the best choice. I've got a degree with a specialized skill set that is not very marketable. I now have to pay for said degree by doing "unskilled" labor.

There is a common misconception that a college degree is a blanket solution. It is not. Think about all the engineers whose jobs have been outsourced. How many people started out trucking because they were laid off from other careers?

The main point being that college is not right for everyone.

 

Hey leroy you ever considered joining a harvest crew? I just got on with one and I found out that if you travel with harvesters you dont have to be 21 to travel state to state. Guess its some kind of loop hole. Just my .02 cents.