Turned 18, Plan to become a hot shot driver by 26 (hopefully), need advice

Dental Hygiene varies greatly from state to state...In MN, a dental hygienist can have a 2 year, 4 year or masters degree.

 

My wife is a Dental Hygienist and a good friend is a Dentist...they both agree that if you want to become a dentist, going to school for hygiene is not the proper route. A 4 year hygiene program will not meet all the prerequisites to be accepted to dental school and by far the biggest hurdle is being accepted to dental school.

With that said, I would apply to the companies that Chinatown mentioned and start your driving career!! It's nice that you are trying to make your parents happy, but it's your life and if you want to truck then go trucking!!

 

You've hit the nail on the head there, except for the 'no getting out' bit. I got out. It was a pain, though, looking for part-time driving jobs for a couple of years while I went to community college, then surviving on student intern positions on off-semesters while getting my engineering degree for the next 3 years. Then, looking for entry jobs as a mechanical engineer at age 40, my offerings were fairly limited. But, what would've become of myself if I was still driving? I'd probably be that bent-over old guy with no teeth left, sitting in the driver's lounge recounting stories of the time he lost his brakes going down {insert name of steep downhill here}......

No, my suggestion to this young man is to forget the trucking industry all together. If you want adventure, join the Air Force; at least THAT will give you some experience that will look good in the years to come.

 

You got lucky and managed to get out. However, you tremendously suffered to do it. In the early 2000’s, I went back to community college, started studying engineering, tried to survive on $10/hr, and couldn’t get any engineering companies to give me a chance, while in school. All the while, I was sliding further into a hole. I went back into trucking, running ramps, with full benefits, and nearly $70K/yr. I don’t regret giving up on school, from an income and stability perspective. However, if doing life over, I would’ve continued on with my military career, moved forward with OCS, and done a lateral transfer, from the Army into the Air Force. Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard are the only branches one should serve in, IMO.

 

Well, "engineering companies" don't hire students, you have to get a co-op by going to a university. While earning my associate's, I did some driving, mostly moving, but found better hours driving towtruck and also doing siding and roofing. Once I moved up to university, my co-ops only paid like $12.50/ hour, but that was full time during 5 quarters, in between 6 quarters as a full-time student. I also got student grants and loans. I still owe about $15K.

It sounds like you are doing pretty well as a driver now, but I always had long-term health issues to consider. Today I can still drive a truck, but I can't spend any time to speak of on the road, and I knew at the time that I would have maybe 10-15 years until that became a reality.

 

A great dispatcher will get you started and make you money.

 

Aren't all truck drivers millionaires?

 

well....many of us are.....