To drive or not to drive?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by dobiusa, Mar 26, 2010.

  1. dobiusa

    dobiusa Light Load Member

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    Mar 24, 2010
    Wisconsin
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    Thank you.. Im in the process.. its not so easy deciding on whom to drive for.. cant believe a word they say (I know better) so I am baseing it on what I need and what I can get out of my choice.
    Tieing up loose ends at the homestead and calculating how much its going to set me back to be the low man on the totem pole.. But if you see the forest thru the trees.. in a few years I COULD (and could is the key word here) actually fair better in the long run. That is if I use good common business sense.
     
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  3. Baritone

    Baritone Road Train Member

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    Lexington, Ky
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    I so understand where you are coming from. I worked 20+ years in corporate america and have once again been laid off due to downsizing. I have dreamed of driving over the road for years now and still very apprehensive about making the leap. Maybe the man upstairs is telling me to do it now since my severance is almost gone.

    I have a potiential offer in retail - but not sure thats something I care to do at my age. It's a hard choice - but my kids are grown, I am single and not real bills to worry about.
     
  4. dobiusa

    dobiusa Light Load Member

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    Mar 24, 2010
    Wisconsin
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    Well Baritone,
    All I can say is this. I stepped out of trucking due to raising a family. I did what I needed to do for my kids. At the time it met my needs. Now, with the kids grown and the fuel still running thru my veins.. all I can do is give in to the lifestyle change that keeps tapping me on the back.
    I found out after all those years of the typical life..the life that so many drivers want lol.. is exactly what bores me to tears! I never was the type nor did I ever fit in with the girly girl type jobs. Dont get me wrong..very much a lady..but who said I cant look good and still drive a semi? :yes2557:

    Retail? Yikes.. not for me either! But like I say.. everyone has a job that suits them...but not everyone is suitable for the job!
    Best of luck.. and if you do go this path.. a word of advice.. dont listen to every Tom, dick or Mary LOL (had to add the woman name lol) for it will drive you bonkers!! :biggrin_25526: A lot of negativity out there!
     
    rikdev50s Thanks this.
  5. rikdev50s

    rikdev50s Medium Load Member

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    Aug 12, 2008
    Greer, SC
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    Boy or should I say Girl you said a mouth full here!!! So much negativity in this profession it almost hurts to talk to some people out here. I tell some guys and girls if you don't like what you are doing go find the job you want. Don't take no for the answer. Keep on knocking till some one lets you thru that door. There is always another door to knock on!!
     
  6. gladiator

    gladiator Light Load Member

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    Apr 17, 2010
    wheeler,mi.
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    Thank you.. Im in the process.. its not so easy deciding on whom to drive for.. cant believe a word they say (I know better) so I am baseing it on what I need and what I can get out of my choice.


    Hey dobiusa;
    Have you made a choice yet on which company?
    So many promise everything but the moon.
    Some are so demanding they can drive even the most even tempered over the edge.

    don't idle, can't have an inverter, not allowed to take trk home, no driving faster that 62 mph or you get reprimanded, the list goes on and on......

    It's just that alot of companies are about their bottom line,,so much so they have lost sight of alot of other things. It's not my intention to be negitive here, but somehow that got to be a factor in todays trucking world.
    Just please don't let your love and desire to get back into it cloud your judgement.
    I don't think you will.... Good Luck
     
  7. dobiusa

    dobiusa Light Load Member

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    Mar 24, 2010
    Wisconsin
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    Hey Glad... noooo I have not decided.. I have talked to three that have shown interest in me.. I am one of those that would take on their training due to expenses of truck driving schools.. Which I have already been thru in 1997. I did things poorly and everything was short sighted.. I let my CDL go 5 yrs ago. Piss poor planning if you ask me.. no one to blame but myself. However, they are all the companies we know.. Roehl, Swift, Central Refrig.. staying away from CR Eng. All of which good companies to start off with or stay with in my book.. ( I do NOT follow the negative remarks to closely on here about them) For no trucking company is exempt from harsh comments..mostly which I believe to be driver error. However,, I have seen and heard to much about England to even erase those comments. I do heed to some warnings. But, my check list goes like this.. who offers decent training (mind you I drove before so it shouldnt be that hard to get on that bike again) second of all whos going to take the biggest chuck from me for school and expenses.. and thirdly who has the money where their mouth is? Roehl is good paying for a student but I heard the trucks are rough around the edges sort of speak.. A good truck keeps you rolling..Swift pays you for beans for 6mos..takes out the most but has decent trucks, good maintance and is a larger company so the miles should be pretty good.. Central is Reefer..never gone down that road before only hauled van.. not much info really on them except I heard they take anyone with a pulse. OhHHH yea and prime..again l heard they are a leasing company which I have no interest as of yet.. but they allow dogs LOL... So maybe someone can give me ideas.. I am the type to weight things out.. listen, learn and then make a decision. I never jump without good honest facts.. Anyone have some???
     
  8. American-Trucker

    American-Trucker Road Train Member

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    Charlotte, North Carolina
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    You might want to look into Watkins Shepard. Theres allot of good info on here about them, VERY LITTLE if any negative info.

    They have there own school, then you go threw a 10 day orientation, then you go out SOLO, No Trainer. And seeing as you have driven before you probably don't want to ride with a trainer.


    American Trucker
     
  9. CertifiedSweetie

    CertifiedSweetie Road Train Member

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    Pittsburgh,Pa
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    I dont think your crazy at all. I stopped driving in December and started doing customer service and I hate it with a capitol H. Whats strange is b4 trucking I did customer service for about 6 years and I never had a problem. Now I really have to bite my togue and not tell people off but I really missed trucking and im going back to driving in 2 weeks. But my trainer from my previous company says that if you love trucking its in your blood.
     
  10. vavega

    vavega Light Load Member

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    Oct 13, 2009
    maple shade, nj
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    sorry i can't offer any "good honest facts", but i did want to wish both of you luck in making your decisions. i never did as much recon about a job as you're doing, i figured i came in looking for a job and i'll leave looking for one too!
     
  11. gladiator

    gladiator Light Load Member

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    Apr 17, 2010
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    Although I have not driven for any other company but Swift.
    I've talked to other drivers and the views are a numorous as the stars..
    Some have left these other companies and are now driving for Swift...and some of the stories they tell....
    My son drove for a company based in Illinois.. they were'nt treating him too good.. so he left came to swift and we teamed for a while.
    The company he left told him if he left they would revolk his CDL...WOW
    Although we don't team anymore he still drives for swift...and does'nt do to bad.
     
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