Thinking of leaving the corporate jungle to drive OTR

It sounds like you're jumping right in, with a lot of emotions involved. Make sure you go through a lot of the threads here, especially in the Bad Company subforum; many folks who jump in quickly wind up flaming out, with sad stories to tell.

I was a long-time corporate guy myself, but gave all of that up quite a few years ago. I've worked at both extremes, as a filthy grunt (carnival worker, lowest of the low) and a corporate hotshot, with a lot of other stuff in between. I've always enjoyed the grunt work more, although it doesn't pay very well.

If things work out, I plan to give trucking a shot, but...my future doesn't depend on it, and if it doesn't fly within a certain period of time, it's no big loss, and I can move on. So you may want to think about your fallback as well. One think I learned along the way is that once you jump out of that corporate deal, you're out, and if you want back in, you'll be trying to work back up from the bottom.

Good luck!

 

Yes, there is negative in the industry. Sounds like you know some of what to expect. As far as income first year, don't count on seeing any of the $$$$ that are claimed. Those are company averages of all of the company's drivers.

Since you were in the military, you will know what the military recruiters are like. Trucking company recruiters make military recruiters look tame by comparison. They will blow the sunshine for you big time! Also, your military time will give you a good prep for the biz too.

It is my understanding (don't quote me on this) that the company sponsored training involves staying on with the company for a certain amount of time once you go solo.

The trucking biz can be a bit rough, but it can also be fun. The job history could be a bit of an issue, but as long as it was a steady 15 years, even though it was for different companies, at least it's verifiable! I didn't have a super steady work history either and had been off for several months before getting my CDL. Granted that was almost 12 years ago!

Good luck with it, and keep us posted!

 

That $85K number is probably referring to gross revenue dollars of a poorly self- managed lease driver, who is also paying for a leased truck, fuel, tolls, and taxes out of that number. I came from similar background as you describe, and let me tell you the real world of day to day trucking was a rude awaking to me. It’s a very tough business and very few make it long term. Not too many people are willing to give up the ability to come home every night to a warm comfortable bed and 3 healthy meals a day. I wish you nothing but the best.

 

What are you kidding. In a bad economy you think its a good idea to change jobs, what are you thinking.

This is a job where you will work 70 to 80 hours per week, fon less than minimum wage. If you have godd employment this is not the time to go play, you will probably loose everything you have during this experiment. Get real, stay put.

 

That's awesome...
Don't forget the grey sweat pants tucked into tall army boots...


Best of luck to the OP...If you have been thinking about this for some time and now find yourself unemployed you prolly have little
to loose at this point. As long as you have the FULL backing of your wife, that's 1/2 the battle right there...

Get into the field. But stick it out for the minimum of 1yr. If you leave any of the major bottom feeder carriers before that, they likely could trash your DAC
and then you won't drive again.... Either way, leaving a company must be done carefully. Wish you all the luck!

 

Hanadarko and chompi there is just something not right with you two! Love it!

 

Solar, this thread would probably be a good read for you http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...rivers/112266-help-a-trucker-wannabe-out.html

 

don't feel bad of the cdl conversion from the army, it wouldn't be any good anyhow, dot don't reconize any military, i never heard of a conversion by the way, I drove fuel trucks, no one ever said anything about a conversion when i left the military