Hi Everyone,
I've been thinking of late about truck driving and stumbled onto the forums tonight when researching the idea. I currently drive a mini coach - 35 ft and enjoy my job/employer for the most part but the winters have financially drained me. I do not have my air brakes, just a cdl "c" with pass endorsement.
(and because I am just aimlessly thinking out loud here)
I am wondering where to go from here, what is the next level for me. Trucking seems like it would be a different ballpark, but for some reason I am entertaining the thought, if only briefly. Thing is, I make decent money now (when there are steady hours) at 18 hourly plus tip. I am one of the highest paid hourly drivers for this market, I drive local, have a great boss, have a perfect driving record... so I am not destitute by any means. But the winters hurt, there are no benefits and I think I have reached my cap.
This is for the seasoned drivers... would you do it all over again even if you had the chance to do something else? While money is an important aspect to me, it is not the most important thing. Time with my family is also important to me. I am just caught on what kind of driving I want to do next and where I can advance. In some ways it would be nice to travel, see more of the country but I would feel different if I had to do it everyday. Sigh.
Thank you for letting me share that!
Thinking Out loud
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ChicagoGal, Jan 19, 2011.
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Youbetchur buns I'd do it again! In fact, I'm looking at an Apr/May time frame to get refreshed and back on the road! And thanks for your thoughts. Welcome to the fun bunch!
PurpleKW, just lil me and ChicagoGal Thank this. -
I left a career of 14 years, making $20.50 an hour, 40hrs guarenteed a week with about 4 hours of OT a month or more but usually 4. I would not change a thing.
Welcome to the forrum....PurpleKW, just lil me, ChicagoGal and 1 other person Thank this. -
I would do it over again if I had the chance. In hindsight I would have taken a different road than the one I took but looking back, life is always like that. If something else would have came up when I started driving, it's hard to say if I would have stayed the course or tried something different, guess it would have depended on what the something else was.
ChicagoGal Thanks this. -
does this drive home a point or two...??
for YOU, since you have "motor-coach" type of experience, get your air brake endorsement, and "Go Greyhound"......(or other bus companies) regular runs, maybe tips, maybe free food at the rest stops and Casino's......and you get to drive the high speed lanes and cops don't bother you.....and THAT I DO NOT understand as well.......as nearly every highway, there are signs that say, "NO trucks, trailers or buses in left lane"......heyns57, ChicagoGal and REDD Thank this. -
You're making good money, have ample time off, really like the job and who you work for......don't even consider leaving what you have.
heyns57 and ChicagoGal Thank this. -
Rerunns advice is spot on,.
And being in Chicago I would think that would put you in a good "lane" with a company like Greyhound,....
Oh I almost forgot,...............Go Packers!!!!!,.............ChicagoGal Thanks this. -
Ditto what walleye said..,plus another,-GO PACKERS!!
Last edited: Jan 20, 2011
walleye and ChicagoGal Thank this. -
Keep in mind that there's endless whining on this site about the miserable life of OTR truckers, but that's only one job of many that a CDL holder could consider.
ChicagoGal Thanks this. -
I didn't agree much with Rerun untill now..............He's right on the money!.....and btw.........GO PACKERS, been a fan of them..umm(showin my age), since Bart Starr,and Good Ol' Vince
ChicagoGal Thanks this.
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