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Small town, no white collar jobs, love travel, love motoring. Should I CDL?

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by potentialdriver, Mar 15, 2011.

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  1. Mar 15, 2011 #1
    potentialdriver

    potentialdriver Bobtail Member

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    Mar 15, 2011
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    I'm a South Indiana late 40yo unemployed "post-99er". It's "dead" here, but I do like the area.

    Up to now, I have worked with brain monitoring equipment, digital automotive systems, CNC controls, CAD/CAM, PC board design, quality control, tech writing and multimedia, photography, and many other mechanical and technical things. I consider myself an offensive driver (I maneuver to avoid problems). I follow traffic laws (but +7 over the limit is OK by me) and common courtesy on the road; I stay to the right except when passing, and stop at stop signs. I currently drive a police-spec 80's Caprice .

    I know trucks are like "lead zeppelins" - they take forever to stop, start and turn, but when the driver is aware and confident in their abilities, the road can be wide open. I believe that when all is considered, it's mainly the tipsy soccer moms in SUV's, the timid in wrong-wheel drive econoboxes and texting teen-queens that are the hazards to safe and efficient long-haul travel, not the tailgaters or the potholes.

    In 2 years of job searching, aside from nurses and burger flippers, almost every job I see in a 50 mile radius that's not written for an Indian with a PhD, is for "drivers". I made almost 50K a year recently, and that was fine, (actually I am still living on the savings from that); I don't expect much more that half that the first few years, but what am I missing here? Sure, there's a lot of folks who can't pass Federal or local muster, or would be a hazard to the world behind a big wheel, and some just need the good old family life. Why are good drivers so hard to find?

    I know I can pass a CDL, can read a paper map, and know how to speak English. I can also tell time and believe I can get used to having literally ten tons of bricks behind me. I like organization, I keep a clean and maintained machine, and I respect the weather, the rules, the Laws of Nature and common sense.

    It sounds interesting, fun almost. Should I consider a CDL and an OTR career? I mean, there's even 2 companies that both pay for your training and guarantee a job at the end...

    Thanks!
     
    potentialdriver, Mar 15, 2011
    potentialdriver, Mar 15, 2011
    #1
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  3. Mar 15, 2011 #2
    Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

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    Mar 30, 2006
    ova-hereee
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    NO........
     
    Rerun8963, Mar 15, 2011
    Rerun8963, Mar 15, 2011
    #2
  4. Mar 15, 2011 #3
    Flying Dutchman

    Flying Dutchman Road Train Member

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    Nov 2, 2009
    Northern California
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    If you don't want to leave, why go trucking? Seems to me you have a variety of other skills that may be of use in other parts of the US. If I were to travel about the states, I'd rather stick to what I know first then try something totally different. Not the right economy to take chances in, now is when you go with what you know.
     
    Flying Dutchman, Mar 15, 2011
    Flying Dutchman, Mar 15, 2011
    #3
  5. Mar 15, 2011 #4
    avond447

    avond447 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 17, 2010
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    try about 25 tons of bricks behind you...then you'll know what its like. it gets a little hairy at times
     
    avond447, Mar 15, 2011
    avond447, Mar 15, 2011
    #4
    Flying Dutchman Thanks this.
  7. Mar 15, 2011 #5
    Rancho Deluxe

    Rancho Deluxe Bobtail Member

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    Mar 10, 2011
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    What I was told by the instructor at a local school...who no longer drives, just teaches..."Going back to driving would be the last thing before working at the Quickie Mart!"
     
    Rancho Deluxe, Mar 15, 2011
    Rancho Deluxe, Mar 15, 2011
    #5
  8. Mar 15, 2011 #6
    Meltom

    Meltom Road Train Member

    5,423
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    Jan 24, 2011
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    No local white collar jobs. should I drive a truck? No, truck driving is not a white collar job. If that is what you are looking for, you should continue to look for that. Dude you worked with brain monitoring equipment, for reelz keep searching. Trucking is not all it's cracked up to be. Just because you like organization doesn't mean that you'll get it. Even good companies have flaws and they will drive you crazy if you like organization.

    So to sum it up, my vote is for no, you should keep searching.
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2011
    Meltom, Mar 15, 2011
    Meltom, Mar 15, 2011
    #6
  9. Mar 15, 2011 #7
    The Challenger

    The Challenger Kinghunter

    7,127
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    East Central FL
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    PD,

    A lot of us drive because we love the life being a OTR driver and because it is what we know how to do. It is a life style for us; not a job. Try living in a closet only getting out for food and pee breaks. If you can survive that, then try trucking. Also, it is not just driving. You have to be able to load and unload. I have unloaded everything from mail to pallets of water. Also, all carriers have a list of medications you can not take. In the end, it is more than a job for us.

    In OTR we spend a lot of it on the highways unless we need to stop for fuel, bathroom breaks, food and to deliver. I never had the chance to explore a town unless it was on a reset.

    KH
     
    The Challenger, Mar 15, 2011
    The Challenger, Mar 15, 2011
    #7
    Canada Dry Thanks this.
  10. Mar 16, 2011 #8
    potentialdriver

    potentialdriver Bobtail Member

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    Mar 15, 2011
    0
    Thanks for the input.

    No, I am not thinking like 1970's CB'er movies, nor some 80's CMT video. I was just wondering about the post 2001 reality of it all - CDL being like a private pilot license and anyone outside looking "unmutual" gets a toll free tip-off to DHS and more.

    The issue about liking where I live presumes that a trucking job eventually returns to base-camp - I was referring to those that can't spend a week away from home at all...

    White collar is getting more elitist and then, all these young kids with their twitterpated mindset who have a degree but can't think their way out of a paper bag; it was frustrating 2 years ago. I was thinking of giving it all away for the solace and control being the "boss of the cab"...

    Sure, I know to about bringing a few empty 2 liters and to avoid folks without validated ID and those who have an incredible deal if you'd just let them up on in...

    I have a few more months (mid-summer before I decide to move south and west) to look "outside my box", but it just seemed that being that there was such a demand, one who not only wanted to drive but has a clean record and references would be able to get to cruising right along, paid not yearly, but by the mile.

    I'll monitor this thread for more comments and again, I appreciate the replies!
     
    potentialdriver, Mar 16, 2011
    potentialdriver, Mar 16, 2011
    #8
  11. Mar 17, 2011 #9
    The Challenger

    The Challenger Kinghunter

    7,127
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    Dec 22, 2007
    East Central FL
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    I always encourage people to try everything once. Find a community college that is PTDI certified and see if you qualify for any work programs. They will cover the cost of tuition and room if you need one as most do. You are in a good area for freight. Apply for companies that hire from your area and obtain what is called a pre-hire. This basically means you meet minimum standards for the company and once you get your CDL-Class A you can attend orientation for them. Once you obtain them, poke your head around the threads and skim them for the information you want to know about the said companies. Good luck.

    KH
     
    The Challenger, Mar 17, 2011
    The Challenger, Mar 17, 2011
    #9
  12. Mar 18, 2011 #10
    NTMD8OR

    NTMD8OR Light Load Member

    79
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    Mar 7, 2011
    Smyrna, Tn.
    0
    No doubt that it is a lifestyle and not for everyone. I take it you are single and no girlfriend or kids to worry about. This job is murder on family/friend life. If either are important to you, stay away.

    A little hint here. I have been driving for 60 years and it has never been like the '70's movies and TV shows. However there were some that came into the industry afte them that have tried to make it that way. Prior to those shows, the trucker was looked up to and respected. Since then our image has only gone farther downhill.

    One thing about the offensive driving comment. I hope you meant defensive as we have to deal with way too many offensive drivers on a daily basis. LOL

    The companies that have schools are not always recommended among drivers but it is a cheap way to get the experience and you will learn a lot about being crapped on. However if you can deal with all of that for the required first year, you may stand a chance of success. Check the forums on here about the company DAC reports. You will get lots of good info about prospective companies. A tech schoo; as mentioned earlier is a much better option as they are not "driver mills" like the company schools often are.

    Stay away from lease purchase programs. And likewise from buying your own truck until you have been an driver for at least 5 years until you have an idea of the better freight lanes, slack periods, and the business side of trucking. Also, during that 5 years keep, as best you can, records of the expenses that your truck incurs. This will help you before making the move to be truly "king of the cab". During that time also save as much as you can toward the purchase of a truck. You should not even attempt to own one until you have a considerable amount of money in reserve. As the old joke goes: Do you know how to make a million dollars in trucking? Start with 2 million. LOL

    And with that stale joke I will leave you to contemplate your downfall. Good luck in your decision.
     
    NTMD8OR, Mar 18, 2011
    NTMD8OR, Mar 18, 2011
    #10
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