Starting over at middle age...

Get your CDL and check out Hansen....HTrucking. Their main office is in Jerseyville with a yard in Granite City. It's flatbed and you're home every weekend. Not a bad place to start out. I did....a bunch of years ago. Also...there's Reichman (home most if not every weekend) down the street (the other side of Route 3) from HTrucking's terminal in Granite, also. On Chain of Rocks Road right off 270. I made more at Reichman because I did a lot of "heavy haul" or "O.D." loads for them.

 

Got my cdl and started driving last October...age of 48 and had a birthday while out on the road. You can do it!

 

I will say this on getting your CDL,you will always have SOME $$ coming in,you will NOT starve,and with a little experience,(that's the hard part) you will ALWAYS be able to get a job.. Although,maybe NOT the job you want,still,a job.

 

Hello and welcome Ron!

 

Welcome Ron,
I just left a job after 31 years and will spare you the details.(my last day is actually Monday July 11th) I am starting over and will be leaving in the Beginning of August. I am going far from home to drive for PRIME. I am not there yet so I cant tell you how things are but I personally know someone who drives for them and is very happy, I have met one or two here and have heard mostly good about them.

I think you are doing the right thing. I know I am just looking for a company that gives you some level of respect and appreciation. My former company did that for very many years and I was very afraid to leave after very much stress and losing almost a 3rd of my pay when the youngest son took over. I became a different person, irritable..impatient..miserable but now as things are winding down I feel a sense of relief. I have a game plan and have rearranged some finances to give my wife and kids a comfort margin while I am away. I have small kids and it is going to be tough on us all..and I am a big baby when it comes to my kids.

I guess I am blathering because in a few situations I have felt like you..a failure, or a loser as you put it. I went through a divorce, I felt I failed my kids..I remarried and have felt like I was failing my new wife and the newest set of kids along with my own kids..I have really struggled and now after getting hammered on my job there is something inside me that wont allow me to take this one sitting down.

Ron..I think once you start the process you are going to feel good about yourself. You will be moving forward and taking control of your situation.Years ago I was curled up in the corner and my wife after VERY much patience and understanding told me to get up and stop feeling sorry for myself (my kids/I failed them/woe is me)..No matter how much love and attention and time I spent with them I sucked in my mind...You are not a loser and you have to do what you can. You will make it and like Bumpy said above..having your CDL will be always to your advantage. I have heard this over and over.

Seize the day brother, go out and kick some Arse and start feeling good about your future. I have been a wreck for the last 16 months or so, battling a losing situation and thinking I was trapped..I am breaking out and so should you. It's a big world out there and you can turn things around.

 

Just remember,for every-one's sake,a company which works for 2or 3 on TTF,MAY NOT work for you. With any company on here,do a search,and you WILL find opposing opinions of ANY said company,evaluate,do your homework and research,THEN make YOUR decision..A year or two,at a company you do not like,can be a very,very long time..

 

Bumpy,
I understand what you are saying and while not wanting to hijack the thread..I think you were throwing that both of our ways..I HAVE to get experience or I wont get a local CDL job. I have always wanted to see more of the country and have always loved to drive. Since a kid on the farm my biggest joy was driving machine that I could. I chose PRIME because my best friends brother in law drives for them and he told me that if he could do this, ANYBODY could. He started out with another company and they treated him lousy. I talked to a few other people who knew drivers that worked for PRIME and they liked it.

I would totally agree though, I would take somebody's word as far as looking at the company name..and then researching everything else on my own. I wish there was a way I could drive local somehow after local training. I cant do it, I have to learn and drive and then pay my training back while gaining experience. It would be hell working for a year with a company you hate. At some point research becomes hearsay from those you trust and and track record, good and bad.

I must say the size of the company I am going to causes me to pause but I "Think" they have a good balance between really being successful and staying loyal to drivers and treating them ok..again, just my opinion and I dont know crap yet..

gonna find out soon though

 

Today,

I'm not even sure if 40 is middle age !!!!!



Go for it !!!!