Hello

Hello all. Been reading the site for several weeks, along with many others trying to get a handle on things. My wife and I started talking a while back about considering trucking as a career option.

And this only came after over 20 yrs of service with a local medical facility, they downsized and laid her off (along with all the other long timers). In the area we live jobs are few and far between. But she found another job but lost all the good benefits and the pay is literally a quarter of what she was making. We looked at her commuting or maybe us moving to a larger area where there would be better opportunities. But after we researched it, she would need a degree to really compete in the bigger fish ponds. So she started looking at going back to school, but the cost along with knowing several folks that have recently earned their degrees who can't find work is not leaving a very good feeling.

I am employed in a middle management position for a small local government, with good benefits along with an OK income, I'll never be rich but it is steady and pretty secure unless their are major budget cuts. We are both in our 40's with a 18 yr old getting ready to head off to college pretty soon. Beyond that we really don't have anything that is just holding us down, regarding family or obligations.

So we need to really research it, list out all the pros and cons. We have visited with some truckers we know. My father was a trucker years back before he passed away, so I have had a taste of the road riding with him but also running shot gun during my teen years for drivers hauling furniture cross country. I was basically the carry on pack mule. Dad tried to get me into trucking years back after a run as a district manager for a retail firm back in the 90's but I had other offers that at the time with a new baby made better sense to me, needing to be home and all.

We have been hearing all the horror stories from friends and family who think we are completely crazy for even considering it. Having no experience, being in our 40's, me having a decent job for the area, etc., etc., etc. We have been told Everything from truckers getting hi-jacked, beaten, robbed at gun point, etc. Been told how the money really is not that great and the danger is far worse than the rewards.

In fact we have not had one inquiry give us any positive input on the subject. Which is a bit alarming. The wife is only 5 foot tall so along with all of the negative she is feeling unsure of herself to handle the work or rig. We hope to get some facts to make a good choice. We talked to a couple of recruiters and trainers at a few schools, and of course they offer the pie in the sky along with the whipped cream, but being in the business world seating on both sides of the table in negotiations, I realize when smoke is being blown about to cloud the issues or deal.

And Being from where we have been is probably one of the reasons we have not just dropped it after all the horror stories. We realize that many of our friends and family are truly thinking of our well being, will miss us when we are away for extended periods of time and some may even feel a bit vengeful for us being in a place to take on an adventure like this. Most of the other couples we know are tied down, in dept to the rafters and won't see their last kid graduate until their in their 60's.

We work really well together as a team, speaking from a guys point of view I'll admit. But we really do compliment each other well and get along pretty well compared to most folks we know who fuss and fight like breathing air. So we figure this would be a good way to live a dream of seeing the country and make a decent living too. No pipe dreams, we realize it is hard work and will take it's toll at times. But surely it is not as bad as all have been telling us or why in the world would anyone want to do it in the first place?? But I for one will admit, I do not want to take my wife, mother of my child, love of my life and place her into dangerous situations. But I realize all the horror stories can happen right here and now, but the odds are more favorable when you put yourself into situations where it is more prone happen.

I apologize for the mini-book. Really hope to hear from some folks living the life and get a different perspective on it before we commit for the "long haul". We look forward to any and all feed back or insight that can be offered.

Thanks,

Jars

 

Maybe I should have just said hello, ha-ha!

 

Thanks mtnMoma, I appreciate the lead.

 

Thanks DragonTamerBrat, yeah those are two of the places we had looked at. Yeah I remember reading somewhere that the divorce rate for truckers was just as high as it was for airline pilots. So I figure we would have to keep in mind that above all else it is being committed to us that needs to come first above all else. I wondered what the failure rate was, but figured it would be high. Cuddle time??? Heck I am all about cuddle time.

 

Thanks Gabriel!!