myths about trucking you need to know if you are getting into trucking

OK new to the board, and like you I'm thinking at the age of 40 of actually getting into the business myself. But I'm going to wait until spring as I have enough money right now to live off of for a few years. BTW I left my job at McDonald's this year. Before that I last tried getting into Logistics and Dispatching (about a year experience there). My 13 years office experience looks nice, but when the average pay now is about 14 dollars an hour, is it really worth it? By the way I graduated in 1994 in Information Systems and already had programming experience before I went into college. Very competitive, and more about who you know than what you know.

I live on my own. Separated from my wife last September. My one and only son is about to turn 4 and he is my life. The scary thing for me isn't the industry because with all due respect to those that post here (positive or negative) in general it's getting worse in most professions. What scares me the most is being away from my son for long periods of time. But here's the thing, at this time I see him every other weekend and 3 hours a day every weekday. Regardless of what I do he goes into full time school in the fall. That means my weekdays will now be every other weekday as well. What I'm trying to tell myself is that quality time is better than quantity, and I need to stop the bleeding now. As I said I have quite a bit of money (over 100K) but it's not going to buy a home now a days, and even if it did I still need a reliable job. For the record janitors do not make $16 and hour now a days, they make minimum wage which I believe in Ontario right now is $10.50 and my consumption currently puts me at about $24000 a year. Minimum wage at full time is not enough to even break even for a single guy. Cost of living is rigged for couples, not single people. Even that is set to the minimum.

As far as trucking schools, they're are no worse or better than colleges or universities. The difference from what I see is the trucking industry is one of the only ones that are still in demand especially long haul. With all due respect to those that come here from other countries (provided they can even read what I'm saying) we have a serious balance issue. It is true that most people will not work the farms thus filling the demand with immigration. Perhaps if workfare actually worked right in this country it would force Canadians to take on these jobs for welfare. Not take away jobs where more than enough people are willing and able. I believe in actually spending on highways etc. not on handouts that add even more competition to the jobs already out there.

Keep in mind as far as downtime is concerned. Any job I ever had where I was taking a break for lunch was not paid either. But I also was paid for being on call, and essentially what a OTR is paid for driving, but on continuous on call while waiting to dock, or load. Traffic sucks, but there are times with experience and logistics that you can get around it. Most times you have to meet appointments. However those that are willing to drive more at night when not in conflict with appointments can get around a few major issues. Those issues are traffic congestion, and rest stop congestion. Personally I intend on using some of my downtime to use wifi where available and if not wireless internet on a North American plan. It can be a little costly but I think the cost is worth being able to skype with my son and tell him I miss him and love him.

So in closing I'm with you in saying this scares the hell out of me. I was going to jump into a school ASAP but decided to spend as much time as I can with my son while I still can. I'm also not going to start in the fall because I've been told by a local trucker who is my friend that you want to learn in better weather first. So if I'm going to start it will be early next spring.

Also as a society we all have to stand together. It gets very easy when your making money, and are happy to use energy to understand how many people are suffering. Many people simply look out for number one, and I can't blame them for that. But we have way too many people on this planet, and need to better manage our resources. Those resources include raw materials. The biggest resource though is men and women of the workforce. Truckers are an essential part of the economy, but aren't treated as critical as they actually are to the system.

Thanks

Sean

 

This business is not for you Sean. We have a city ltl driver in the same boat as you. Had to give up custody of his son, even on dayshift he couldn't keep to the terms of his divorce. If family is a concern, this is a really tough business to maintain that. You will probably be OTR when you get started, meaning you won't be home much at all. Give this career path a lot of thought... that's all I'm saying.

 

the happy guys are busy have a life and are not here crying

 

Again I'm separated so that makes it more appealing. I only see my son for 3 hours a day weekdays. When he starts school it would be every other day. I'm prepared to give that up as well if I can possibly see him every other weekend only. Also he has gone across country with me already this year so he is used to travelling. In the summers if he wants as he gets older he can come with me on a trip.

Still not for me?

Thanks

Sean

 

Truck driving is not for anyone that has to be somewhere at a particular time and place i.e picking their kid up from school, being at home for a certain weekend

Sounds like your heart is set on this but have to agree with upnorthwpg that this a path you probably don't want to go down

 

If my heart is in this (actually worry about missing him, and the horror stories I'm hearing is the only thing holding me back). Perhaps I'm not being clear about something here. When I say I'm willing to give up seeing him in the week, and simply go to every other weekend that is not set in stone. I understand that often I will not be able to get every other weekend off and could wind up getting a couple days off on a Tuesday and Wednesday for example. I also understand that finding a load back towards the home terminal is not always easy. Home time is something that places like Challenger claim is possible, but I'm putting the company need's first.

My understanding if I have this right is that you get about 1 day off for every week on the road. Trying to book a load back home in time for a weekend is a nice plan, but it doesn't always work. My ex has no problem watching my son and she has a support system. She is aware of what I'm looking into, and I won't go for this until at the very least late winter early spring 2013.

With that in mind do I understand what I'm getting myself into besides some of negatives which I'm reading? Bottom line I need to make 30,000 a year in Canada to be comfortable. Right now despite my career experience in an office job it is very hard to find 30,000 a year. I'm not expecting to make a fortune and I'll be lucky to get 40,000 from what I understand perhaps even with experience.

I'm not looking at making a killing, I'm looking at making a career. After a few years under my belt of OTR I will try other companies that might be closer to home or local. So are my expectations still too high? Much appreciated.

Thanks

Sean