Career change, looking at trucking and need advise.

First, you need to know that the industry is changing and at a point of regulation we haven't seen in years and your smart to do research first before burning through the money. Remember a truck school is paid to train you, not guarantee you'll get a job. There going to sell you on the industry but I've heard from more than a few about buyers remorse after-the-fact. You need to check out the "CSA 2010" and "HOS driving rules" to understand just a few of the issues going on. BUT - if you can pass the physical and are ready to driver you'll never see the type of driver demand as you're going to see over the next couple of years and people WILL hire you. ( if you pass everything under CSA that is. )

 

I am sure you will get better advice than from myself but I was in your shoes about 16 years ago when I closed my store and wondered now what was I going to do. I think the one thing that I really didn't understand then that I do now is this is not just a job change this is a major LIFE change. So the question would be is this really something you and your family are prepared to do? OTR jobs mean being out weeks at a time, often fighting with dispatch to get home when you need to, disappointing loved ones when you don't make it for something special, and when you do come home wanting to just be home not go anywhere and having family/friends expect you to visit etc. as they have missed you. There are a lot of things you will miss by being gone, you will have a lot of frustrations, a lot of stress but then as I have always said since driving I have fallen in love with this huge beautiful incredible country we live in called the USA, the beauty of it I have seen from the seat thru my windows regardless of being from the winding highways has been one of my greatest delights, so for me that helps erase those frustrations and stress. There have been people I have met over the last 16 years along the way that I cherish the memory of, even if it was just a kind word from a waitress when I was so weary from running to meeting someone who became a friend for life, they outweigh in my mind the ones who treat you as if you were worse than nothing because you are a truckdriver. As far as what direction you wish to go, there are many options and I think reading the threads on these forums will help you begin to sort thru what you may or may not want to do. Good luck to you

 

Go for it!!!!.

6 months ago I had a low paying job, and i could see the company would prob go out of business soon. I paid 2000 for cdl school and went on week-ends. i now drive truck, make tons of money and never looked back. I love my carrer and hope to get my own truck soon. Its a great job, and even if you dont keep trucking, it doesn't hurt to have a CDL

 

Go for refrigerated so you can haul anything (not just food, we haul all dry and frozen products). I referred a guy to my company but he went to Flatbed for the weekend hometime perk and he hated it. He quit to go to another company that is really bad but he is in refrigerated over there. I make three times as much per week as him and he does more work since he has a slow truck at 30 cents per mile while I am making 42 cents per mile already. This job is great when you do no need the money. I am in the same boat as you I have had a great career but wanted to do something adventurous. A lot of truckers get really pissed if they are slightly delayed since every penny counts for them, but if you already have money then you do not mind and just enjoy the ride.

If I had to start over though, I would make sure to pick a company that has trucks that can go at least 68 mph and have full sized sleepers with the side windows. A lot of companies govern their trucks at 62 mph and if your truck can do 68, 6 extra mph X 11 hours = 66 miles in front of the slow truck makes a HUGE difference! You can get unloaded / new trailer and onto your next stop while the 62 mph truck still has almost an hour to make it to the first stop that you left from.

 

NewNashGuy, care if I ask what company you work for ? And do you need a clean license to start with them ? thanks

 

I would say that if you do not have a spouse or family then go for it! You have nothing to lose.

 

I too had a long career in a different field. I chose to drive only due to my wife already on the road. I went to school, on the weekends on my own dime, so I could keep my job until I got accepted by my wife's company, and not "owe" them anything!

I love what I do and most of the people I meet along the way are okay too. Sounds like, if you're ready for the lifestyle" you are on the more prudent course. If/when you get on with a company don't be coerced into a LEASE. And no mater what the driver managers/dispatchers tell you to do, you do what is right!!! It is your license and ultimately you tail on the line not theirs. Good luck to you.

 

What do you do now? Being unhappy with your current career is certainly no reason to get into this one. This is really a calling, read these forums. The people that get into a truck for the money, the "career change", the "it might be interesting", and the "I can't find anything else" usually don't last long. If you want to do it, great! But, go into it for the right reasons, I think everyone will agree, it ain't easy.

 

It's not a career change per se, it's a complete life style overhaul.
Imagine becoming a merchant marine or a fishermen in Alaska or working for the Peace Corp in Africa.
It's a 70 hour work week for 3 to 4 weeks at a time; drive, sleep and eat...paperwork and planning...waiting.
You're paid in piece work, like a garment worker in a third world country, only it's by the mile driven.
It takes a certian fortitude to make it past those first few months, after that it gets easier.