college grad

You are not alone, i have a BS in biochemical engineering already put 17 years in a device manufacturer after having a salaried position to maintain compliance to FDA and DEA laws The company I had worked for was sold when the owner wanted to retire. But I went into trucking for several reasons primarily because I wanted a complete career change, to make good money and I had already done this corporate thing. But I carry my knowledge with me and what's really helped me is, since we truckers deal with DOT, I already have experience with working with regulators and law enforcement. So don't be so hard on yourself.

 

BS in Mathematics and Business Administration. I currently read blueprints and build brake systems for Kenworth and Peterbuilt. I am looking to drive again after many years of sitting at desks, preaching to high school students and not being who I am in my work. I surrendered my CDL and bike license. Trucking is calling me...... so is riding.

Be who you are. Be true to yourself.

 

cliffrid,dont feel bad. I spoke to a Roadmaster rep about 5or 6 years ago in FL. He said majority of students they were getting at that time were late 30's-early 40's white collar that were just tired of the corporate,cubicle bs.(But the financial talespin was getting started around then too) I also understand that in todays economy there may not be a job waiting for you once you finish school for what you want to do. There's no shame in doing whatever job to make aliving and provide for yourself and family.

 

You should never be ashamed of what you do for a living. Even if you sweep or mop the floors, you should never be ashamed of how you earn an honest living. Can you imagine how it would be without janitors to clean? We would all be living in a real mess. Not everyone has the desire to work in an office or wear a tie in their work. Some prefer the freedom that trucking offers. Every profession has a role to play in our society. Trucking helps everyone else to do their job. Without trucking, this country would come to a halt. People would not even be able to eat without trucks. You would also not have fuel to put in your car to get back and forth to work. Life is too short to work in a career that you don't enjoy. If you can't change your attitude, them look around for something that you can do that you will enjoy. If you don't want to drive as a life long career, your experience along with your degree could open doors to move up the corporate ladder in a trucking company or even with a logistics or freight brokerage company. Having driven a truck prior to moving to the other side of the desk gives you a perspective that most are not afforded. You could even be a dispatcher. There are a lot of different career paths in trucking other than driving.

 

I have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Communications and I am exploring the possibility of getting into trucking as well. Don't be down on yourself. There is nothing wrong with being a trucker. Keep your heap up

 

I am a few credits shy of a Crim Justice degree... My husband went to University w/ a BS in Forrestry. We own our own little 1 truck company, and make $200K + a year. Try to remember one thing, you are part of an industry that keeps this country going. Glorious, maybe not in some aspects. But in others, it's the top of the world. You are being paid to tour the country. Take advantage of it. When we show pictures of the things we've seen, or tell stories of the people we have encountered, we are envied by the cubical sitters, and button pushers of the world. The outlook is yours to have..... and it will be whatever you make it!! Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year!!

 

Amen to that!

 

Hi. You are certainly not alone and I feel that having the ability and flexibility to allow yourself to participate in both career paths can work to your benefit. I have a Masters degree and have worked for a successful real estate developer. I have built my own development business from the ground up and own several apartment buildings in MA. Additionally, I am heavily involved in the stock market / investing. I have known for a while that I wanted to get into trucking and have finally decided to pursue this goal. My challenge is trying to find a way to make these occupations work in tandem. It is a challenge and I am constantly busy, but I am getting the hang of it!

 

well, id echo the sentiments of most of the responses here. making a choice to drive doesnt make you a loser, whether you have a 6th grade education or a phd. i do feel like the biggest idiot out of the people who posted here. i have a degree also, but its the most worthless piece of paper imaginable: double major in music and theater. i spent 4 years calling myself a professional actor. lived in nj, worked 3rd shift for a small central transport facility that reloaded trucks as a data entry operator so i could eat. that was 8-12 hours per day. auditions were mostly 1st shift...0-6 hours per day. and theater jobs mostly 2nd shift..0-6 hours. there was a period of nearly a year when i had a steady gig as a stage manager where when i did auditions in my "spare time" id be working 20-24 hours per day, including travel time. 15 minute and lunch breaks at my 3rd shift job would find me asleep in a mens room stall. in 4 years i made less than 20k (NOT per year) in theater. i had fun during that time, but eventually decided it was time to stop beating my head against the wall and find a real job. course it took me 15 more years to find trucking. any menial job...ive done it. fast food, paper routes, telemarketing (once for a cemetery), debt collection, data entry, etc,etc,etc. truck drivers perform a valuable service to their employer, and to the country. there is NO shame in it whatsoever. the shame would be doing it poorly, not trying to provide the best service you are capable of giving. keep your head held high and do your best at WHATEVER you choose to do, and you will never be a loser. i have a 20 year old son now, and a 14 year old as well. my jobs have been.....varied. but i always managed to provide a decent home for my family, and feed them and such. making your way in this world, doing your best at whatever you choose to do, and supporting yourself and your family...thats what it is to be a decent, moral human being. treat yourself with the respect of that...the respect you deserve. and try your best to treat others with that same respect. looking down on someone (or yourself) because of their class-their job- makes you small.

 

I have a Bachelors degree as well and I regret getting....well I regret my student loans anyways. The way I see it is if you end up making decent money in trucking then whats the problem.