Getting ready to take the plunge

Hi everyone. New here. Just needed to ramble to you for a bit because I'm at my wits-end for something to do.

20 years ago I started a bodyshop. All the ups and downs of owning a business and after about 15 years I grew weary of the customers

Can't seem to ever satisfy so many of them. To expensive, not fast enough, not good enough, whatever.

Probably just like being a driver.

The entire industrial strip we were in was shut down because of code changes. 5 businesses closed.

People went on unemployment, some lost their houses, some scrambled to find other jobs or try and start somewhere else. Stupid city.

I tried to start somewhere else. Problem was, I had lost all the employees I had before because they couldn't wait around. We were really good at what we did.

I tried to recreate it again but it just didn't work out. Gave it a 2 year try. Burnt up most of my savings.

Fast forward to 4 months ago (Oct. 2012).

I decided to take some time off to re-group and think about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Had a little money saved up. Let the house go. Got rid of almost everything except my motorcycle, quads, trailer, generator, dog and RV.

I'm living in the RV now on a farm. Talk about a lifestyle change.

I considered starting a new business. Not a bodyshop. Regulations are very tough and finding people that aren't flakes is hard too. Plus, I need 33 years of employment to qualify for full SS (if it's still around and I'm still around). That means I need a job.

I have been diligently and methodically applying for jobs for the past 2 months. Things I was probably overqualified for but all I wanted to do was get my foot in the door. Ya' know, stuff like warehouse work and such.

Nope. One phone interview in 2 months.

I've ran circles around guys half my age and have major managerial experience to boot. Probably too old at 46.

Anyway, somehow I ended up applying for a truck driving job, with free training, at some point and got emailed an application about two weeks ago.

It was from Central Refrigeration.

I put it off because I thought for sure that I was going to get a regular job and be sleeping in my own bed at night.

Plus, I can drive in the snow just fine but going over snow covered passes with 80,000 lbs behind me and a 500 ft cliff seems a little daunting. That is the kind of thing that goes through my mind.

Well, I printed off the application this morning and I am going to fax it back to them as they requested.

No guarantees that anything will happen of course. I would get shipped off to Utah for training.

The way I'm looking at it is: A year can go by pretty quick sometimes. If I stick with it for that year and just suck-it-up, maybe I could get a local LTL and be able to get home every night. I have a dog and cat. I kinda' like 'em.

In my area, a couple guys that drive said if I had my CDL I would have a job tomorrow morning with one of the local companies.

Whether driving OTR is my cup-o-tea, I don't know. I read the good with the bad. The dog and cat thing concerns me.

I know, I'm a softy when it comes to animals. I feed the cows, chickens, horses and rabbits on the farm I'm living on and it isn't my job. I don't get paid to do it.

O.K. Now you know a little about me, probably more than you wanted to know.

Just introducing myself and maybe I'll be heading off to Utah shortly.

-droflex

 

Oh, and one other thing. With all these twisters that go through the midwest. What's a person to do when they have to go through an area like that? Are 'ya just screwed?

Thanks.