Pilot Making a Career Change

HA! Are you kidding? I've ridden a lot of Greyhound since I've been a truck driver, and I have been bumped off of buses because they were overcrowded. Every bus I have ever ridden on was filled to capacity.

They ain't going anywhere. And there is NO cheaper way to cross the country (not even a personal vehicle is cheaper anymore).

I've heard lots of good things about how Greyhound treats its drivers. If I ever got tired of driving a truck over the road, that is one job I would definitely consider.

Right now though, I'm just too addicted to driving a big truck. There's nothing quite like it. But if you want a good use of your CDL and a lot more hometime, that's not a bad way to go from what I have heard and read.

 

I second the recommendation that you consider driving a bus instead of a truck. I don't work for Greyhound, I've been driving for 2.5 years for a transit authority, local and commuter routes, union job. I average 43 hours per week at $20 per hour plus o.t. after 40 hours, full benefits, paid vacation is 2 weeks to start, 3 weeks after 5 years, 4 weeks after 10 years. I can work more o.t. any time I choose, but for now I'm happy with 45 hours. The first year was a learning curve just like any other career change, but after that, it has been pretty good.

I was self-employed for 15 years (I am 43 now), I grew up driving trucks back when they didn't even have a CDL in Vermont, and always figured I would go drive a truck if and when I finally had enough of being the boss. Well that day came, and I got my CDL Class A 3 years ago after paying $2,500 to go to a local school with the intention of going OTR. I had a job with a local company going OTR but days before I started, I woke up one day and realized I would be waking up in a truck stop every day for at least the next 6 months, using public bathrooms, eating in the truck, and spending 14 hours a day on duty. I decided there was no way I could do it, not even long enough to get a local gig (I couldn't find anything local without recent experience). I couldn't picture myself living out of a truck and never getting a break from the truck off-duty, not going home at the end of the day. I decided there had to be a better way for me to maintain a lifestyle that worked for me and still drive for a living.

The local transit company was always hiring drivers but I needed a passenger endorsement apply to drive a bus for them. Even with a CDL the passenger endorsement requires a written test and a pre-trip/road test in a bus, kind of like getting a CDL all over again. I got a job driving a school bus, using the school bus to get the passenger endorsement, and drove the school bus for 3 months until I finally got hired by the transit company. I had to apply several times before finally getting an interview. Driving the school bus was one of the worst experiences I have ever had, dealing with 65 screaming kids ages K-6th grade was extremely stressful, the school let the kids get away with way too much and didn't give much support to the drivers. Anyway, I figured driving for the transit company couldn't be any worse than driving a school bus, and I was right.

There are certainly good days and bad days, just like any job, and some days when I come home and with I was driving a truck since that would avoid having to deal with passengers. But those days are really fewer and farther between the longer I am there, and the more seniority I get the better the schedule gets for me. The driving is the easiest part of the job, and being late is the only thing for which you don't get in trouble, so there is no reason to take chances to be on time. Once I realized that avoiding all the gossip among the other drivers was the best way to avoid unnecessary stress, the job got a lot more fun. Too many people just like to *itch, *itch, *itch, no matter how good they have it, and staying away from that is the best thing I can do to stay positive about the job.

In the first year or so, when things happen like say someone throwing up on the bus, or a passenger getting angry with you for being late, I thought OMG how am I going to deal with this on a regular basis. But over time, you realize that those situations don't happen that often, and when they do, like say someone throwing up on the bus, you just call base and they bring you another bus. That's it, nothing to clean up, nothing to worry about. You break down, they bring another bus. There is always a bathroom to stop and use, and there is always a supervisor to deal with any unruly passengers. Traffic is bad, you run late, you get paid for it.

I considered Greyhound while I was driving the school bus, and they called me to schedule an interview right after I got hired by the transit company. The pay is similar, the equipment is excellent, but for me, it's too much on-the-road time, even staying in motels, I guess I just don't like to travel. I do sometimes think about driving a truck for a local company, if I could have found something that was 10 hours a day, home every night, all drop and hook, maybe I would like that better - but maybe not. I could hate it, too. For now the grass there doesn't seem any greener than it is right here. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

Go to Greyhound's website and down at the bottom look for "Driving Careers" in small type. You'll find the qualifications there, including where you have to live.

 

something to consider, anything you get (for free or upfront) from a trucking company comes out of your pocket later

those sign on bonuses? ya you'll note that company typically pays less per mile

company paid training? ya... typically you are required to sign some contract that ties you to that company for 1-3 years and pays you less than if you pay for school then go get work EVEN if it's with the same company

tuition reimbursement? ya same deal less money per mile

word of advice, pay for your school outright (even if it's financed) and pay it off making more money for whatever company you want

 

Ok, Just to be honest, with the lack of experience, You will have to give a little in the pay, first year rookies will more than likely, have to start with a lesser paying company, in todays economy we are a dime a dozen and companies can pick and chose, the good things you have for you is no bad marks on you driving, and no criminal record, just about any company that hires first year drivers will hire you, as long as they hirer in your area, that is, My suggestion to you, get on line and get a list of companies, and their numbers, call and talk with the recruiters, don't just fill out the on line app. ask about the hiring areas, treatment of drivers? well again more than likely, you'll end up being a number, Now when you call into dispatch, they will know your name, because they will more than likely ask your truck number first, Just about all companies get rid of trucks after 3-4 years, Home time will be about like this, every 7 days out, you get 1 day home, But they will more than likely want you to stay out for 4-6 weeks at a time, and then go home for 4-6 days, good luck

 

how are u sure u medically clear to drive? there are a ton of issues that can prevent you from driving...

 

You and I have some commonalities. I live in Western Michigan and spent 40 years in aviation as a pilot, the last 27 of them with the FAA until I retired in 2011. I got into trucking to fulfill a childhood dream of mine.

The Number 1 lesson I've learned is to stick with your first job for 12 months. It will not be easy. You will be abused, neglected, forgotten, overworked, yelled at, and generally treated like a "newbie." We all were. Stay off the CB and out of the drivers' lounges, away from the whining and sniveling that goes on.

Your biggest challenge I'd keeping your spirits up while learning how to mange a preplan, company procedures, and four clocks, all of which will conspire against you. Don't worry about pay and equipment and routing as such; all of that will come in time. Your biggest challenge is something you never had to deal with in any airplane...planning how to be on time for the pickup and delivery. And to do it in compliance with the HOS, the hours of service (the four clocks I mentioned.) Before you say 'Oh, but yes I did,' I'll just say trucking is not flying. You will learn that truth soon enough.

Swift has a terminal in New Boston; being the largest has its rewards and challenges, but it's a place to start. They also offer initial CDL training, which you would take in Gary. You would then driver the road a piece to take the test in Michigan. Call them. It's worth the investigation. I seriously considered them but went a different way.

Good luck however you make your path.

 

He had a 1st class FAA medical, he wont have a problem. I am pilot also but have coronary issues, just a small blockage but I am treated for HighBP. I take Lisiniprol and it is one of the approved medications. BP is good. Now with my history of a myocardial infarction, I foresee an ekg annually to drive. Guess what, with the FAA its to the Doc every six months, each trip you do the EKG or the Nuclear stress test/bruce protocol. I understand it may be 3mos with DOT but I did not read anything about a nuclear stress test...7 grand for that puppy!