Wanna Be Drivers

I'm 44,and been at a papermill for 13 years,thinking about getting my CDL at a private school.
Always wanted to drive a truck,been a loner pretty much all my life and used to work construction all over the U.S.,guess it never got out of my system.

 

Driving is something I also always wanted to do. Most of my family and friends are drivers but for one reason or anoter it never seemed to be possible for me. School, kids, work that I wrapped myself up in, you name it. Then I married a woman who divorced her ex because he was a trucker. Oddly enough that woman today backs my decision 100%. Like you I sat on the sidelines for years watching others do the job I wanted to do. Finally one day I just decided it was now or never. Went to school, got my CDL, went out with possibly the worst trainer in the history of trucking and now I am living my dream. As of next week I will actually be training my ex co-driver....weird story on how that came about.

I guess for me I was the same as you until about a year ago. I have to admit it has had its challenges but I dont regret my decision at all. I love what I do and for the first time in years I can see a future for myself and my family that we once thought impossible.

If trucking is what you want, when the time is right it will just happen for you.

 

What kinda work did you do before trucking Didnt?

 

as much as I complain about trucking sometime the fact remains that I LOVE trucks, don't love trucking companies but I love trucks.
Sounds to me like you are in a great position to be able to get on the road. pension and all. You can't alway plan everything sometime you have to take a leap of faith. If you feel that strongly about it then you should give it a go. I'm sure you have read all the bad and good by now to know if you want to do it.
sounds to me like you've done the responsible thing of working your job, raising your kids and making sure they have a safe secure life as best you could. Personally I think it's time you do something for you.

 

Sounds to me you are regretting chickening out.

It can be overwhelming but consider it bootcamp until you get in your own truck. If you think you can do it then you will be able to.

 

Come to your senses man! Why did you chicken out? You know there was something you didn't like about trucking. I am consantly amazed at the way this crappy job is glamorized. Face it man...do you really want to work 14 hour days? Do you really want to sit at a dock and wait for hours without getting paid? Do you really want to use truck stop bathrooms and eat truckstop food? Unless you are going to a union job where you will be paid for what you do...stay where you are. We are not the new American Cowboys that ride off into the sunset. More like the new American flunkies that allow these companies to steal our time and abuse us to the max! Good choice chickening out...why do you think these companies have to have recruiters? Not because it's the greatest job in the world. Stop the fantasies!

 

...if that is your opinion about this job, why did you pick this career and still doing it? What do you like about trucking? Just curious…

 

you either love it or you hate it. If you hate it then leave. It amazes e guys sit a whine about this job but they keep doing it. Life is too short to do something your not happy with.
Ya, I live driving all day and stoping at truck stops and shippers. I get to talk and meet all kinds of people. We usually have a good time. it is what you make of it. When you walk on a dock with an attitude of course they treat ya bad.