40-something corporate guy ready to quit the rat-race

Hi OP, although I am younger than you are and with no kids, I began trucking for the same reasons and love it. Especially when you are not doing it for the money. I see a lot of truckers throw raging fits when they fall short 200 miles of their weekly 3000 goal. A lot of people didnt understand how I came from the corporate world and into trucking, and it is because like you I am tired of the constant rat race. Trucking is the easiest job I have ever had, so you will do fine. Just try to look at all of the negatives of trucking and if they do not bother you then you are set. I do admit though that I may stop trucking or go local in a few years from now, mainly because it is impossible to get a good workout daily and that is what kept my heart rate, energy, and confidence going strong for all of my life and now it is a struggle since finding a gym where you can park a truck is nearly impossible. I know some truck stops and even shippers have workout rooms but there are not enough to be easily accessible.

 

I agree 4000 miles a week legally? I guess if you had apreloaded trlr dedicated run on the interstate 75mph nonstop get unloaded quick still have time to log your pre&post trip,fuel required 30 min break and be quick at the scales its possible.

 

Am I the only one that thinks the OP is a big ol' troll?

 

It's possible. Talk about trying to go from riches to rags. If he's serious he should just buy an RV and take some time off work.

 

Agreed it is possible it's someone just trying to yank our chain but there are those rare exceptions like myself out here. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt in the off chance he may just be looking to follow the same path I did.

If you handle your finances right during those lucrative years and invest wisely, the 2nd career driving can be a good release for all those years you spent doing something you really didn't enjoy doing but paid very well. With financial security assured and the family provided for no matter what, then it's just a matter of finding the right company and not getting hung out to dry with a bottom feeder not making enough to cover the bills and having to get into your other income to make the bills each month.

But, as I said before it takes a special type of personality and mindset to excel at it. That is where the doubt comes in for me in regards to the OP. Most management types at that level are too soft for this lifestyle. Myself being a biker and working musician before I was ever in management, I'd been around the block more than a few times before the suit and tie days.....I already knew about living on the road and what it means and therefore went in with wide open eyes. This is where I think many don't know what they're getting into....beyond just the sheer number of #### companies out there and how they treat their drivers to what living on the road is all about....even with a pretty good gig like mine that has me home every weekend, pays better than average and treats us reasonably well compared to most....it's still 5-7 days out and most in management aren't used to having the kind of life where they live in a truck and don't realize the world they're entering. The hardest transition for me was going from being the boss to being an employee lol especially with my disdain for authority lol it was much better when I WAS the authority.....but the lifestyle change is the big hurdle and makes or breaks most I think and not just the 'management get me away from the office bs' types but any newbie coming in in general.

Troll? Maybe. Probably. But just on the chance he is one of the contradictions like myself he should be given the straight info on what he's getting into lol as several are doing but some who made poor choices have over dramatized.

 

There are no rags if you enjoy what you do - only riches. Maybe not in the form of greenbacks but in ones on mind. As long as one can make enough to live and put some back live as you would like. I have NO REGRETS. I was a driver before I went into the corporate world and I always dreamed of making the big money so I schooled myself and got away from trucking. Spent 10 years out of it and totally despised the last five. Much happier now. The more you make the more you spend. I got to where I had no more money in my pockets than I did when I was a young trucker be caused we lived to our means. Yes we ended up with some nice stuff but stuff wears out. You only live once so do it as enjoy. You will live longer. Thanks

 

I definitely agree there, it is so hard to kill em with kindness. referring to some of those big ego'd, chip on there shoulder security guards. some are very nice good people but we've all encountered that one that takes his job waaaay to serious. the "super guard!"