Transitioning From The Marine Corps Thinking About Getting Into Trucking

Be a company driver for a couple of years before buying a truck. If you buy a truck now the insurance rates would be sky high and hard to find work because of no driving experience yet. Study the OOIDA website to get an idea of what's involved being an owner-operator.

It's not too early to start a list of good top paying companies to apply with. You can submit online applicatons the day you start CDL school classes. Here's some top paying companies; can make $55K to over $60K as a new driver. All these companies hire new CDL grads even if the website has different:

Superior Carriers
Trimac Transportation
Airgas
Schneider Bulk
CTL Transportation
SVTN
Tidewater Transit

 

apesride, thank you for your service

 

The BEST Trucking Company I ever worked for was started by a guy who never stepped foot in a truck. He had a lot of Business Sense and Common Sense. He is still in business today, 30 years later. Trucking is a business just like all other businesses. If you have the right characteristics, you can run it. Don't think he had a lot of formal education either, if so, he never talked about it. He never rode around in big fancy cars either, the one he drove to work was older than most of the trucks he owned. He went from 3 trucks(start out) to over 100 trucks in the 8 years I was with him. Didn't have to worry about a huge turnover rate either, most of the drivers who left when I was there, retired.

 

And im thinking of starting a restaurant.... I've never bussed tables or worked in one but I love to eat!!!! I also have business sense and am educated....do you see where I'm going here???

 

Devil dog, I have no doubt that you can withstand the time away from home and put up with all the bull crap....you did it for 20 years, I did it for 4; however, the question is why do it if you don't have to? "Pay the bills"? Not sure how much you need to do that but like I said before, your first year OTR I would say the average is around 36k....could be more or less just depends on a lot of things.... My first year OTR in 1999 I made 48k.... That wasn't exactly running legal but I got home every weekend.. I've been fortunate in trucking, most are not..48k my first year 15 years ago... 36k today... Do you see what I mean? Wages should increase not decrease.

 

And what of your family's expectations? Have you considered that perhaps now they're expecting you to stick around? I would say there's a fair chance that they won't look at truck driving the same way they would look at military service.

 

HaHa funny you should mention that. I have a friend who said that same thing. Hes got a nice restaurant downtown there. The key is Figure out what you WANT to do with your life, then do it. Do whatever it takes to accomplish your mission.

 

You might want to think about this. If you use the G.I. Bill to fund the license then you can also go to a fleet that participates in the military apprenticeship programs. Extra training that adds about $1000.00 per month to your stipend. Go to a fleet first. There are advantages.