Recently Retired Marine

Hello All!

So this is my intro post in the newbie mill. Quick Shot: 18 Years of Active Duty Marine Corps, Gunnery Sergeant, Infantry, Combat Veteran, Infantry Instructor, Embassy Duty, Retired (for you old school jarheads, yes. They are allowing guys to retire at 18 years now). Funny thing about Marine Infantry is we're a "do it all" sort of service. As a senior Grunt Staff Non-Commissioned Officer you're expected to not only patrol, but manage a motor pool of vehicles with no formal training, not to mention run any and all logistics. Always wanted to be a trucker. Did it in the 'stan and got shot at and blown up a few times over my years. Anyway...

Happily married, 2 boys aged 11 and 9. Yes, we all would love to be together but we're no strangers to being apart. Whatever it takes.

Looking to eventually work in the oil fields (TX, ND, or anywhere), but from doing a lot of reading and research I'm understanding that I'm a newbie all over again and should earn my keep. I'm good with that, you should have to pay your dues no matter where you end up. Would love to end up trucking in the energy industry.

I am fortunate in that I can use my GI Bill to go to a private CDL school with no debt....I really like what I'm seeing from Schneider Tanker Division but would love to hear from fellow veterans that have been in the trade for a while....so many options! Where to go? I don't want to be naïve, so if I need to haul pig #### out of NC before I move to energy that's ok.

Should I get some tanker time hauling anything and then move to the oil field, or roll my dice and see if I can go straight in? OTR? Regional? Dedicated? Local?

I know this question is answered a thousand times on a thousand forums, but I'd love to hear from anyone in a similar situation. I leave in 2 days to my CDL school. We can live anywhere, work anywhere, and excel anywhere, but looking for some sage advice from veterans. Thanks and Semper Fi!

 

Thanks Chinatown! I'll definitely follow that lead some more. In fact, your advice also led me to look at another company called Occidental Petroleum. Time will tell. I wrapped up my first day of CDL school and having a great time...as well as learning a lot.