Gday guys.

Dan.........Do you already have the ability to get legal residency in the US ?

 

I won't even attempt to give you any advice on trucking. I am new to all this, and any information I have is based on research, not experience. Others will, i'm sure, give you better advice.

I can tell you that, proper legal residency is unavoidable now. At one time you could have gotten around it, but not any longer, at least for working in trucking. The immigration laws are fraught with inconsistencies, and even if you have the ability to get it properly, it can take a long time. Before you waste a lot of effort, pursuing the thought of trucking in the US, make absolutely sure, you have the ability to get a green card or work visa. You say you have that under control, so, enough said.

The other thing will be a drivers license. You would have to get a new CDL. I don't know for sure, but my feeling would be, you would start off as a complete newbie, regardless of how much experience you have driving in Australia. Check out all the threads here, about being a new CDL holder and trying to become an owner operator.

Sorry if I appear negative, I'm just pointing out some of the potential downsides you might face.

The next would be credit history. You will not have one. If you need to buy a truck, you will either need cash up front, or a substantial down payment and prohibitive interest rates.

But, can it be done ? Yes, assuming you can get around some of these issues. I personally believe ,that there is a great future as an owner operator. I believe that there is an ongoing culling in the industry, and a lot of smaller companies are not going to make it. If you have the abilities, and the financial strength to sustain you, it could work out just fine. When diesel reaches $6 a gallon in the not too distant future, a lot of operators will fall by the way-side, leaving better oportunities for the well run operators.

You might want to check out your idea, of the cost of living in the States being attractive. It's very relative.

Hope all works out for you. Do a lot of research.


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G'day, I'd advise you to get on Watkins-Shepard or TMC's site and apply there. Both are good companies, if you go to Watkins-Shepard and end up buying a large car you'll haul TMCs freight as they trade flatbed loads. Schneider will train you from the ground up but you have to stay 18 months or reimburse them all the training funds. If you haven't been here, the US is as big as Australia, we have a short road-train (3 28 ft)in the west and even some 48/28 combos. It's mountainous to the west of Texas, Kansas, Nebraska S and S Dakota and there are some 8000-11000 ft passes. Food is about the same quality as Aussie except fish and chips are impossible to find except in extreme NW north of Seattle. C'mon over and go for it.

 

Sell out and you need $150,000.00 US to buy a new Peterbilt w/500 Hp CAT, 15 over and a Trailmobile flatbed with 10 ft spread axles and a side kit and tarps. Get some experience with Watkins-Shepard and buy one and lease to them. They are great.