Looking for advice for career change

I started out in trucking at a very young age. Married and emotionally stressed after my first was born. I quit trucking and took a different career path after my second was born. I didnt get back in to trucking for another 15 yrs.

My kids are both over 18 now. But if I could find a local job that didnt burn me out I would sell this truck and stay home.

With young babies like that, there is no way I could go out on the road. I dont think you really understand what you are going to be putting yourself through once you commit to going through with trucking. This is as far from glamorous as anything I can imagine. The hours you put in week after week, day after day.. it can easily be 95+ hrs a week. The stress of what you are responsible for. The stress of not being able to get home when you really need to be home,.. be it cor medical, legal, personal.. what ever.

If your doing it for the money.. the only way to make money as a company driver is to lay down the miles. The only way to do that is to keep the right door closed.

Are you comfortable skipping showers? Are you ok peeing in something besides a toilet because you cant park near one or the shipper simply doesnt have one where you are? Break downs, being stuck in the middle of no where for days because the crap company cant find you a load.

Then let say you make it through all that. You grab a local gig. I dont know about Maine... but in Florida local drivers work 6 days week, 12 -16 hrs a day. Is this what you really want?

My wife is a retired police officer, former PI and detective with our sheriffs dept. She now does massage and facials. Says its the most relaxed she has been in her life. She rents a room from a salon and gets her own clients.

The about young babies is.. you will never get back the moments in life that you miss out on. Are you prepared to make that sacrifice? And at what cost to your personal life?

Think about this long and hard. Trucking has ruined more marriages then any other career I can think of.

Hurst

 

Glad to hear you're not goin OTR. You can't get back the birthdays, ball games, school plays that you would miss, and trust me you'd miss way more than you got to be at. You can't get back the memories lost. Trucking is not for the faint of heart, and that includes the entire family not just the one behind the wheel.

 

If you haven't already started, DON'T DO IT. As others have stated, the income is not worth the time you will be spending away from home, especially for the first year. This job is great for single people and couples that don't get along very well. If that's your situation, fine. With me, my wife and I get along great, so our only problem now is: "when are you coming home next?" BUT, if you decide to still forge ahead, at least check with trucking companies around you first to find out what their pay and home-times are. If you see one that works for you and your family, see what experience they require. Most good paying ones require 1 yr, and your kids will be fine for a year. Remember, companies just don't want you to have miles under your belt, but want to see that you can drive without getting any tickets, or into any trouble.