Just Got my CDL, is Tanker the best path -> Tanker/Hazmat?

Nothing easy about running tanks but generally trucking isn't easy and in my opinion tanks are a pretty good gig. I'd actually go dry cement if you can get it.

 

Whatever job you go with try to keep it so you can spend as much "time" as possible with you kids. We have 6 grandkids and I often wonder where time has gone. Use to pull magnetite into the mines, not bad until a pad gets moisture in it and you have to go in the tank after getting back to the yard. I could have passed for Buckwheat's twin after getting out of the tank. And I promise, I won't whine.

 

@Locke who'd you end up going with?

 

He's either working all the time or just too tired to mess with these forums at this point. Welcome to truckin', right?

 

you're not gonna make the big bucks starting off no matter what you pull

 

I should make over $40k (hopefully) within my first year is how I rationalize it. I'm pretty much in the same boat as Locke. Just starting out running regional with Schneider hazmat/tanker out of Chambersburg PA. God, I hope more than that and I'm willing to work hard and pay my dues.

 

$40k is actually big money compared to where most of us came from. Now when I go into warehouses I think, how can people live off of $10-$12/hr? It is rough out there. A CDL is our key to one of the last occupations left with middle-class income that doesn't require a degree. Good luck with your career.

 

Shoot. I'm working out of a warehouse right now making $15 dollars an hour. I have to work at least 45 hours a week to combat $175 dollars in child support each paycheck to even survive.

So I do value anything higher than I'm making now (thank God for a job none the less) but making the trade-off of less time with family to make more money, should be significant one.

I'm just trying to set up my short term and long term goals based on estimations of the collective data gathered by these forums.

 

The highest pay involves the coldest weather the greatest distance from your house. There's lots of different things you could do depends on how far from home you're willing to work.

 

Once your ex finds out you are making more money she will most like take you to court to get more. But no father should ever complain about supporting his children.