new trucking family & we are STARVING! It has to be better than this!??

Be careful doing this unless you have a solid fall back plan. Most companies will start to give away your miles or business once they know you're thinking of leaving.

 

Some even will say, "Leave today, we don't need you anymore."

 

Buying and leasing are very different. I've heard horror stories about leasing, you are basically accepting all of the responsibility of the truck and payments with all of the crap from the companies still- getting miles at their whim. When you own it's like starting a business and if you don't have a good chunk of liquid capital, you won't make it. There are a lot of good threads on here that talk about the expenses.

We are in a similar situation of sorts... I have 2 children and my love has 4. After child support and insurance (which we haven't even added on yet) his checks will be tiny. But, we take everything day by day.

This may sound rude but is it an option for you to pick up some work until he has experience? I know with 4 kids and him gone that is probably near impossible, but I have several friends who supplement doing those goofy Jamberry parties or babysitting. Even an extra $50 here and there buys a few meals or something extra.

Sorry to hear about your struggle, I know it all to well and it stinks! Good luck with everything.

 

Lisa, I see you saying you have a family of six to feed but what are the kids doing to help?

I understand helping your kids, I do it. I also see two that could make enough money to pay for their grub and some other expenses. That would take some burden off of you.

You can't just look at the job, some times it takes a lifestyle change to make it through tough times. You will get through this if you quit listening to what owner operators make or claim to make. Right now it all sounds like the sirens that would call sailors to their death.

 

I wondered about the 18 and 22 year old too. Are they working? What do they add? I think WV is pretty poor work could be hard to get. UPS hiring seasonal sorters.

 

I'd suggest dropping the insurance and sign up for medicaid and food stamps.
Might should've saved a little more of them 1100 a week after taxes checks.
Cause trucking right now isn't going to fix your income loss.
I don't recall see to many happy faces at the truck stops of late.

 

Definitely. Those two need to get a job and feed themselves. plus pay a small amount of weekly rent to offset the light and water bill.

 

T

They should go to truck driving school, unless they have medical problems.

 

There may be medical or physical reasons but they may already be working, we don't know. Depressed area is no reason not to be working though. I have always been able to find something to make money,even under the table.

I am sure with the work ethics of the patents these boys are doing fine. Might even be in college.

 

I lived in a small town in rural Illinois. People 40 year olds were happy to have a job at McDonalds, 20 hours a week. A depressed area can hurt employment.