Dilemma & Life Choices

Sir, I wish I could trade places with you.

If I would have this to do over with, coming fresh out of a good paying job and into the abyss of a recession, I would not go back into this at all.

 

You only live once. If you like the independence go for it. Financially speaking stay where your at you have it made. A guaranteed pension are you kidding me!!

 

What's a pension really worth, that is if he/she stays long enough to get it. Or it doesn't get cut in half once they are on it.

$600 a week? I don't know how anyone can live on that. I used to, many years ago, no way I could now. Unless I lived up in the mountains somewhere and lived off the land.

 

If you decide to do trucking, seriously look at hazmat/tankers as a company driver, not an owner-operator. You can "take home" over a grand a week at most hazmat tanker companies. Once you gain a couple yrs. experience then can increase that pay with a company like Trimac Transportation where coast to coast drivers can make over $100K.
You can get those jobs fresh out of cdl school.
Put your location on your profile so drivers can give you some good leads.

 

As far as a retirement goes don't understand what some on here try to down play pensions?Pensions are funded solely by the company your money is not in play.Can you lose it by being cut yes there aren't any guarantees but you can also lose on that Roth IRA and that's your money at play.now what's your pension going to be worth I wouldn't care if it was only $600 a month.would you throw away that.A pension and social security and your contribution to a 401 or Roth.will add upStarting out as a new driver don't think your going to clear much more then your doing now could be less and benefits are more than likely will cost a lot more.Yes more experience will get you more money but how much more are you going to make with more experience where your at.

 

Charles Bukowski used to say "You don't choose writing, writing chooses you". Trucking chooses you too. On the other hand, when I had an office job, I was going nuts. It was not about money and retirement for me. Now it is.

 

Very few drivers are making over $80,000.more likely to be in the $50,000 to $60,000.You can make all kind of money on paper but actually getting miles in real life can be a task at times.You want to burn out fast yea run coast to coast trying to gross even $85,000 let alone $100,000 honestly don't think your going to make that.again very few are making close to that. your talking about some top of the board union guys or top seniority wall mart guys

 

There's still a chance you can get into driving after you start collecting your pension. Buy a 1-ton pickup and do hotshot work. Cheaper to get into, and WAY less restriction on parking, and where you can/can't go. Or maybe deliver RVs, 5th wheels, etc???