Successfully leaving trucking permanently

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Joews, Apr 19, 2016.

  1. menatwork

    menatwork Bobtail Member

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    Congratulations. I wouldn't be in a hurry to drop your cdl.. you never know what could happen. $50 a year for your medical card and $60 every 4 years for your cdl is just cheap insurance against that "what if" moment. If there's one thing I've learned in 43 years, it would be that nothing stays the same..change is inevitable, and life isn't fair.. just my 2 cents.
     
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  3. born&raisedintheusa

    born&raisedintheusa Road Train Member

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    Are you old enough to retire and collect social security?

    God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!
     
  4. born&raisedintheusa

    born&raisedintheusa Road Train Member

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    With changing technology and automated self driving trucks, many people will be leaving the trucking industry, regardless of whether or not they choose to do so.

    God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!
     
  5. Crusader66

    Crusader66 Road Train Member

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    Good advice. I haven't driven in 7 yrs but I keep mine for that very reason......what if and you never know!
     
  6. IronWeasel80

    IronWeasel80 Medium Load Member

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    My wife of 14 years recently passed away leaving me as a widowed, single dad of our two teenage kids. Our son is 13 and also autistic while our daughter is 15. I don't have any family near me, only some friends that can help out occasionally so there's literally no way I could leave them alone for days or weeks at a time right now nor in the next 6 years. I know the advice is to always keep your CDL "just in case" but I'm now in a situation where I would probably never legitimately be able to use it again.
     
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  7. Crusader66

    Crusader66 Road Train Member

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    First of all, so sorry for you and your children's loss, I wouldn't even begin to imagine being in your situation, that's pretty tough.

    You are just going to have to do what you think is best for you and your children. My situation here in Oklahoma is that I keep mine they just put a restriction on it now that I can only drive intrastate and not interstate because my medical card expired. I just pay something like $36 when I renew my license to keep my CDL.

    The "just in case" I could possibly see for you is if something happened to your new job, you didn't like it, you wanted to get back in a truck, a lot more money doing local, stuff like that. IF you ever went back to driving you don't necessarily have to go OTR, you can do local and be home everyday and the money is usually better.

    Bottom line is only you know what is best for you and your family, these are just opinions and suggestions, if you have no desire or you are 100% positive you'll never drive again then let you CDL go otherwise I'd suggest keeping it.

    Hang in there through these trying times, God Bless and good luck with your new career.
     
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  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Maybe someday when your daughter is on her own, you can take your son in the truck with you.
     
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  9. IronWeasel80

    IronWeasel80 Medium Load Member

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    No, I'm done. I was a young father and missed a lot of our kids lives' up until they were 8 - 10. I was out earning a living for my family, but I was never really around when they needed me. Once my wife was diagnosed with Lupus, I went strictly local, but still ended up working 12+ hours a day and missed out on a lot of her appointments and everything else. Now that she's passed on, I have to be here for our kids and I honestly have no intentions of getting in a truck again - it took away too much from me and my family.

    I landed myself a nice office job with amazing pay and benefits and I'm happier there, no just because of the pay, but because of the people I work with on a daily basis. I learned a lot about trucking while I did it and I have the utmost respect for the professionals that can do it but it's just not for me anymore.

    I closed this chapter of my life two days ago - I surrendered my Class A (with tanker, hazmat, and double / triple endorsement) to the State of New Mexico on Tuesday and dropped back to a Class D (passenger vehicle) license. I'll still hang around here for a while though. ;)
     
  10. bentstrider83

    bentstrider83 Road Train Member

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    That's what you call sticking to the guns. I'm definitely keeping my CDL in addition to the CA guard card and whatever else I might pick up down the line. But if I'm dropping anything, it's definitely going to be the milk haulers card. Once that line-haul, or whatever gig comes my way, I'm letting it slip into oblivion and closing the book on this round.
     
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  11. Dharok

    Dharok Medium Load Member

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    Once I'm able to quit driving. I'll give it a few years to feel secure with whatever else I'm doing, after that I'm dropping my CDL. CAN'T take the headache of always watching my speedometer scared of getting a ticket etc.. I'll save the $5k that it takes to get back if need be, you start at the bottom again if you leave for more than 3-5 years either way so... I rather just pay my fun tax (traffic tickets) and get on with life.. pay. Lawyer get ticket dismissed.. no increased insurance rates we all good... It's a business anyways lol. My 2 cents. I get where you're coming from, it makes sense to keep if you don't enjoy driving like I do (heavy foot).
     
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