Would it be worth it? Would anybody be interested in someone like me?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ben5398, Dec 5, 2017.

  1. ben5398

    ben5398 Bobtail Member

    23
    28
    Jan 18, 2017
    0
    Have been a full time teacher for 15 years, never took a summer off. I always teach summer driver education but am tired of the stress and repetitiveness of dealing with 15yo student drivers. I also have grown up on a farm and driven tandem trucks pulling wagons for almost 20 years. I have had a CDL for 10 years driving school buses for my small rural school district. I have contemplated driving a truck for a summer job, preferably OTR. Would a company be interested in someone like me? I have limited experience with tractor trailers, but have enough experience to drive them competently, though I never took any official coursework. I have a spotless record other than a speeding ticket when I was 20.
     
    Oxbow and Lepton1 Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

    4,049
    9,277
    Jan 30, 2012
    Charlotte, N.Carolina
    0
    summer job? might not find that.

    but as a driver? sure ,go for it.
     
  4. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

    18,474
    129,406
    Apr 10, 2009
    Copied in Hell
    0
    Absolutely. Temp companies will want you. Check around and let us know what you find.
     
  5. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

    34,017
    42,135
    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
    0
    There isnt really any "Official" Course work. You are already part of the way there if you still have that CDL.

    They will send you to school for a refresher for rules and regulations etc. If you have touched 18 wheelers or even a tractor with 5th wheel towing trailers on the farm.. you should have no problem with that part of the learning.

    I usually like to with respect mind you, that teasing school bus drivers and truckers do not get along for a variety of reasons. This has been going on for decades long before I am alive I suppose. Now you are considering trucking.

    Have at it. We will like to have you join us running a 18 wheeler.

    However...

    You will run into many who are not as grounded as you seem to be in the ... niceties of driving etiquette or whatever it is called. There are many louts among us, as are the boneheads among other problems.

    Be very careful who you commit to employment. Your first few years will be the most dangerous relative to your continued ability to hold a CDL trucking job in this Industry.
     
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
  6. ben5398

    ben5398 Bobtail Member

    23
    28
    Jan 18, 2017
    0
    I am glad to hear that there would be some potential with this. I have mulled it over for the last couple years, maybe longer at this point. I started a small ag direct to consumer business last year during the summer as well as driver education but I just don't see the margin for the effort (honestly barely broke even), not saying trucking would be better, but it would be some profit. I likely will give this summer one more go round with the ag business but if margins do not improve (I don't foresee see them improving) I would be forced to quit it regardless and then get geared up to run a truck starting in summer of '19.

    edit: I could see starting this summer if the right company was available as my business can be done on spare time and only dedicated day I need would be Saturdays for farmers markets which I could hire out if needed.
     
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    74,670
    169,757
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    That's about the best plan; sign up with a temp service that hires cdl drivers. This way you work when you want to. There's some good deals out there for temp. service drivers.
     
    Dan.S Thanks this.
  8. Aradrox

    Aradrox Heavy Load Member

    900
    622
    Jan 21, 2016
    0
    Is your CDL class A? If so there are plenty of companies that will hire you
     
  9. Dick Danger

    Dick Danger Medium Load Member

    545
    766
    Dec 19, 2014
    Seattle
    0
    North American used to hire a metric assload of temp drivers for summer fleet. I'd never want to be a bedbugger, and their season would probably run into the school year.
     
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
  10. ben5398

    ben5398 Bobtail Member

    23
    28
    Jan 18, 2017
    0
    It was class B until last year, now class A. Found it to be an easy transition. Honestly easier driving a tractor trailer combo than a truck with a wagon in many regards and much less stressful.
     
    NavigatorWife Thanks this.
  11. ben5398

    ben5398 Bobtail Member

    23
    28
    Jan 18, 2017
    0
    By bedbugger may I assume you mean someone who sleeps in a bed that has been used by 100's of different drivers?
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.