Technician vs. Trucking

With that combination of mechanical knowhow, OTR experience and prior O/O experience, I dunno how you could fail.

I'm not hearing anything about a slowdown. Seems like there's always a driver shortage and it only got worse earlier this year when ELD's became mandatory.

 

People always need their stuff. Even if the economy slows down it still doesn’t mean you cannot turn a profit. I work my butt off in the summer. From maybe April to September I go almost nonstop. Then again I take about 6 weeks off in the winter and take it easy in spring and late fall. If freight rates aren’t great I just don’t work. In the summer I can pull $8-12k gross so why work in the winter for $5k is my reasoning. Plus I work so hard in the summer it’s impossible to maintain for a year. My overhead is $300 a week and have paid off equipment so it’s easy to do.

 

Go for it

 

Well the shop Idea is good. But if you guys think getting broker to pay a carrier is easy, you should try and be the shop trying to get carrier to pay! I have managed shops. Its harder to manage than 1 truck. With the ups and downs and I am about in the situation and age as OP. I am glad that Im trucking with my one truck. You will never get rich working for someone else. But you need to decide what you need or family needs for comfort. But it takes time. Good luck.

 

I am not an O/O but I will say at 38 you're young enough to do it and if it doesn't pan out, go back to the shop.

 

I’ve done both. Both can be good jobs. Both can suck ### too. I have not regretted leaving the shop. But, I wouldn’t say trucking is for everyone. As far as O/O goes, no one can predict the future. You have a leg up with a tech background and it will serve you well. I can’t tell you what you should do, I don’t know you. I will say trucking has been good to me, and going to school to be a tech has paid dividends.