How is the trucking trade?

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Dieselpower2003, Mar 11, 2019.

  1. ZQuickSilverZ

    ZQuickSilverZ Bobtail Member

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    Here is a bit more from a Southwest aircraft mechanic in case you are interested in the information.

    Current Base is 38.59, Lic. prem. is 4.00 for (2) lic., long. is 1.30 for over 12 years (.10 cents per year before that), and shift diffs are .51 & .58 for eves and graves.

    That same mechanic stated he believed top out in the new contract proposal will be $61.88 after 5 years. Not bad for a 2 year investment in education. Provided that number is accurate that is $128,710.40 per year plus benefits.
     
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  3. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    I think its a great job!

    Did 10 years in IT and I hated it. People sucked the life out of me. Also had to apply to dozens upon dozens of jobs just to get a phone call and hopefully start a process of interviews (plural) and maybe hopefully get the job. I didn't even have to interview for the job I'm doing right now.

    I dont really care how Mich respect I get or if people look down on me because I am driving. I enjoy the job and being out on the open road.

    Those people looking down their nose at me, I am probably earning more than they are now. I just dont feel the need to buy a lot of flashy junk. Largest check so far 3450.00 for a week of work just two weeks ago. Thats what I got paid for a month fixing computers. Dont get that every week, but its nice when it happens and I save almost all of it because I dont have to worry about rent, utilities, daily commutes to work, etc. My monthly expenses are under 1000.00 including food. Before trucking my apartment 1 bedroom rent alone was that much.

    What I like about trucking is you are paid for the work you do. Work harder, get paid more. No salary nonsense where you work harder and get paid the same as the slacker sitting next to you watching YouTube vids all day.

    I don't know, it's working out great for me.
     
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  4. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    U thinking about driving truck at 15 , man theres a whole world out there , plz dont waste your young life sittin behind a steering wheel doing this job, for me i couldnt do anything else and you have to love it to be out here everyday, but man u got ur whole life ahead of you to even be thinkin about gettin fat and driving in circles around the country
     
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  5. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Gettin' down westbound
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    I really hate to be that guy , i always hated it whem ppl would tell me that type of stuff , but its alot of life that passes by out here while ur driving, theres guys been out here 40 years and they will tell you it doesnt even feel like 4 years, its alot of missed holidays with your families, alot of missed time if u got kids.. Just give it alot of thought befoee you sign ur life away to this lifestyle because im tellin you , you fall in love with it when ya get out here and its incredibly hard to get out once u learn the game, very addicting job for sure, but just give it alot of thought u got a couple years ahead of u to think , and if ya still wanna do it then hell come join the party
     
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  6. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    I think part of the problem is people do not save and grow their money while they are out on the road.

    Its a lifestyle yes, and a loner one at that. But you are in a privileged position to set yourself up handsomely.

    Theres a bit of luck too. You can be in the wrong place at the wrong time cause a nasty accident, you can get injured, or your health can fail, any number of things and lose your CDL.

    If that happens, you got something to show for all of it? If yes then you did it right. You'll have cash to learn a new trade, or you can just retire depending.

    I will ride this job to an early retirement if I can. If something unfortunate happens, I got a plan B and C.

    But yes you gotta be happy with yourself alone without electronics most of the time because you cannot use them while driving. You gotta be happy without people, or be happy with just one--a codriver, if you take the team route. Thats definitely agreed. OP's mom will probably cry because he'll always be out of reach. but she'll probably also be proud with his success with an honest living this country can not survive without.
     
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  7. Infosaur

    Infosaur Road Train Member

    I started driving "professionally" right out of college (taxis & limos), frankly you're going to have an uphill climb trying to get hired below 25. It does happen, but honestly why discourage yourself?

    Get some BS jobs out of school, (pro tip: doing crap jobs in your 20's is life, doing them in your 50's is a sign you screwed up somewhere.) and for god's sake learn as much as you can about whatever job you do from your bosses.

    A wise man said "you will never get rich working for someone else." So try to learn how HE/SHE does it and then down the road you can be "the man".
     
  8. Tombstone69

    Tombstone69 Road Train Member

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    Stay in school, learn as much as you can about everything, travel, not just in the USA, but all over the world, there's a lot of beautiful things to see and you can get scholarships and government grants to pay for it. Live at home with your parents till you're 35, but pay you're own way(if you do they won't throw you out). Don't fall in love with the first girl you have relations with and don't do "it" without some or all types of protection.Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see. Don't do drugs and don't drink to excess, it's a waste of time and will shorten you're life,immensely. If after all that you still want to drive a truck, start hanging around a trucking garage and get to know the drivers, the owners and the mechanics. Even if you just start sweeping floors, get a first hand look at the industry and what it does to the people that work in it. Keep you're mouth shut and you're eyes open. If you still want to be a trucker than go for it, even though it's a tough industry that will break your body down and cause you heartache, it has its goodpoints. I've been driving over 35yrs and have arthritis throughout my whole body, lost my top teeth and all the bones around them, 2discs in my lower back and didn't see much of my kids growing up, so when I figure out what they are, I'll get back to you.
     
  9. Fairweather

    Fairweather Light Load Member

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    Mama says,"Trucking is like a box of chocolates. It may look pretty sweet at first... but mostly, it's just crap."
     
  10. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    Trucking is what you make of it, always has been and always will be, some folks take to it some can't take it, that part will never change.
    Any info you get now, as far as the state of trucking will likely be obsolete by the time you are old enough, things change fast in this business. The only recomendation I would give you is, if you have a friend and it is still possible for him to help you get your license when you turn 18,is get it, even if you don't use it. I have had mine since 76, and there has never ever been a day I could not have made a few phone calls and had a job period. Sou you can persue a trucking career, or have it for a backup.
     
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