Stuck in the factory!!

Go for it! I'll do $75k this year being home every night and off every weekend. The whole key to making it in this industry is to have a plan. Where do you want to end up? 90% of trucking jobs are burn jobs, but those 10% jobs are the brass ring you want to shoot for. These are the specialized areas of the transport sector like small parcel (UPS, FedEx USPS), LTL, private fleets, food service, tankers, etc. Hell, I'd even toss the Class 1 railroads in for good measure. Stay away from irregular-route OTR with the exception of getting your year or so in for experience and then run don't look back. And for God's sake, whatever you do DON'T do a lease-purchase.

 

Which state do you live in?

 

Yep everyone should know to get water out of the boot just drill a hole in the sole.

 

What is the story on the lease purchase?

 

Many people never LEARN, they only assume they can and never want to LEARN - these are the problem drivers in our industry and will never go away unless the licensing system changes.

 

Not everyone can drive a big truck, day in, day out, day after day. It's grueling and stressful at times(mainly city driving and high traffic areas), other times it's laid back and downright relaxing(open roads and long interstates). It takes you're undivided attention at all times you're behind the wheel, you also need good hand eye coordination and a working knowledge of machinery and at times physics. It's not easy by all means and takes a lot more than balls. Even after years of doing it, you'll still see and do things that will amaze you and scare the sheet out of you. If you go for it, God Bless you and good luck, I can tell you firsthand that delivering freight is one of the most gratifying things you'll ever do, no matter what it is.

 

No one answer. All types of Truckdrivers, like anything else in life, it’s what you make of it. Not much freedom left in Trucking. High stress levels and tight schedules in order to make a decent living. A lot of time wasted not being compensated, all adds up to a Job suited best for those who have no other options, for whatever reasons.Its really not a good Career, unfortunately. But it beats McDonald’s.

 

I, and many others here, would HIGHLY recommend you NOT do a lease purchase! Most, if not all, are not what they appear to be on the surface. Go get a company job... Do not do a Fleece Purchase!

 

Part of actually learning is actually doing, as in putting forth effort.

My last batch of students barely moved the steering wheel taking turns on the Covenant Training pad. Making a mockery of the entire industry.

Something must be structurally wrong with our industry when no one with less than 2 years is hired And those that are could care less about the training, and burn with just one thought. A truck of their own so they can GTFO and away from all these bosses bossing them around.

 

Got out of printing (prepress) and into trucking about 7 years ago. No regrets at all & never looked back. The last 15 years in the printing industry, I hopped from one sinking ship to another, 40-50k, then it started dropping.

Just be smart, get your time in without screwing up. During this time, watch, observe. See what pays. Research your next moves thoroughly & don’t make lateral moves.

During my first year in trucking, I noticed that private fleets seemed to pay better, treated drivers better and seemed more laid back. I gave it a shot, now making double what I was doing in printing, and only working about ten more hours per week (and not dreading going into work every day).

Printing is nothing like trucking, but for some strange reason I found that the experience was very applicable, I guess maybe in a strategic kinda way...