Have You Ever Left and Came Back?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by SmoothBore, Jun 15, 2019.

  1. SmoothBore

    SmoothBore Medium Load Member

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    Hello all, I'm a long time member that's back from being gone from the forum. I have a dilemma, when I was at the ripe age of 22 I got into trucking in 2007, I got my CDL April of 2007 to be exact. I hung around trucking, I worked OTR for three years, even ventured out and bought my own truck, I had a pretty cake local job hauling food grade (hence the name) and ended up getting out in July of 2011 to attend a heavy equipment program at a local community college.

    Now, at 34, I've worked my way up to a nice cushy management position at a local government agency, nice comfortable salary 4-10 work schedule, state retirement, bennies and all that...some would say I have it made, the problem is, I never stopped missing the road and I miss it more now that I ever did. Has trucking changed much since 2011? Can a solo driver still go all over the place, or is a solo stuck running regional? I liked to stay out 4-6 weeks so my dispatcher would send me everywhere and I loved every minute of it, now on my commute to work I envy all you folks in your trucks out on the road.

    Safe travels all!
     
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  3. DTP

    DTP Road Train Member

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    Yes, it’s overregulated more than ever and elogs have all the truck stops full by 7 pm. It’s an old cliche, but don’t quit your day job...
     
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Elogs is the main change since you last drove.
    Plenty of OTR jobs that hire Arizona drivers and let a solo driver run all 48 states.
    Freymiller - refrigerated
    Melton Truck Lines - flatbed
    Indian River Transport - food grade tanker
     
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  5. TheyCallMeDave

    TheyCallMeDave Heavy Load Member

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    Tejas
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    Considering the position you've worked yourself into over time, and the current state of the industry, I wouldn't even remotely think of giving that up to come back to driving a truck. Different strokes as they say.
     
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  6. SmoothBore

    SmoothBore Medium Load Member

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    The Desert
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    Does this also apply if it's not about the money? Avoiding marriage for 33 out of the 34 years of my life has allowed me to live a debt free life(house, car, etc), working in government has burned me out more than trucking could have!
     
  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Indian River Transport :
    Trucks:
    • Indian River Transport runs a late model tractor fleet consisting of 600 Peterbilt tractors.
    • All trucks are furnished with refrigerators and premier interior packages, over 70-inch sleepers.
    • All tractors are assigned and are less than 36 months old.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    I think you need either 24 mos. cdl-a driving experience or 12 mos + approved cdl school.
     
  8. DTP

    DTP Road Train Member

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    It’s your life. But I would NEVER give up the security you have at your current job for this. They’re already working on ways to automate this industry as well to try and replace us to save more $. There’s no future in trucking imo. I’ll probably get to retirement before it happens as I think it’s still a long way off, but I wouldn’t recommend anyone young to get into trucking.
     
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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  10. SmoothBore

    SmoothBore Medium Load Member

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    Understood, thank you driver.
     
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  11. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    Why would anybody stay in a job that makes them miserable is beyond me, and why anyone would tell them too is also beyond me. If trucking is in your blood, you will never be happy sitting in an office.
    If a guy worries about security. I have to ask, when was the last time you have ever seen that you could not find a job in the trucking industry, I got my chauffers license in 1976 and at any time since a job has just been a few phone calls away, right up to and including today.

    It is your life, live it and enjoy what you choose to do, you just get one chance at it.
     
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