My husband wants to be a trucker! :|

im scratchin my head over this one

 

I have seen situations similar to yours that my friends have gone through. Personally I would have to say don't let him become a trucker for these reasons...

1. Your boys are at the age were they need a male figure around almost daily. With just starting out in truck he more than likely will have to go to a big company. That means 2+weeks away from home.

2. The area that you guys live in (California) is hurting bad. Way to many trucks everywhere, and from what I here it is worse on the west coast.

3. If ya have to borrow money to go to a CDL school than your already starting in a hole.

I know this is gonna sound harsh, but I will try to be polite. If your hubby loses his job then have him take any job that will pay the bills. Not matter if its flipping burgers or lawn care. Right now we all have to do what we can to survice (financially). I run a lot of the northeast...not because I like it, but becasue no one else does and the rates are better. Also you should consider getting out in the workforce to help him. I know that is a hard topic and my wife and I have wrestled with this a lot also. We have a 2 year old and my wife teaches full time. We both would like her to be able to stay home and care for the house, but right now the economy is to bad.

Along with Freebird I am trying to figure out what ya meant by that statement.

 

I will put in my 2 cents here if I may. Pulling trucker is 100% right. I was married my wife had 3 kids. I was driving when we got married but i quit to be at home every night. Economy went bad so i started driving again. The stress of being gone 2 to 3 weeks then home for 1 or 2 nights will kill a marriage. Atleast it did mine. I would say find something local or close to home. Because i guarentee the big companies out here dont care about you and your family NO MATTER WHAT THEY TELL YOU. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

In bad economy times everyone and their brother wants to be a trucker. This floods the market with new drivers when even experienced drivers with much more experience are unable to make a decent living. Freight is down which means that most drivers that are employed are setting at a truck stop waiting for the next load while spending money left and right putting the family further in the hole.

 

I agree with PullingTrucker, you need him at home not slaving away for some megagrinder outfit for $600 a week (if that.)

 

The only sitting i've been doing lately is at the shippers & receivers. I sat for 13 hours just this morning waiting on a load that was supposed to be ready yesterday and after all that waiting I couldn't get the load because they put it on a different co's trailer lol. Still made detention at least. It's been ridiculous!

Actually, I wouldn't mind sitting for a reset! I've been moving constantly lately, not for big miles but the pay's ok with higher scale pay and detention.

 

Some newbies dont make that, some only start out at 250 dollars per week. then go up after a few weeks, i dont know how they can make it unless they have money stock piled, or the wife works, with having to buy food and sometimes pay for showers, then laundry, that money will be gone in a week, so yea unless you want to work while he is training with prob no pay then little pay when he starts which will put you farther in dept, nope not at this time would i want to be a newbie with a wife and kids to support at home. any job at home would be better than that.

 

He is much better off getting a job at a local store or something. If he lands a gig at $9 that is $360 a week. He'll put in his 8 hours a day and be home at night sleeping in his own bed.

If he goes to work for nameyourmegacarrier he will probably start off around $.24 cents a mile.

Even if he gets the "average" 2500 miles a week that is $600 a week. I don't think the extra $140 a week is even close to being worth being away from your loved ones, living in a vehicle, dealing with DOT, shippers receivers, cops, tickets, scaling loads, logbooks, showering at truck stops, irregular sleep patterns, etc. It is simply not worth it.

Plus remember that during most weeks he probably will run only 1800-2000 miles, that is just $480.

Good luck to whatever you decide.