Would you give up this gig?

I like benefits, paid holidays off, vacations, home every night, off weekends so u can have a life. No waiting by phone.

 

Look at all the opportunities you have in Denver.
denver transportation - craigslist

 

Cost of living on road? Food laundry etc. Finding doctor when sick 3000 miles away?

 

She's gonna be

Sleeping or you

She's gonna be sleeping or you will be to keep truck rolling. Not a paid vacationer

 

This is not a vacation.

If you are late twice youre fired depending on how much is charged back against your boss.

Repeat this is not a vacation.

If I am told to take a run into NYC or south Chicago, I get thinking ok I am going to battle. Not a vacation.

 

There is one thing you will enjoy in trucking that we did not in our time.

When you log 70 hours you stop and stay for 34 hours optional reset. That 34 hours means you are resting in truck, hotel, off duty with wife at home whatever it is. That would be the time to find a museum, activity like horseback or flying etc wherever you might be. I tend to bowl alot in my time off where possible all over the USA. Thats one of my vices. Some alleys are better than others. The key point is engage in time free with no thought of work or truck. Just yourself and wife having fun.

There is something very American about junk burgers, fries, gravy and sassafrass (Root beer) on the score table...

One time they unloaded my truck while i laid on the beach at ocean city during a rainy day for oh... 9 hours. THAT was a nice day trip to remember. Even today. I did not realize then how bad I was until I beached myself and just enjoyed the water and girls I guess...

 

If they let them take a 34. I've asked for a 34 and been denied, they just kept sending me loads.

Yes, you could take it to safety and ask for your reset, which will be granted if you use safety (fatigue) as the reason for it. But then, you potentially have to worry about retribution and not getting good miles anymore.

Of course it's not like that at all companies. And perhaps there's more leeway with teams, I don't know I've never teamed. But I'm just saying, with them starting out fresh a 34 might not be possible without dispatch or planners cutting their miles back if they go to safety about it.

 

If you are JUST getting by then I would either drastically cut my expenses, if you REALLY like and want to keep your current job. It's usually much easier to changes while keeping current job than start a brand new job.

In your case DO NOT change into trucking and see if things work out. I would only change into trucking if you have identified & confirmed a good driving job you will be hired for. IMO. There are some good/great driving jobs but there are a TON of lousy low paying driving jobs. As they say about life boats, "you get in it when you have to STEP UP to get in it, not just in case your real boat might sink." Certain improvement, or stay.