Done With Construction After 30 Years

My name is Tony, I live in Queen Creek Arizona, and have been a self employed flooring contractor for over thirty years. No matter how bad the economy got, I was always able to at least survive, sometimes barely, but I have always gotten by until 2008. Now my company is bankrupt and I am done with the construction industry.

Since I love being on the road (preferably on a touring style motorcycle, I have a Harley Ultra Classic) what better way to make a living and hopefully save the homestead then driving cross country!

My wife is a real estate broker so we both got screwed in 08 and our live savings is gone so over the road I go. We also have a 6 year old son (my grandson we adopted him at age 2) who began riding dirt bikes at age 4 1/2.

Just finished the academy at swift in Phoenix last week and am going through orientation this week, Thursday and Friday I go through strap down and tarp classes (I am going flatbed) and hopefully will get a mentor trainer right away.

If there are any swift flatbed mentors out there, I will be ready to hit the road on Friday the 17th, and I learn very quickly.

 

Good luck man! I know exactly where you're coming from!

 

Welcome to the party!

 

Welcome, it sounds like there are a lot of us mid-life career changers trying to get another gig in the New World Order.

 

Good luck Tony and welcome to the forum. Like BarnDog said, your situation isn't unique...there's lots of folks coming into trucking in their 40's and 50's.

Take care and be safe out here!

 

Good luck! I am still waiting after four weeks for my mentor to arrive. I am starting to think he or she will never show up. I owned me own business for 16 years and it also went under due to the poor economy so I know where your coming from.

 

Tony congrats! I 'm from your neck of the woods. I lived in and graduated from Gilbert high school. Alot has changed ,over the twenty five years i have been gone. But ,i wish you all the luck! I hope the best for you and your family

 

Welcome to the forum Tony! A man with a plan will come out on top! Good luck in your new career!

 

Thanks everyone for the warm welcomes, I am hoping this will be recession proof, time will tell.

 

Hopefully the trucking thing works out for you. Expect the unexpected, tolerate the crap that you may have to put up with sooner or later, and just enjoy life out here on the roads!