Absolute Newbie Here!

If that is something you really think you want and your wife is behind it than go for it...

 

Hello Kraig and Welcome to the Site Sounds like you have a good plan. If you would like, please start a thread in our sub forum for trucking schools. You could post about your experiences in training so that we can follow you on your journey to become a truck driver. Best of Luck!

 

Hi and welcome kka, your situation is similar to my husbands. He just finished schooling with Swift and goes out for his 6 weeks with his mentor Sunday.

While I can't help you much with how things will go long term, I can tell you to read read read. We spent several months reading the forums. This really is a big change in life style and shouldn't be entered into lightly.

With our kids all grown up (more or less ) this seemed to be a good time for him to go for something he thinks he will enjoy doing. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

Your thinking of making a lifestyle change in many respects.. Don't be fooled into thinking that there is only 1 way to be a driver and that is to go to school and then drive for one of those mega carriers going OTR (over the road) running weeks away from home, running thousands of miles... There are other ways and other types of driving most never think of.

Take local work for instance.. Yes, it is possible to get home every night.. There is dirt haulers, paid by the hour, $ local delivery guys. (lumber yards), grocery warehouses, to name a few.. they are local.. SO is some Wal Mart stuff..

But, if the open road is where your head is, then look around in here for somthing that sounds like you might be interested in. Some guys have no home life or reason to go home. They love staying out for 4 - 8 weeks at a time.

Only you can make those decisions! Everyone has to find their "nitch" in the trucking business. (I haul high, wide, & heavy, that's what I prefer to do. Sure I've pulled reefers, vans, dumps, flatbeds, stepdecks, now I own my own RGN..)

Remember: there's more to trucking than just reefer & van! There are car carriers, tankers, dry bulk (hopper bottoms), end dumps (dump trailers), side dumps, logging, flatbed, furnature movers (bed buggers), trade show / speciality-decked trailers, blanket wraploads, exotic car hauling, Race car hauling, livestock (bull-racks), pole trailers, to rattle off a few... Only you can decide which is for you!

 

well said Gonzo