Advice, possible career change

The trick to making money in trucking is to stay away from most carriers with more than 10 trucks. Work for a guy/gal with 5-10 trucks and generally you're like a partner and can find yourself making 50k plus every year. At one such company I made 60k and was home for dinner 98% of the time. Over the years Trucking has been good to my family and it can be good to yours as well. Your best bet is to befriend an owner operator, not a company driver or even company lease driver but a real true O/O. There are at least 2 different worlds in trucking and you will never see the good one if you solely pursue schilling and big companies. In fact , by going that route you'll probably come to hate trucking, truckers and trucks lol. I may be stretching that a little but more often than not it's true. Good luck and if we can help let us know!

 

Btw, I was offered 2 different jobs this week. One offering me minimum of $65k and the other $75k.

Also, one more question, have you pursued working for a WISP? I'm part owner of one up north here and from time to time we need techs or I.T. type people to solve problems. I'm sorta surprised that you're having challenges in that industry. I handle the sales and tower owner side of our business and on the side I can set up computers for people and make $1-300 in a couple hours depending on what they want loaded on it.

 

Might also consider working for a school bus company. They seem to prefer women drivers. A lot of them offer paid training. It's a split shift though. You work half a day in the morning and half a day in the afternoon. Occasionally they might get a charter to take a team to an away game. I heard a few drivers from a bus outfit say that was good o/t.

 

Check cdl schools in your area and ask which companies hire from those schools.
Are you in a position to relocate to another area or state?
Companies do hire from your area in SW Florida and some pay for private cdl school or have their own inhouse cdl school.
I don't recommend accepting a job such as delivering to Dollar General Stores or anything similar where the driver unloads the trailer.
Maybe MCT Transportation hires from your area.
Werner Enterprises dry van division does hire from your area and seems to be ok if you stay away from the "driver unload" accounts.
Covenant Transport hires in South Florida.
Roehl Transport hires in South Florida and has their own school.

 

Even if you fund your own tuition for cdl school, many companies will reimburse the tuition to you via monthly payments.
Trucking is a great career for men and women. You can start preparing now with an original birth certificate and original social security card (not laminated).
You will be drug tested either by urine test or hair follicle.
I'm guessing you're around Ft. Myers or nearby. Not a lot to choose from if so, but still trucking jobs are there for you.

 

Google : WIOA Program Florida
This program will pay for cdl school for the under-employed and unemployed.
Some trucking companies that have their own cdl school also have lodging and meals provided during their school.
Roehl Transport even pays student $500.00 weekly while attending their school.

 

Millis is offering a guaranteed 50k the first year now, right out of school, .42 cpm.