Am I crazy for wanting in?

Here's my personal situation.

I'm 40 years old. Have had a decent career in mechanical engineering (I do have a BSME degree), but I am so, so sick of sitting in an office and in front of a computer. Love driving and road trips, always have. I am very recently divorced, have no kids. In the divorce, my ex-wife got the paid-off house and the stuff in it, I got the retirement accounts and savings.

I am currently living in a tiny furnished apartment I rent on a monthly basis, because I didn't know what I wanted to do post-divorce. I have literally nothing keeping me in this area. I own nothing more than my laptop, my clothes, some bathroom stuff, and my cell phone. My health is good, I don't do drugs, don't drink, clean driving record (last ticket was like 10 years ago), clean criminal record.

Am I insane for thinking of getting into OTR truck driving? I've can pay the cost for school and licensing on my own without issue, and I've got the cash to buy a truck (and yes, I know that's a six figure investment) if I enjoyed it enough to want to stick with it long term. I don't need to return to any given area and am free to be on the road all the time. I like being alone, so long hours alone on the road sound great to me.

I seem to see owner operators who love it, and some who just like to gripe and don't.

I'm thinking why not get the license, sign on as a company OTR driver somewhere for a couple years to learn the business and see if I truly like it, and then take it from there. If I don't like it, go find another engineering job. If I do, become an owner-operator.

On the topic of becoming an owner-operator, I love the idea of purchasing a pre-emissions truck and having it rebuilt to drive well and be solid reliable.

Anyway, I'm interested to hear what anyone might have to say.

edit: to be clear, I also own a car. I can get where I need to go without issue.

further edit: yes, i can drive a manual transmission. my car is a manual, and i have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in manual transmission vehicles. not even remotely a concern.

 

"I'm thinking why not get the license, sign on as a company OTR driver somewhere for a couple years to learn the business and see if I truly like it, and then take it from there. If I don't like it, go find another engineering job. If I do, become an owner-operator."

^^^
The above paragraph is a good and smart plan.

 

Where is your location?
~
If there's a tech school or community college with cdl program; that's a good start.

 

Houston.

 

I say Stevens Transport based on his location. He'll get really good training and safety department is top notch.

 

Get a license and be a company driver for at least 6-12 months. In the mean time research and make up your mind on what kind of truck you want to buy. Read all the o/o threads here, see what mistakes people usually do and keep asking questions.
If by age 40 you managed to pay off the house and have savings, you won't get lost in trucking and will do just fine.
Good luck

 

Do it!! You can always go back to what you're doing now if you don't like it.

 

There's some college programs there.

 

Lone Star College
Houston, TX
Truck Driving, CDL

 

@MechE fellow and former mechanical/manufacturing engineer. While I was going to school, I did towing, then went to a straight truck hauling building products. Finished school and spent a few years doing the deal. Basically just got tired of the BS with the life and decided to go trucking. Upgraded to a class A. That was 25 years ago. Have never looked back. Make a good income, less stress and BS. I have always done open deck, don’t know anything else.