Am I thinking wrong?

Sam Hell · Aug 12, 2012

I am thinking about getting into truck driving as a career. It will be a huge change from what I have been doing and I know that trucking is more than a job, it's a lifestyle. My wife and family are supportive of me and we have discussed all of the "what ifs" that could and would go along with this change.

I am 42 years old and I am a line crew worker for a local water company. My job doesn't necessarily end at the end of my shift. I have worked 23 hours straight before and have worked many nights, weekends, holidays, etc. I must begin to face the fact that utility work is a young man's game. Though I am not old and can physically handle my job, my body will begin to slow down and I will be unable to handle the physical part of this job as easily as I do now.

With the above in mind and along with the ideas of seeing America and enjoying a bit of freedom that truck driving provides, I am beginning my research for starter companies. I currently hold a Class B CDL in my state and have held it for the last 7 years, accident and violation free. I am very confident that I could obtain a Class A by going thru schooling.

I am a poor boy and my credit sucks so if and when I do decide to get into truck driving, it will be thru a company sponsored CDL program. I know that I will be their slave for a year or so and I will basically have to deal with some BS along the way but I am fully prepared to do so. The way I see it is this: All FNGS get the sh#t jobs and get abused. Trucking is really not different than other industries in that respect. I know these "starter companies" are basically CDL puppy mills and will abuse their drivers to the tenth degree because you are on the hook but that's ok with me. I have to learn somewhere and somehow and when my contract is up then I can move onto a better company and will appreciate them more.

I am confident that I can handle just about anything they throw at me and I will do it in a professional manner because after all, my career is at stake. Being a line crew worker is a physically and mentally challenging job and believe me, you get your fair share of BS thrown at you daily.....not just from your boss but customers as well. We work in all of the elements all day long regardless of weather conditions. Being from Indiana, sometimes we go thru all of the elements on the same day.....lol just kidding!

I do not think trucking is easy and wouldn't even consider it if it was. Hell if I wanted an easy job, I would go work at McDonalds. Truck driving is challenging and that is what appeals to me but I will say that it seems to be a bit easier on a person's body physically than what I do at my current job (maybe I'm wrong here and I mean no offense).

I mean no offense to any truck driver out there regarding the physical aspect of your job. I know trucking can be grueling at times. Every job has its good times and its bad times but do the good times in trucking happen more often than the bad times?

Some of the companies I am considering are:

PAM Transport

USA truck

Roehl

Please offer any advice to me that you feel I should consider and feel free to correct me in anything that I have said.

Thanks and have a great day
Again I am a noob and mean no offense so please don't take this post the wrong way.

Numb · Aug 12, 2012

look for the temp driving jobs. pro driver, ect; check this forum post.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...86506-great-start-people-might-not-aware.html

they hire class A or B

STexan · Aug 12, 2012

I don't know of any temp driver agencies that would hire a non-experienced driver but all I can suggest is spend 4-5 hours perusing various threads in this forum. This will help you get a feel of the pitfalls to expect and most of the upsides. The biggest hurdle for many (and what breaks many) is being away from wife and/or kids for extended periods. This is hard on both the driver and those left at home and there are no easy solutions in the beginning until you can get settled into a more predicable home time routine (if that's even possible where you end up and live but with more experience you'll get settled into the appropriate fleet and at least a day or two a week home time becomes more achievable)

windsmith · Aug 12, 2012

Sam Hell said: ↑

I am a poor boy and my credit sucks so if and when I do decide to get into truck driving, it will be thru a company sponsored CDL program. I know that I will be their slave for a year or so and I will basically have to deal with some BS along the way but I am fully prepared to do so. The way I see it is this: All FNGS get the sh#t jobs and get abused. Trucking is really not different than other industries in that respect. I know these "starter companies" are basically CDL puppy mills and will abuse their drivers to the tenth degree because you are on the hook but that's ok with me. I have to learn somewhere and somehow and when my contract is up then I can move onto a better company and will appreciate them more.
Click to expand...

If you're adventurous and have a modicum of common sense, you would do fine by skipping the 'big boys' and finding a small O/O that's willing to take you on after you earn your CDL. You should be able to find a local community college CDL program for around $1k. That's the route that I took and I'm glad I did. I don't think I would have put up with the BFI starter company BS long enough to fulfill my contractual obligations.

CenutryClass · Aug 12, 2012

I just sit here in amazement at all these posts from people wanting to start a trucking career and their absolute willingness to get abused for the "first year" by trucking companies. It just boggles my mind to be honest. No wonder this industry will never get any better..

Not bashing the OP just making an observation. Good luck in whatever you choose.

Grumpyone · Aug 12, 2012

OP,

What you may want to do is study for the exam first. Get your learners permit. Go and get your DOT Physical. While doing that start looking for training schools in your area. Don't go by what is on thier website , Call them and find out what kind of programs that they have. I did that and found a school that is only 2 weeks long. The difference between them and someone like roadmaster is that they offered two programs one that is 4 weeks and one that is two weeks. The two week program I get one on one with a trainer for 4 hours a day. I have to pay $1200 and If there is any part of the driving test that I fail then they will work with me until I pass. ( I dont think that this will be a problem ) .... But is nice to know.

I am also going to get myself a complete physical being my current insurance will cover it for free.

I am hoping by doing it this way it will open up more of the companies that I would like to apply to.

pilottravel2002 · Aug 12, 2012

If i was you i will not change my career,hometime every day with your family.

Drifter42 · Aug 12, 2012

pilottravel2002 said: ↑

If i was you i will not change my career,hometime every day with your family.
Click to expand...

Exactly and you will be giving all that up for sure, but good luck in what you decide.

Wooly Rhino · Aug 12, 2012

Trucking takes dedication. If you live in a large city you can get a hostler job for around 19 and hour. 60 hour week with overtime. Not bad pay and almost no work at all. If you plan on working for a large company right out to the gate, you will only make about $30,000 your first year. That is if you last a year. The turn over rate in this industry is very high. If your credit sucks now, it will suck more once you cut your pay.

Other then that, come on in, the water is fine. Just ignore that blood and those Great Whites.

pattyj · Aug 12, 2012

After reading your post,I too am confident you can handle trk driving and probably be one of the best drivers out there.

Sam Hell said: ↑

I am thinking about getting into truck driving as a career. It will be a huge change from what I have been doing and I know that trucking is more than a job, it's a lifestyle. My wife and family are supportive of me and we have discussed all of the "what ifs" that could and would go along with this change.

I am 42 years old and I am a line crew worker for a local water company. My job doesn't necessarily end at the end of my shift. I have worked 23 hours straight before and have worked many nights, weekends, holidays, etc. I must begin to face the fact that utility work is a young man's game. Though I am not old and can physically handle my job, my body will begin to slow down and I will be unable to handle the physical part of this job as easily as I do now.

With the above in mind and along with the ideas of seeing America and enjoying a bit of freedom that truck driving provides, I am beginning my research for starter companies. I currently hold a Class B CDL in my state and have held it for the last 7 years, accident and violation free. I am very confident that I could obtain a Class A by going thru schooling.

I am a poor boy and my credit sucks so if and when I do decide to get into truck driving, it will be thru a company sponsored CDL program. I know that I will be their slave for a year or so and I will basically have to deal with some BS along the way but I am fully prepared to do so. The way I see it is this: All FNGS get the sh#t jobs and get abused. Trucking is really not different than other industries in that respect. I know these "starter companies" are basically CDL puppy mills and will abuse their drivers to the tenth degree because you are on the hook but that's ok with me. I have to learn somewhere and somehow and when my contract is up then I can move onto a better company and will appreciate them more.

I am confident that I can handle just about anything they throw at me and I will do it in a professional manner because after all, my career is at stake. Being a line crew worker is a physically and mentally challenging job and believe me, you get your fair share of BS thrown at you daily.....not just from your boss but customers as well. We work in all of the elements all day long regardless of weather conditions. Being from Indiana, sometimes we go thru all of the elements on the same day.....lol just kidding!

I do not think trucking is easy and wouldn't even consider it if it was. Hell if I wanted an easy job, I would go work at McDonalds. Truck driving is challenging and that is what appeals to me but I will say that it seems to be a bit easier on a person's body physically than what I do at my current job (maybe I'm wrong here and I mean no offense).

I mean no offense to any truck driver out there regarding the physical aspect of your job. I know trucking can be grueling at times. Every job has its good times and its bad times but do the good times in trucking happen more often than the bad times?

Some of the companies I am considering are:

PAM Transport

USA truck

Roehl

Please offer any advice to me that you feel I should consider and feel free to correct me in anything that I have said.

Thanks and have a great day
Again I am a noob and mean no offense so please don't take this post the wrong way.
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