Career Change Question

I am a former medical assistant/x-ray tech that switched to trucking and I love it. It is a carefree job with lots of travel. The only thing stressful is trying to find some of these places you go to but that is what customer directions are for. It is very easy, and very laid back. Lots of time to think and enjoy good music. You can also enjoy audio books, or learn a new language.

Trucking is a great field for someone who can be away from how, and wants something to do till they retire without being over worked. At least that is my opinion anyways.

 

There's a guy on here goes by "passport220" who is an English teacher and in process of getting his CDL through school. Many IT people making the change also.. Maybe you can Private Message him.passport220

 

do your homework...both for where to go to school and when it comes time to get a job. there are cdl training companies that will guarantee you a job upon graduation...thats where i would spend my money. not sure why anyone would give up a teaching career for driving, but as long as you dont think its a better FINANCIAL deal, its your own business. many trucking companies that take new cdl grads have a fairly bad reputation....i started with usa truck and never had a problem with them....and in addition to my pay per mile, they reimbursed me for the school over time...if id stayed with them for 2 years they wouldve paid the whole thing i believe. but the companies that hire new grads tend to be lower pay than you can find elsewhere when you have a year or so of experience.
you can expect to make between 30-45k your first year, and 40-55k or better after that. if that sounds like a big window, well it sure as heck is....some companies pay much better....DO YOUR HOMEWORK before accepting a job.
but please be aware also that although the job is not difficult PHYSICALLY (unless you are unloading trucks as well), there is a huge time demand to make decent money. expect to work 65-80 hours a week for your money, and know that youll likely be on the road for a couple weeks at a time or more. schedule wont be the same each day either....a driver that is able to maximize his/her time to drive as much as legally possible will be working on a 21.5 hour day on long runs, and shorter runs make for worse schedules. its definitely not all sunshine and roses, and you had better enjoy fast food as well...you will LIVE in that little metal box for weeks at a time. i like driving, and have been doing it for about 10 years now, but it can be a grind at times, and the money is REALLY bad if you consider you will be in that little metal box for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 2-5 weeks at a time, with not much time left over for family or friends.
i would discourage any degreed professional (like a teacher) from truck driving...you WILL make less money driving than you did as a teacher, and you will work MANY more hours to earn that lesser pay. there ARE things that are great about driving....but money aint one of em!!!!!!!! unless you are comparing it to a job at walmart or mcdonalds...

 

PTDI Certified Schools.

TEXAS
ATDS
124 Truckers Lane
Elm Mott, TX 76640
(800) 460-2837
(254) 829-1694
Certified Course: PTD - 100
Certification Dates: 12/2/10 - 12/31/15
Houston Community College
Northeast Commercial Truck Driving Center
555 Community College Drive, Bldg. B
Houston, TX 77013
(713) 718-8200
Certified Course: Commercial Truck Driving
Certification Dates: 12/2/10 - 12/31/15
Swift Driving Academy
5348 E. Houston St.
San Antonio, TX 78220
(800) 825-7598; (210) 661-0293
Certified Course: Truck Driving
Certification Dates: 12/8/11 - 12/31/16


Also, Roadmaster is rated in the top 3 CDL schools in the nation.

 

Best paying truck driving jobs:

#1 - Tanker
#2 - Refrigerated
#3 - Flatbed
#4 - Dry van

Also, YES..a newbie can get a local/LTL driving job. It's as easy as searching your area company at a time or searching the internet such as Careerbuilder or Craigslist (transportation).

 

I'm not sure what kind of money people think teachers make, but its a pittance for what they are doing. Our teachers are very, very underpaid. I have four teachers in my immediate family and the only one who makes a decent living at it is my Dad because he was able to get hired on with DODS and they do pay very well. My mother, brother and sister are also teachers and it is sad what they are paid for what is expected of them.



I believe that you can/will make good money, better money OTR. I have been astounded at the amount of money my husband and I have been able to make since we have been OTR. Even when I was solo, I still made good money. Make sure you get all of the endorsements that you can, but especially hazmat. My company pays us for having hazmat whether we are pulling a hazmat load or not.


As my instructor told me, "If you get into this with the intention to be paid tourist, you will be a broke tourist, but if you get in to this to make money, it will put a little change in your pocket."

 

Well said. Trucking is the highest paying job I've had.

Ethan

 

Letssee... Get to school at 7am, classes start at 8...homeroom, 5 or 6 classes a day, lunch or recess duty (this is Jr high) after school meeting with parents, extra help for students, organizations, etc, go home, correct papers and do lesson plans and research until 10 or 11 pm..ok, that's a normal teacher day, doesn't count weekends..online classes, other classes for re-certification or workshops or whatever else they want to call them... so 7 until 11:30 (typical day) is 15 hours ( I took out lunch/dinner and travel) x 5 = 75 hours without all the other weekend stuff.....

My last teaching job was with special ed students. One year we had severely physically and mentally disabled kids in wheelchairs, the next year I had what is referred to as slow learners.... mostly street smart, but severe reading problems. Loved the kids, loved the work, hated the constant paperwork and government regulations. And the idiots that keep saying that everyone can learn everything that is on the government tests...bull. Danged people ain't never had a job that wasn't in academia.... not everyone has the same learning ability~! Period. Not everyone is going to be able to learn algebra to pass a test, but I'll bet that some of those kids that can't learn algebra would be able to plot a course cross country to the minute and the mile.

At this point trucking sounds really nice. I can put up with anyone for a short time, knowing I'll be leaving or that I can turn off a radio/phone and go to sleep... and I love driving by myself. <BG> I just need to get into a little better shape. Been working at sitting jobs too long. And falling under my bike and chipping an ankle bone last month didn't help either.... <G>
Y'all take care.
Mary