Crossroads in my life, I could use some advice.

I was originally referring to the geometric shape and the cartographic view of the state but now that I think about it square also applies in the coliqueal sense of the word as well

 

As you listed the options so far, number 3 is the least desirable. I understand that it is ground floor and could (key word) lead to a good long term thing.

Be very cautious when getting in business with family.
Even more so than if close family.
Just trust these words are from experience.

 

I know things could go poorly. I have absolute faith in the guys business sense(seriously I've seen him make $20,000 in a night when he needed it, its like he prints money.) I'm not blind to the possible intrapersonal damages this could cause and that's the main reason I'm apprehensive. I'd like to know about possible career damges I could face going this route. I don't have extensive experience in this industry (6 months driving) so the possible dangers aren't as apparent to me.

 

well education is king, which one would you learn more about your future goal of owning a fleet of trucks?

I am not crazy about working with family, either, but it may pay you to learn the business. Unless you want a fleet of oilfield related trucks, 5 years from now you will still know as much about the otr trucking business as you do now.

 

Do you have the same last name as the relative?

And more details on his business needed. Does he have his own contracts? How many trucks does he have? Is he a stand up guy? Yes, money making ability is good, BUT does he stand behind his word? Has he ever ripped anyone off in the past? How close are you and this family member?

I've worked with family before. Own a business with my brother for many years. So, I would look at that as a future opportunity for growth in a company. Yes, I would start off in a truck to grow the company, but as the company grows, I'd want different hats.

The family business would peak my interest first. Then the oilfield. You will always be able to get your foot into food service. The family business has the most risk, but possibly the most reward for you and the family. If the relative is solid, I'd try it.

 

The oil field can dry up pretty quickly. That the nature of the oil fields.

OTR $1,500 a week is good money I don't believe they could every pay $2,000 a week, that would be $104,000 freight don't pay that much. Rates are dropping now. Everyone that ordered new truck when the rates were crazy high are now coming on the road. That mean more truck and more competition for the loads.

Food service sucks your basically hand unloading a trailer by yourself and then you do a little driving. That can wear you out pretty quickly or you in great shape use to that kind of work.

If you don't plan on driving in you 30/40s. I might takes my chances in the oil field. Have seen YouTube videos of driver in North Dakota. The pay was good but daily life looked pretty hard. Stuff like all the store and towns were basically overwhelmed because it's just to may people. People that had to pay for lodging had no option even money could not buy. Their was not a single room available anyplace. Guys were driving 60-80 away just to find rooms.

I remember see a new like Super 8 motel the sign said it was like $2,500 a week for a rooms and it was 80 from ND oil feild.

 

Are the offers actually better or are you just more desperate?
Do you have all the endorsements.
Do you really want to live in a man camp with a bunch of sweaty men?

 

The offers are much better than what I've been getting. I have a strong distaste for large otr companies.
I'm lacking hazmat.
I was in the army in another life and I doubt a man camp could be any worse than a cop in 115° heat, I could be wrong though. I primarily care about money not comfort right now so if there was a choice that was clearly more lucrative than the others this would be much easier.

 

My plan to deal with the housing in boom towns is to purchase a camper and live there. I'm not a person who cares much about space or possessions so I'm not too worried about it.

 

Camper poses it's own problems, especially in boom towns and ND in winter.

I know in Texas in places it costs as much to park a camper as having a house just out of the boom area.
I do know what the man camps are like there, but the ones here are not bad at all,