Dropping out of IT (and a very good salary)

you brought up some very solid things about yourself, wife,2 young kids, savings in the bank. why would you put those things at risk on some whim about a semi skilled job. have you discussed your whim with your wife. she is the one that will b left behind along with you not seeing your kids grow up. those truckers are watching you enviously in your new suv on your way to your home every night job. trucking is not a easy way to the bank. the shipper, brokers, companies, other truckers will fight you every inch of the way. be prepared to lower your standard of living because of your loss of money on your check. my collage educated daughter makes more on semi annual bonus than my yearly pay. dont give up the good life for some stupid truck driving job. lots of luck

 

Hi yohimbe2, I can't tell you much about trucking, however, I did get fed up with my allegedly "great career" in law enforcement, and took the plunge. I'm looking at OTR as a job and an adventure. Just got really bored I guess, and beat up over the years.

I am in a different situation as I have been divorced for 6 years now and have no immediate family concerns that need to keep me home right now. I am also 15 years short of retirement. I have a pension that will start then...just need to keep busy.

good luck to you, a lot of good information on here.

 

1. Do you love your job?
I like my job a lot. Don't think I could ever "love" a job.

2. Can you continue to spend time with family? Are truckers at risk for divorce?
From my experience, it's probably harder on your wife than you. I don't have kids, but my dad drove when I was growing up. Figure that your kids will see you on the weekends, most likely less for the first year or so. If you have small kids, your wife will have her work cut out for her. I honestly don't know how my mom did it.

3. Is owner operator a good plan to earn more?
I'm a company driver, but it can be. Just starting out with no experience though it is a recipe for disaster.

4. How can I be the best ? Good schools? Training facilities for self study?
Your local community college or tech school will probably offer the best training. In some states there are grants that will pay some or all of the tuition if you go to one.

5. Can a clean cut geek type make it in the industry without being slapped around? I know this sounds like a joke, but I am very serious. Is the community anything like its stereotypes or is it accepting of all people? It is always good to fit it.
You'll be fine. Unless I see you. Then I'll beat you up and give you a wedgie. Cause that's how I roll.

6. I am a good driver but not the best when it comes to directions. (I can get lost) Show stopper?
No. You'll get better.

7. Salary realistically after five years or so?
At my company, 50-70,000. But the pay here is the same regardless of your experience.

8. Am I way too old?
No.

This is not a decision I would make quickly. You've got a good skillset with IT. I'd be hesitant to just walk away from that, especially with the variety of paths you can take just by picking up certs here and there.

 

There are thousands of ex-IT "geeks" and other ex-white collar people now in the trucking workforce. You will not be an oddity at all.
No age is too old in this industry, as long as you can pass the physical. Blood pressure is the biggie!
You will find a cross section of every facet of society in this industry, ex-military from the lowest rank to high ranking officers, smart drivers with little education to smart drivers with degrees, even members of the LBGT community, and all are accepted. School teachers, college professors, firemen, policemen, merchant seamen, commercial fishermen, and on and on.
Pick a good CDL school and the longer the school the better. Some companies even specify how many hours a school must be for their new hires.
As for pay, get all the endorsements, a passport & TWIC. This opens the doors for more opportunities in driving employment and higher pay.
From my personal experience, the best pay is with tanker/hazmat. This was with tanker/hazmat endorsements, passport & TWIC. My pay avg. $65K per year. You can make this much or more in 24-36 months. Much will depend on where you live and what may be available there.
With flatbed or reefer, usually can make $35K - $50K ; some drivers do better & some do worse.

Here are some websites to look at as examples. My neighbor works for A&R Transport and makes $72K per year. The other websites are just so you can get an idea of what to look for.

A&R Transport
Marten Transport
Melton Truck Lines
Trans-system

 

Give this some serious thought. Take this into consideration, will I lose what I have by taking a lower paying job, will I like living in a truck, will this breakup my family, on and on. Trucking is stressful and tough like any other job, but it's a whole new kind of "tough." You get disrespected by shippers, receivers, other drivers, people at truck stops, traffic, dangerous truck stops, and more. But trucking has its good points!!! You'll get paid for seeing the beautiful country, going to places you've always wanted to go to, meet other drivers, and best of all.....see the beautiful trucks lit up at night!!! Where do you live so we can help you find a company if you are serious about this.

 

1. Do you love your job?
Some days are better than others, the company you drive for and your driver manager is very important.

2. Can you continue to spend time with family? Are truckers at risk for divorce?
You get 2 days off if out for 2 weeks-So OTR, for the first year is not good for family time. I would say you need your wife to sign off on the lifestyle before making the plunge.

4. How can I be the best ? Good schools? Training facilities for self study? Ask around for a good truck school. There may be financial aide available, also.

5. Can a clean cut geek type make it in the industry without being slapped around? I know this sounds like a joke, but I am very serious. Is the community anything like its stereotypes or is it accepting of all people? It is always good to fit it.
Yes you can make it but know this-you will be working 11-14 hour days, go without showering some days, endure smelly public restrooms, grumpy shipping people, etc. And driving a truck is a skill-not an easy thing to learn.


6. I am a good driver but not the best when it comes to directions. (I can get lost) Show stopper?
Everyone gets lost sometimes. Write down directions, use your truck atlas and the GPS, and you will be OK.

7. Salary realistically after five years or so?
My take, and I've only been at it 1 yr-
Team drivers can make 30-45K 1st year. Solo drivers maybe more like 25-35 K.
After 1 year, many options open up, ie line haulers like Fed Ex, local carriers, etc. They can pay well, maybe 50 K and up.
8. Am I way too old? Hell, no. Lots of people have changed careers in this economy.

 

Yes you can make a bit more as an O/O but I would be a company driver for at least a year first.

 

I was like you with a high paying office job. I got out and grew a business that eventually was bought out by a national. It was then after we were comfortable empty nesters that I went after being a seat warmer.
I did my homework and I knew what kind of people I would be willing to work with, what kind(condition) of equipment, how long i would go out for and what kind of trucking I wanted to do.

I searched and found a good fit and luckily they thought they could make me into a driver. Its been 14 months and I enjoy every minute. Had a few "oh #### moments" but lots of good times. From having breakfast and listening to the other drivers at the counter, to my customers, to laughing at the CB rants in the big cities, or l istening to experienced drivers chat out on the open highway, to seeing parts of the US and Canada that I never even thought of visiting- it has been good.
I will say this- I sure enjoy using my own washroom at home without anyone grunting and blowing their brains out beside me, where the smells are familiar and my own and no one has pissed on the seat I'm sitting on, to taking a shower without flipflops and as often as I want per day.
I have waited a day to get unloaded and I was ready to pack it in- but 99% of the time my loads are started on as soon as I'm untied. Patience is a virtue in other parts of the industry


I could be making three times the money sitting behind a desk but I've been there done that and now enjoying myself is more important.

So here is what I'm saying-With young children- I don't think you can opt out and purposely reduce your family income. If you do, then do your homework because trucking is a huge industry and where you land will really impact your family.