Dropping out of IT (and a very good salary)

Alot of people wish they could quit there corporate job and go drive a truck and see the country but there trapped with there big mortage,etc. Truck drivers get respect out here and can earn a decent check. The big question is do you want to be away from your wife and kids while you're out on the road?

 

That's me as well. I have been in IT sales at a VAR and can't stand it. The problem, like yours, the money is off the hook. At 50, I too am concerned that I am too old. However, there's plenty of people on this board that have started a successful trucking career a lot older.

 

I did the exact same thing. I worked IT for 15yrs. Been trucking for 6mos. And haven't regretted my decision once.

Do you love your job? Yes.

2. Can you continue to spend time with family? Are truckers at risk for divorce? If you're otr, u will only be home about 4 days out of the month. Yes, you will be risking your marriage. I'm divorced so this was never a consideration for me.

3. Is owner operator a good plan to earn more? You will Get a lot of different opinions on this. From what I understand, it all comes down to How good a business man you are.

4. How can I be the best ? Good schools? Training facilities for self study? I did C1 in Indy and a month training with the company. I felt prepared by the time i went solo. and like any skill, experience is king.

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.
The stereotype is mixed. You meet just as many intelligent, well kept drivers as dirty ignorant brash hillbillies. The only place u may get knocked around is, ironically, Ur dispatcher. i try not to take it personal....hes got a job to do too and we Both know how infuriating cube life can be. My advice: learn to be the squeaky wheel, but not to the point where you're downright annoying. Patience goes a long way in professional driving.

6. I am a good driver but not the best when it comes to directions. (I can get lost) Show stopper?
Get a good trucker GPS...use it intelligently (ie, with a good dose of common sense. They aren't 100 percent accurate). Get a smartphone with a solid data plan so you can Google address and cross reference addresses If u get lost.


7. am i too old? Is life too long?

One thing to keep in mind, trucking is about 20% job, 80% lifestyle. make sure to think long and hard before you take the plunge. Read everything you can, watch YouTube videos, keep posting on sites like this. Good luck

 

I'm not a truck driver, but like you have a high paying career that is loosing it's luster. I know my job is going to end, maybe a year or two at most. So I'm doing research until the next lay-off or buy-out happens.

I'm investigating drivers jobs, and there is a lot of info to sift thru.
I can recommend a few books:
Sailor of the concrete sea. This is a college book, and very pricey new, watch for used versions.
In the Driver's seat; by Marc Mayfield.

There are other good books, and some real good postings on this site about the day-to-day happenings. Teamklingon is a newer one, and there are a few lengthy Blogs that are educational when you have extra time. There is also many Utube postings, but those are more fun then educational.

One thing I've learned about driving industry; a work week of about 70 hour is common, to get all the miles to make about 40% pay over medium incomes. For some that working an extra 60% more hours for 40% more pay is hard to do. For me it's the challenges drivers face (backing, routing, weather, traffic, laws, rules and regs, equipment, loads and more) that appeal to me.

Since you have a family you might try spending an extra 20 to 30 hours a week at work, along with some weekends, and do it all for free. You might not like your job more, but your boss will love the heck out of you for it, and it will be the saddest day in the history of the company when you quit. Do this for a few months and see how your family adjusts to this, and then if you get into driving the family will like the extra time with you in your new career.

 

Hey Yohimbe there are a lot of different factors to consider. Most guys on here will tear you apart for trying to be an owner op with no experience.

I have a good friend whom I talk with weekly,he became an owner op with almost no experience (did a few months with CR England, I think 2 months) and quit, he didn't want to be away from his newborn at the time. Anyhoo, he bought a freightliner for around 27k (you go on the owner op board on here and everyone will tell you that, that was a death sentence).

He picks his load from loadboards (another no no according to the guys on the owner op board) but he has steady work everyday m-f. How's he doing you ask? He is able to raise two kids and his gf and he's buying a house in southern CA (around 300k). Also he is home everyday.

Now the downside, he is home everyday but he runs paper logs meaning he's been home and slept maybe an hour at the max and had to head back out, he definitely hustles.

You being in DC, I have no idea how the loads are but just like anything in life don't let people talk you down if it's something you really truly desire.

Now, ask yourself this and be honest....why did you consider trucking...easy money? (like I said my buddy will only get an hour of sleep a night if that working near consecutive 24 hour shifts)...do you find it glamorous? (drivers literally piss in parking lots and i've seen way too many plastics bags filled with human waste to think possible)

I know it's cliche but if you don't like your current job, go after what your passions are, as the old saying goes, "if you love your job, you will never work a day in your life". I don't have a family but even if you do run local, it will cause strain on your marriage and test the character of you and your wife (expect it could have undesired consequences).

Sounds like you need to do some real good ol fashioned soul searching...good luck with whatever you decide!

 

Keep the job you have now because you will be working many long hard hours for probably less than 1/2 of what you are making now....Trucking is exciting at first until you realise its just a job & can be a dangerous one at that....Think twice & do your homework before you make a final decision..

 

I wish I could quit my trucking job and work in an office. Driving is a rough way to make a living and that's putting it mildly.

 

you create your reality.

 

Well no not really. Finding an office job in this economy is very difficult plus being a CDL driver people think all you can do is drive. So I am basically forced to do this or not have bread on the table.

 

I have been in IT for 15 years and the money kept me around but I hated throwing away all of my knowledge for the next "hip" thing and having to relearn everything as if I was in college forever.

1. Do you love your job?

Yes, I do it for the adventure not the money since my websites still generate good income. Ironically I get paid a whole lot when that is all other truckers want. A lot of truckers who hate this job factor in all of their time in their truck as work time and try to average that out as an hourly salary. To me, I am only working when I am driving or waiting in line at shipper. I have so many gadets in this truck that I forget that I am in a truck while in sleeper.

2. Can you continue to spend time with family? Are truckers at risk for divorce?

Nope your family is gone. I was married for a short while but only got home once per month and when I saw my wife it was like she was just some woman I could have sex with and nothing more. Truckers have the highest divorce rate, and I divorced mine. Perhaps you can do OTR for nine months and go local, but note that local is less pay with more work in most cases.

3. Is owner operator a good plan to earn more?

I'm a company driver so unsure. I thought about it and my company gives us new trucks every two years and with the amount of great pay I get per week, I may stay company.

4. How can I be the best ? Good schools? Training facilities for self study?

Well yes that is obvious.

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.

I am a clean cut guy myself. I still wear expensive, nice clean clothes while other drivers wear walmart clothes with holes and dirt on them. No one bothers me, I just show up at shipper, give them paperwork, get in the door and leave. I do not socialize much with other truckers as a lot of them just complain.

6. I am a good driver but not the best when it comes to directions. (I can get lost) Show stopper?

Garmin 465t GPS. Others will disagree, but I updated my maps and been to almost state/city including Canada and it is NEVER WRONG! Well, it made two mistakes but they were easy to figure out.

7. Salary realistically after five years or so?

Depends, so many drivers, especially on this forum just drive for the well known companies that pay crap $300 - $600 per week like Swift, Werner, CR England, Schnieder. I started out making $900 - $1100 per week and now make $1200 - 1600 per week. Not sure what the future holds.

8. Am I way too old?

Nope

Whatever company you choose make sure they do not govern your truck to 62 miles per hour and it has an APU.