gob/bad/any advice accepted

Been a barber my entire adult life, dad was a barber, grandfather was a barber. Worked in the family owned shop up here in Reading basically whole life. Grandfather retired gave it to my Dad, Dad retired gave it to me. Reading is consistlently ranked one of the poorest cities in the U.S., google it you will be shocked. Because of the economy had to close the shop 2 years ago, that and a lack of customers, everyone worth anything is moving out of this city. I've been working in some other shops, but it is getting really old. Nobody pays you with a check, it's all cash, no bene's, no respect. It gets really old after a while.

My wife lost her good job last year as well. Now instead of a nice office job, she is working full time at a bbq joint, in a kitchen with no air conditioning. It breaks my heart to see her come home after a double shift totally exhausted, dehydrated, and emotionally spent. I'd do almost anything to eventually get her out of that kitchen.

We were never rich, at one time comfortable, but not rich. Bills were paid, and vacations were earned. But now we are surviving, just surviving. Nothing for retirement, nothing for vacations, her oldest daughter, my stepdaughter, at age 15 has started picking up shifts at the same bbq joint just so she could have money to go out with friends and stuff.


Been considering doing something, anything, for a while now. With a true lack of quality jobs here in Reading, I began looking at a number of different options. One of my long time clients is a Truck Driver, took him to lunch one day, and here I am on the verge of going into this field of work. Wife is cool with it, kids are 15 and 13 (stepdaughters) and both really good students and responsible around the house. My pops tells me to go for it because he is convinced Reading is the center of the coming apocoplypse and tells me to get out all the time.

I'm not as old as I make it seem, mid 30's (feel like 50 sometimes).

I know the negatives, away from home a lot, pay is not what it should be, dangerous. But there really seems to be some positives as well, like benefits (we had to drop ours because we couldnt afford them), 401k programs, and such.

So I will ask you all here for some advice. Give me good, give me bad, give me indifferent, but give me something.

And I am also curious to hear from some people who came to Trucking after being in another field for a while. Why did you do it, why are you still doing it, and how much longer do you plan on doing it.

I've also read up on some guys who own their own Trucks. I'm not looking to be an owner for a long time, if ever. But my background is that of a business owner, so I will never say never. But I do agree that I should not sign the dotted line for a lease, see I have been reading for a few weeks.

Well, that felt good getting things off my chest. I look forward to beginning this conversation with everyone.

 

I've been weighing out everything as far as school goes. I'm looking into going to one of the local truck driving schools. Sage has a program about 45 minutes away from here, and Smith and Solomon are maybe 45 minutes as well. I'm going to visit Smith and Solomon tomorrow morning to get all the details. Hopefully they will offer some financing options because I've seen some of these programs costing upwards of $5,000. I'm also stopping by the career link (PA unemployment) office tomorrow to see if I qualify for one of those WIA grants. I was ineligible when I closed my shop because the state said it was "voluntary", when in reality the only thing voluntary about it was that I handed over the keys instead of the bank taking them from me.

I also have given due diligence to the company sponsored route. I know, everyone says stay away, but honestly I have to start somewhere, and the idea of little or no money out of pocket right now is a very good idea. I , in no way will I sign a lease if I go this route, but we will have to wait and see if I can get financing another way first.


Puppage- thanks, I knew others out there had similar situations, glad you spoke so.

Met828- Yeah I know other areas are hit hard. We jokingly call Reading "Detroit East". Sad when every year the governor in our state tells everyone that our economy is growing and they are creating jobs and houses are selling again, only to have Forbes come out a week later and list us as the "Poorest City" in the WHOLE UNITED STATES. Within the past 4 years 7 of the 15 houses on my street became vacant because of foreclosure, and my neighbor across the street is trying to sell his home on short sale right now, so it could soon be 8. So far we are good with our mortgage, but it's tough figuring out what has to be sacrificed every month to make it. And the fuel idea isn't a bad Idea at all, i've added to my list of research for tonight.

Flatbed- good to hear others are doing this as a second career. Not looking to make this a stop gap at all, but I'm sure a thousand bright eyed men and women come on here a year and say the same thing. All I know is that I am a pretty hard working guy, strong work and personal ethics, and motivated. I've read a lot about this being a business where the really successful people are the self starting highly motivated types. They treat a company job like it's their own business and do everything that is asked of them. I'm not really the "buck the system" type of guy. I've always gone out of my way to get what needs to be done DONE, and I also am not the type that gets rattled easily, or persuaded by the "negative nancy" type either. I worked in Barbershops, someone always complaining, or moaning, or trying to win you over to their side about something. I have always stuck to my beliefs, made my own decisions, and cheered for MY baseball team, not theirs (Die hard Orioles fan right in the middle of Phillies land).

Wildblackyonder- good tip on the exercise. About 10 years ago after the divorce to my first wife I ballooned out to about 250 from my normal weight of about 175. I'm only 5 ft 8 so 250 made me look like 500. Amazing how a simple 20-30 minute walk and stretch can get you losing weight. I'm currently about 190, but it feels way better than 250. Good to see your family is supportive and doing well. Again, I am sure 1000 people come on here and say my family will be fine and they aren't. All I know is that we both realize that if we are ever going to get out of hell we have to work to do it. It's both of our second go arounds at the marriage thing anyway, we don't play games, we are brutally honest with each other even when it sucks, and trust each other implicitly. I don't think me being away for weeks at a time will be that big of a deal, as it is right now we can go a week without seeing each other as it is, her getting home at midnight or later, me waking up at 430am, we've learned to text and chat on phone a lot. This could get her out of that kitchen sooner than later, and that is all that really matter to both me and my stepdaughters.