Here's some info about me - so, am I fit for trucking? Also, other Questions..

Sit back and wait. The pros will be along shortly with REAL LIFE advice.


Pete

 

Ignore the naysayers; they'd gripe if you hung 'em with a brand new rope!
Long haul coast to coast trucking is a perfect match for someone in your situation.
Question: Do you plan to attend private cdl school or trucking company cdl school.?

Question : Where is your location; state & nearest city/town.
Shifting won't be a problem; it's different than shifting car transmissions, but no big deal; you'll learn what you need in cdl training.
Since you plan to live in the truck most of the time, go with a company that has diesel apu's. This is a power unit that you use while the trucks engine is shut off; you get heating/cooling/power for the gaming devices and computer/television. @FutureTruckerNoob

 

I think we're similar, except I do have trucking experience. I've always worked weird solo jobs and have a weird Associates Degree in Cyber Security which I've been unable to leverage into getting into any IT job.

I think it can be worth it despite parts of the job that suck. I drove 2 years with PAM Transport which I think is considered a mediocre company. I did some sitting, I did some running, but I got experience. What I really found the most annoying was the shortage of truck parking for taking my break. I usually dealt with this by trying to drive odd hours since I can be a night owl; I'd arrive in the truck stop at 5am when other trucks were pulling out to run and sleep during morning.

My main suggestion would be to explore the alternatives available to Expediters. You can run Cargo Vans, but I do hear the market is saturated with those. You can also run Straight Trucks, but the industry seems to prefer those drivers run as teams. It's worth looking into though.

The question of whether it's worth it IMO is whether you can leverage this experience into a better job. I think there are opportunities in different parts of the country for dedicated runs or even local Straight Truck or Cargo Van hauling. You might even get a local Intermodal gig running freight into or between Train Yards or delivering Fuel in Tankers.

 

At 37 give up the video games.

 

You can live in your truck full time if you're with a true over the road outfit. But not likely if you're just with a regional. That is a question to ask what ever companies you apply to.
Personally I see no advantage on the learning curve to being able to drive a stick shift four wheeler. Too much difference to give you an edge and might even be a disadvantage as you have to unlearn and then re-learn.
Being a loner is a definite advantage for a long haul driver. Probably being a gamer may help you to relax on your off hours. I'VE never been a gamer myself, but can see certain advantages to it.
You will have to learn to increase your tolerance for dealing with idiots and jerks though. This job puts you in contact with both, on a daily basis. Idiot drivers who firmly believe they are excellent drivers, and that they should always have the right of way. People who hate trucks and truckers. Dispatchers who drink a gallon of stupid before coming to work, shippers an receivers who are barely intelligent enough to find their way to work, and are so lazy that having to actually do their job pisses them off. LEOs that figure the trucking industry is made up of two kinds of people, rich ones who can gladly support the state through traffic fines, and poor idiots who are too stupid to do anything else, and whichever class they think you fit in, they figure you are a dirt bag...(They aren't all that way, but there is a significant number of them. I'm a retired LEO myself...)
Truck stop food that will give you the pukes and the schidts, and ruin your health...
I'm giving you the highlights here, I'll let someone else tell you about the BAD things with trucking!

 

I think you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain !

Do it!! Do it !!!

The addiction to video games is probably going to get worse...

 

You sound like a perfect candidate for trucking.

 

Yes, your stats are depressing.

For some reason, every weed smoking, anti social, monkey spankin, fat, limp wristed, sidewalk sissy that's a loser in life thinks that he would make a decent driver (not referring to any one specific person...just talking in general)

They watch those idiots on YouTube who know as much about truckin as a Kardashian knows about decency, take what those goofy losers say as gospel, the find their way in here and ask if we think you would be a good driver.

Driver? No. Brain dead steeringwheelholder? Absolutely. Just wait until Werner and CREngland do that awesome sunshine injection in Uranus. You will feel alive for the first time!