I'm a potential college dropout, should trucking be a plan 'B' for me?

what was your major? dont drop out, youre still young. try jr college to get your gpa up (its a lot cheaper) and you can transfer your units. i have my BS but i regret not taking college more seriously. people might flame me but trucking sucks and its not a lifestyle you want. im here to save up to get my masters than im getting the hell out. its not what it used to be, its a meat market, too many desperate people willing to drive for crap wages pretty much ruined the industry.

 

What he said

 

I assume from your post and age that you are almost finished with your degree? In any case, I would advise you to first do whatever you need to do in order to complete your degree. You will need to be at least 23 before most carriers will hire you. Many require new people to be at least 25. Once you complete your degree then you can decide which way you want to go. There are a lot of drivers out here today who have a BS or MS degree. I have met a few with a MBA or PhD. Anything can happen where you might not be able to drive in the future. You might even find after several years that you would prefer doing something other than driving a truck. Having a degree offers you options that someone without a degree will not have available to them. If you were to become ill or get hurt where you could no longer drive, it would be much easier to find a new career with a degree.

If you decide to pursue driving as a career it would be better if you could pay for your own schooling. The least expensive way would be to find a community college or state vocational school that offers CDL training. Your other option would be a private school. Make sure that they are accredited if you go that route. Some carriers do offer CDL training in exchange for a commitment to work for them after you get your CDL. You will need to agree to work for them for at least 1 year. At one time CRST had a 6 months commitment. As far as I know, that was the shortest time commitment of any of the other training carriers.

This is one career where you can continue to work as long as you can pass the physical and have a decent MVR and CSA score. If you move around from carrier to carrier, you may find it more difficult to find the better carriers. Most of the better carriers want to see no more than 3 jobs within the last 3 years. It can be a good career. After the first year you can begin to earn an above average income. The down size is the ever expanding burden of over regulation by the government. It seems never ending. This will be a career unlike anything else that you might want to do. It can be demanding. It is also rewarding, even with all the regulations. There is a high turnover rate. I think many come into this industry with false or unrealistic expectations. You will be away from home for extended periods of time. You may miss some holidays and family events due to your work. If it is something you enjoy then you will make adjustments. Most carriers try to get drivers home on special holidays and as needed for personal business, but it is never guaranteed.

Whether you decide trucking is for you or not, I would encourage you to complete your studies. I guarantee that you will regret it later in life if you don't. It is much more difficult to finish your education once you stop and start working. Besides, you have come this far and accumulated a lot of debt for your degree. It would be a shame to waste all that effort and money and not have something to show for it.

 

Stay in school or trade school... It keeps getting worse out here and wages don't really change. You will regret getting out of school... If you get in trucking and last for a few years, you will always be chasing that carrot at the stick and make just enough money to be afraid to get out of it. Just my 2 cent opinion..

 

Perhaps you have been pursuing the wrong degree. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. I recall an older woman who got her degree when she was in her 80's. It is never too late. Since it is marginal on your age to get into trucking you may want to consider going by your career services center and see if they offer the Strong Test. There are several personality or preferences tests that are usually offered by colleges and universities when students are unclear as to what they want to do with their lives. Perhaps they could point you in a different direction that you may not have considered. There is usually no cost involved with currently enrolled students. I am not trying to dissuade you from trucking but trying to encourage you to not drop out of college. Even if you only complete your Associates degree.

 

what do you enjoy doing? if a four year degree isnt your thing, go to trade school, persue what you enjoy and you will be successful. you are lucky because youre young, considered enlisting? a ton of people would kill to be in your shoes. remember life isnt easy, work hard and reap the rewards. i believe my fellow drivers on this forum are above the rest....but youre looking at an industry that openly takes felons....what does that tell you

 

This guy has his mind made up. He's going to throw away all his time getting educated to get in a truck. We see these posts on here all the time. These guys believe the hype they see in commercials and hear from recruiters and people at trucking schools but they won't listen to real drivers. The consensus nowadays is to stay out of trucking. But if you want in so bad don't say we never warned you.