Is it possible to drive only 40hrs a week right out of school?

Hi am looking for my first CDL job but due to other requirements (army reserves) and family out of state, i really cant be gone 6 days a week and only home for a reset. also looking to have a life outside of work so i would like to, if possible and even though my income would take a hit, stick to 40hrs a week. ive browsed some internet forums and occasionally see guys says "i work 3 days a week and make $80-90k" which, even though they are likely OTR those days, seems like a great schedule. usually they say theyre union and if thats the case, how do I go about getting a union job? not sure if its possible but driving 14, resting 11 and repeating that 3x would be perfectly find with me to get in my 40hrs. it just seems like that even local gigs are minimum 50, sometimes 60hrs a week. Some yes like working that much but id rather make less with fewer hours. thank you for any help.

 

you wanna drive a truck, or have 'bankers hours"....

not much choice for you with no experience like the rest of us.

trucking isn't clear cut, you drive, get stuck in traffic, get stuck at the customers, etc.

best job choices for you would be a factory, if you want set hours, cuz it ain't happening in trucking.

 

Probably stay away from any otr outfits, look for local work companies that run daycabs. @Chinatown can advise companies if you give your location. Freight is slow right now, it may be difficult to find what you're looking for immediately. If you do believe the guys claiming 80-90 a year on 3 days a week consider if that is in fact true, they've probably been at a huge unionized company like ups for 30 years. Shouldn't take you long to realize truck drivers are notorious for writing cheques their ### can't cash. All that being said when you go into a company tell them exactly what you are looking for, make sure it is very clear. If they don't like it then go to the next company. I applaud you for knowing what you want out of trucking, and what you don't want. There are far more options than living in a freightliner basicly being homeless with your only excitement in life is the food option at the end of your 600 mile day.

 

Some trucking companies advertise they work with reservists so they can attend meetings and required summer active duty times.

 

Some local companies offer part time, 4 days a week, 3 days too...
But, the money ain't there.
The 2 guys I know doing it take home about 600 s week. The rest of us pull double that or better.
You can do that at Amazon.
99% liklihood you'll work every weekend too.
I'm trying like heck to avoid sounding ugly, but I think you have some pretty high expectations having zero experience.
Our new hires start on nights, Middle of the week days off.
You want days? Earn it.
Your want a weekend day off? Earn it.

 

All i said was "40 hours a week" not which days of the week, with the exception of one weekend drill per month, nor did i even specify what HOURS of the day.

Did I say id only work days? Nope
DId I say i required weekends off? Nope.

I didnt know requesting to work **only** full time hours instead of a gazillion hours a week was asking oh so much.

Cool thank you. will look for local routes.

I dont know why its considered so outlandish to dare have a life outside of work (as others in this thread have made even more clear).

 

entitlement comes (if it comes at all) to those that put in the time, and don't demand it with no experience.

good luck, but you are getting into an industry that isn't all that easy for newbies to be demanding of.

 

@ontheroadagain33 --

In the CDL world....when you start driving...with pretty much whomever...you will work with 2 clocks, every day:

• one is an 11-hour clock (for driving time)
• the other is a 14-hour clock (for on-duty time)

This is...with very few exceptions....an industry norm.

Soooooo....if you're observant at all--you can see just from the above, that trucking can and indeed does involve A LOT OF HOURS.

Your std 40-45 hour work week in trucking is fairly rare.

The answer to your original question is also highly dependent on your location (city, state)....and the jobs available there.

Having said all that.....getting a 40-hr per week CDL job with no prev experience is quite a long shot.

-- Lual

 

Where is your location? Might be some union jobs there.

 

even vocational jobs like trash pick up, is not a 40 hours a week job..construction, maybe one can, but then they need the workers to actually work the hours, especially with deadlines and labor shortages now as it is.

best to get a job in a factory or as a food server.