Looking for some Serious advice!

This is simply the wrong time to leave a good paying job to start a new career, at least in truucking. Stright truth fot the first couple of year your income will probalby be around 40K with little regard as to where you go. Leaving the IT field now IMHO is a mistake, there are changes getting ready to hit that will change the way we communicate, internet, music, TV the whole bannana is getting ready to change. My oldest daughter is in IT for a router company in the central coast area, and she probably makes 2 times more per year then I do, Last 3 years for me were (59K, 62K, 61K), I have been driving long enough to have 3 million accident & incident free miles.

Most of the thing with the companies is personality conflicts between drivers and driver managers, Your driver manager controls your whole life, Your ex military so I expect you have the skills to negoicate your way there minor bad situations. I also do not think you will find a big spread in the salarys. I would probably stay away from Swift. I expect maybe Interstate may be better than average, or Gordon.

Good Luck, Gods Speed

 

I think that $40,000 is beyond realistic expectations . For many earning $.26 - $.30 a mile 2,000 miles a week is better than average . Many only get 1,000 miles a week .

 

Welcome to the forums, shawnneefl

I have to agree with Powder Joints on this one. My deal was almost opposite from you. I was in the Army, became an OTR driver and, after an injury, ended up in the IT field. I still drive from time to time, as I have family and friends in the industry, but IT is what I do full time. The way things are, at present, students are having an increasingly togh time finding spots.

What do you do in IT?

 

I would like to tell you don't change jobs, if you are making steady money stay there. But I'm guessing you have your mind made up and are tired of what you do. Hey, is there anyway you can do both. could you work part time trucker part time IT. Have a little bit of both worlds.

We own our own truck now so I can't tell you the company thing but i can tell you take what Recruiters say with a huge grain of salt, talk to the drivers, the guys that have kids, find someone that lives in your area.

keep in mind who can get you home, how long will they keep you out, what kind of insurance do they have, do they have 401K. Do you keep the same truck all the time. Can you take a kid or a pet on the road do they charge you for a rider policy.

We worked 11 years with Crete Carrier check into them. they used to be good used to have great health insurance for the company driver. they also had a family rider program.

If i was you i would look hard and long before you jump. Go out to the truck stops and talk to some of the people you plan on going to.

If it was me and I had to go company I would look at Crete first, then JB hunt, then Schneider, but can you get on at those places. do you have a CDL. Would you have to have traning.

Take great thought as the bible says to what you will need and how much time with no work you will have. I would have enough money in the bank to cover bills for a few months while you figure things out. Find ouf it things dont work out can you get your old job back.

Just do as much planning and thinking that you can and you have came to the right place to start.

Good luck and we'll talk more later.

Jacks Girl

 

By the way we all get burned out, maybe a change within what you do, Goto Cellular, electronic media management (ABC NBC CNN). Everybody needs good IT people.

 

I too would suggest you stay where you are. being "burned out" at your current position is NOT a very good reason to gamble on changing jobs, not in this economy. also, if you're making $57K a year, you won't make HALF that much even IF you can find a job in OTR trucking, AND you'll be putting in TWICE the hours for that money. if you think you're burned out now, just wait until you have to sit for 2 or 3 days in a urine soaked truck stop parking lot waiting on your next load assignment.

 

Shawn have you ever thought about what it'd be like not seeing your boy and wife for weeks at a time,spending your reset in a urine soaked parking lot like Chief said hundreds of miles away from home while you could be home with wife and kids.
Think about that before you quit your job,there ain't a job in this world where you don't get burned out at every now and than Shawn believe me I'm 45 years old been there and done that.
I hang around this forum to study this trade because I happen to be a millwright in a papermill which is in a heavy death spiral right now.
I would try trucking if something was to happen to my job,but I'm not going to quit my job,that's me though.

 

I've been with Crete since August and I like them, the miles jump up and down each week, depending on where you unload as to how soon you get a load.
Sounds like you know what OTR trucking is all about, it's a more of a lifestyle. I say do it, if you want to. Why not?