Looking for some Serious advice!

Shawnn-

I'd agree with the rest...now is not the best time to get into trucking. If you do decide to make the jump I would definitely make sure that your bank accounts are well stocked. I'd also have a back-up plan if things don't go as expected (don't burn any bridges). Also be aware that some companies don't hire out of Florida and that some of the ones that do tend to have trouble getting you back home.

 

Shawnn-

If you're still set on doing this then how about some specifics?

Do you have a CDL?
Do you have any "official" experience?
Are you looking to Team?
Refer/Van/Flat?

The more these guys/gals know about you the more specific their advice will be.

Good Luck!

 

You know i agree with jacks girl its hard to support a family im married and my wife has 3 kids and i have a son of my own, but at the same time i love to be on the open road and see the country, if its possible to do both the IT and drive, you said you have family that drove maybe see if you can drive with them part time just to be on the road. but if you have a family its hard to support them i only made 37k last year.
Good luck on your decission.

 

Have your buddy check and see what teams with his carrier are getting . Some are doing o.k. , others not . Many carriers give teams preference but I have seen teams post they are getting a lot less miles than they were . For some "twice the miles" is getting 2,000 miles while solos are only getting 1,000 a week .

 

That's what I meant . 3500 miles used to be good for a solo driver . Split with a team it isn't very good but many aren't doing better now .

 

Shawn,

I, as well as many know were you are coming from. I started driving in the late 70s. My life re-manifested itself multiple times over from being in the service (ARMY) to owning my own business. I have ridden the ups and downs as we all have for 30+years. I am now back in an industry riddled with problems. More then the general public knows (who's daily lives depend on us) with a government who is bailing out idiots and will not intervene in a positive action into our industry.

A report (if legitimate) on ones DAC is and can be a major problem. It can be soo easy to get one and a legal, financial, time consuming, pain in the a_ _ endeavor to remove it or even minimally correct it.

I too, am looking for a new company. Married, 49, four kids (1 new born), with $3400.00 plus in bills/living expenses every month just for them. My costs of being on the road is another story.

Plain fact, no matter what any one says. We don't make great amounts of money out here. It doesn't matter if your a company driver or a O/O. We all felt (this includes me) the financial whammy of $5.00 + gal for fuel last year. Many went under. I lost/in debt $18,000.00 in 6 months alone. I turned in my tractor and went company for some type of financial stability in the industry.

I would never hold a person back from trying something. If I understand what you have said, here is my advice. Play it safe. Let yourself be laid off because you can get unemployment ($$$) while you figure out your next future step. Keep the firm-real money rolling in. If I understand unemployment correctly you can receive benefits even while doing other things, IE school-training. Get my drift.

Good Luck

 

My Father always told me never quit a job unless you have another one lined up. However, you are in a position where you can look for companies and not starve. The better companies do not advertise that much. They don't need to because drivers stay with them until they retire most of the time. First you have to find the company then you have to be lucky and get hired. I had to wait almost 6 months before I was to be hired on the job that I had set my goals for.

You have to get out and look, talk to drivers, and check out their operation. You can download a list of trucking companies in your area from the net as long as you ask for trucking companies and not trucking jobs. Then you have to weed through the list and get rid of the companies you know are not jobs. Like truck rental and smaller trucks.

Once you have a few companies then you have to hit the bricks and go talk with them. Tell them you would like to work for them and what will it take. Show them you really want to work there and you'll be starting on a good side right out of the gate. I ended up with a major oil company and once I was hired they started spending money on me right from the beginning which is a good sign. I also had to wait until a driver retired.

So I would say stay where you are and start putting a plan or goals together. You have the time to really look and be picky. Then once you have your sights set in start saving as much money as you can because you'll most likely need it. And above all don't burn any bridges when you leave because you never know and might need to go back. Good luck.