Major personal fork in the road, could use some advice :)

Priority one is your Grandparent. From what I have read, You are on the right track. You have a lot going for you. Keep a perfect driving record, and then the sky is the limit. Try hooking up with Conway, Very good company, and you can work local, be home everynight to check on your Grandparent. I just hope you dont abandon your Grandparent for a job. Good Luck, and Let us know how you do.

 

Was it Yogi Berra that said (among other things): "When you come to a fork in the road, take it"?

You sound like you've got a good head on your shoulders. I'm sure whatever you decide will be made to work for you by you.

Good luck man!

 

Welcome to the TTR Forum.

If you have $10,000 - $20,000 cash and 2 -3 years OTR experience buying your own truck might be a good idea. Otherwise I'd avoid it. If you want to research the idea read all the docked threads under the "Ask An Owner Operator" section. Maybe you should read these threads first to see if you are really interested:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/146942-how-to-become-an-owner-operator.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/147854-what-would-experienced-o-o-buy.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/125507-what-estimated-operating-costs-o-o.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/148340-keeping-track-o-o-operating-costs.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/134211-no-experience-but-getting-authority.html

IMHO, it is quite simple in trucking. Do you want money or home time? Now I'm a little harsh about it because when I started in 1979 I knew I was trading home time for money. It was nothing to be out two months back in the good ole days.

Today everyone seems to think anybody can drive a truck and make a fortune while still being home every weekend and maybe some during the week. While it seems the industry is taking more of a regional approach miles suffer. Trucking is about moving freight to make money for the company. Do it well enough and you will make good money. The single thing most new drivers are missing now days are realistic expectations.

There are jobs that offer one week on, one off and six days on, six days off. Just remember you are working half the time and don't expect to be paid for more. Let's do some math, and be realistic about miles. Let's assume 3000 miles (probably high for an average) a week at .38 CPM. Remember you may not be able to do this week in and week out. Any way 3000 * .38 = $1140. Now, 1140 * 26 (half the weeks in a year) = $29,640 gross or about $24,000 net before you pay for insurance and expenses on the road. $29,640 is equivalent to $14.25 per hour on a 40 hour a week job. Sure it's nice to have half the time off if you can afford it.

I can make $35 - 45,000 doing HVAC service and be home every night and only be on call once every three weeks. I'm in trucking for money. You only make money by "making a hand" and that means running miles, usually as many as you can legally with the situation.

Schneider has many of these so many days on, so many days off jobs. They post them on their website so you can get an idea if they would fit you. If there are none in your area check another area to get an idea what might become available. They post average miles and pay in CPM. Sometimes they post average annual pay.

Good luck.

 

Guyslady drives a real strong recommadation. Get that one however you can. Family is the one thing that keeps a person going other than themselves. Where you are at in this point of life had something to do with the influence of family and friends wether good or bad. It seems that you have a great heart in you wanting to care for family. If it means putting up with this job of yours for a longer period of time just to be with your family than be it. When I started driving I was OTR. I was glad things worked out the way they did just 4 months after I started driving. My Mom in law was sick with cancer and her health was slowly declining. I left the OTR job and went home to be with her, I dont regret that for one milisecond. Jobs come and go but when family and friends are gone, they are gone and all you will have are the memories built up by being with them.

 

BigJohn is right you aren't make do-diddly driving for a week and taking a week off. Sadly to say but unless you go out for 8-10 weeks at a time you aren't going to make money truck driving. Yes there are some exceptions (for you naysayers). For instance during your week out what if you sit for three days or breakdown? Instead of making it up the next week you will be at home. I personally believe that this whole week on week off program that these companies do is just a scam to help keep their seats warm. They realize once you are hired on and see you aren't making any money then you will either drive full time or quit. Just a ploy to get drivers.

Sorry, not being negative just giving it to you straight. Stick to your local gig! There are many otr drivers out there right now that would give their nut for your job!

 

Being out 8-10 weeks is the only way to make money? You are working for the wrong company!

It's advice like this that cause people to make moronic decisions.

 

No kidding. Im home weekly and make a comfortable living. sometimes for a 34, most times two full days. IMO anything over two weeks is silly, your not gonna make that much more money, again just my opinion.