Making a career change, could use some advice

Well to be honest. I think a man with your education could work in Management. You have an interest in Trucking and Trucking needs men/women like that to be honest. Local work is very very hard now days. I am serious. Until we can convince our youth to stop protesting and get back to work. I would hold off right now. Good luck though in everything you do. Look on the sunny side of life. Take care.

 

Get the Class-A because Class-A is also good for driving a Class-B truck, but not the other way around.
Many box trucks and hotshot trucks require a Class-A license.

 

Ignore the negatively; if trucking is so bad, why are the complainers still doing it?
Why is this forum so popular with positive, upbeat, career truckers, if trucking is such a horrible career?
Some drivers with only a high school diploma or GED or less are making well over $100K per year as truckers. It's easy to make that after 12 mos. experience with line haul companies such as R&L Carriers, Estes Express, Old Dominion Freight Line, and a few more.

 

Trucking is not for everyone. Especially those with small children at home or someone that wants to work the hours and be home every night like you expect to. It’s not going to happen at least for several years starting out. You expect to make 50-60K and be home every night? Lol
You might make 40K starting out. Your wife will be pissed over the time you are away from home just to make that. Trucking’s been good for me but I’ve been at it 42yrs. Lots of sacrifices along the way though.

 

Trucking has changed, it's easy to make $60G the first 12 mos. after training is complete.
Food service drivers can make $90G and be home every night.
Lots of new drivers on this forum were shocked when they made over $60G their first year right out of cdl school.
Some companies have a guarantee of so much per week such as $1200 per week.

 

Every generation of truck drivers, since trucks were invented, say trucking is going down and has changed so much it's just horrible.
My uncle was saying that in the 1940's from what my relatives say. He was always griping about all the crap he has to deal with.
Drivers are retiring early because they can; if they couldn't afford to retire, they wouldn't.
All the people telling you how horrible trucking is, are still driving and wouldn't do anything else.
I gave you a list of companies that are local and be home every day.
JRayL Transport is one of them.

 

When I first started driving, old timers constantly told me what a horrible mistake I was making. The world is coming to an end; your wife and 4 children will hate you and leave you; it's just horrible; everyone will hate you and make your life miserable. I asked many of them why they still drive and most had the same answer, "Oh, I'm looking, I'm looking, I've got some good job leads, so I'm gone any day now." Some of those guys had been driving for decades and loved to sit around the coffee counter in trucks stops and complain.
I ignored them all and sure glad I did.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) there were 2,029,900 heavy-duty truck and tractor-trailer drivers in the US in 2019. That’s up from 1,871,700 in 2016. This is projected at 2,060,500 by 2029.
So, ask yourself, are 2,060,500 truck drivers wrong?