Mid-life career change

Well, as my title implies, I am making a mid-life career change. Let me explain why...

After over 20 years in the electronic industry, I found myself without a job at the end of September of last year. The guy I was working for was struggling to keep the business afloat and had to layoff most of the employees. In fact, it was my fourth layoff that year (2013). It seems the area where I live (Indiana) isn't the hotbed of job activity in electronics anymore. So, for the first time in my life, I filled for unemployment. I have never been one to ask for a handout and have always worked since I was a teenager, but with a the bills that go with life, I had to file. I wanted to get back to work as quickly as possible and I tried to find a job in my field all over the U.S., but so was everyone else.... Since I am a veteran, I thought I might go back to school, get a degree and go from there. I was also considering going to a local CDL school and driving a truck. At that time, school won out and I am just finishing my first semester back in college. It seems my streak of bad luck hasn't run out yet because I just found out the other day that I will not be able to continue in school. Remember the unemployment? Well, I was using that to pay my child support while I was using my GI Bill and grants to pay for school and everything else. If you have been following things in Washington D.C., then you'll know that the emergency unemployment program that they put into action a few years ago, ran out at the end of last year. At that time, there was positive talk that the benefits would be extended further since the unemployment rate was still high. Just the other day, the Senate just barely passed a 5 moth extension of benefits that would be retroactive to January 1st and end on May 31st which is a little over a month away. Another issue is that the extension it isn't expected to pass through Congress because of stiff opposition, and you can see where that leaves me. Not doing very well. My state benefits just ran out and in order to pay my child support, I have to have a good job. Bye school, hello job search.

All of that brings me to today. Non-entry level jobs that pay well are scarce and the competition is fierce. I am not even going to try. Been there, done that. What I am doing is considering trucking again. I am not married, and can be away from home for extended periods of time. I do have three boys which I can spend time with during home time. They know "Dad" is having a rough time job wise and may not be able to be there each and every time. I have awesome boys. I have been doing my research and I really feel that trucking is the way to go. I have a clean driving record. I don't use illegal drugs. I am in good health. I love to drive. I still have my GI Bill and grants, so I can pay for the school and not have to attend one of the company sponsored schools. I don't think I want to go that route. They all sound like driver mills. I don't mean to offend anyone if that is how you got in to trucking, it just isn't for me. I will be making a decision over the weekend and hopefully be driving later this summer. I am looking at Maverick, TMC, Stevens, and GTI. I have read more negative things about a lot of companies than good and am trying to stay away from them. I know that everyone has an opinion and not everyone has had good experiences with some of these companies, but some have.

So, now that I have your undivided attention (insert evil laugh), I would like to hear what anyone has to say about your experiences, why you got in to trucking, what you like about it and what you don't like. Are there things you would do differently? Any recommendations that you have, or anything else that comes to mind. I would love the help and input.

 

Thank you for the information. Are you serious about the $55K-$65K? Most things I have read report a considerable amount less than that. If I could earn that much, that would be great.