My story...and how I got to this point.

So here I am, sitting in a true dead end job. No opportunity for advancement, no pay raise in the last three years because of the “economy”, and they just raised the cost of our benefits for the 5th time in the last 2 years. I watch my manager pull up in his nice new BMW he got in part because he in fact got a pay raise and a bonus. Whenever a management job come up, they hire someone from outside the company, “cant afford to lose anyone off the floor, it would slow production down” I have been told the last few times I tried to apply for an open position.

I ended up here 5 years ago after 11 years working as a helicopter structures mechanic, fiberglass and carbon fiber specialist to be exact. Union job, great bene’s, awesome people to work with. Then they closed down our facility, outsourced all of our work to China, paid us a severance and off we went. Union did its best to bargain and fight for us, but in the end it was over. I worked under the FAA License of our employer, to get my own would require me to invest about 15K of my own money to get a license, I didn’t, and never did have that kind of money laying around. So I took the job I have now working for a boat hull construction company doing fiberglass work.

About 6 months ago my brother told me about his brother in law. He had taken a job as an OTR driver after going to cdl school, and made some really good money driving a truck.

So, I started researching a bunch about becoming a professional driver. I have always loved being on the road. Just being able to see the different things out of the window as I pass by are often the things I will remember most about one road trip or another. The huge metal cross I saw in Missouri, or the big roach on top of that building in Providence….stuff like that.

Well my research led me here, I read all the stuff by Open Road Guy…where did he go?, amd CHRALB, and stuff by Wedge and what not.

So to make this shorter, Yes I have a family, Yes I have discussed this with them, and Yes I have their support. My step daughters are both teenagers and my Wife thinks this is such a good idea she may want to join me on the road in 4 years when both girls are graduated and off to life as an adult.

Does anyone out there have any advice whatsoever regarding training schools. I apllied for financial aid to attend TDDS on ohio (I live in PA), but am also considering company training through Central Refrigerated, Roehl and Stevens. I applied to all three this morning and Stevens has already called. I understand the contract thing and working for lower wages, but really, I am the type who looks long term and everybody had to start somewhere. I beleive hard work gets you whatever you need in life, except at my current job, I just want a career I can work hard at and get paid for my hard work. A couple of lean years will pay off if I work hard.

I plan on making the most of this, , I never pretend to be perfect, and just want an opportunity to make life better, and maybe eventually one day maybe 10 years from now have a truck I can call my own.

Any advice would be awesome and appreciated, sorry this is so long, I have a way with words I guess…..LOL

 

Why not crew on a charter yacht? Hanging out in a harbor is a lot more fun than hanging out in a truck stop.

 

Welcome to the forum, and possibly to the world of trucking. You are going to hear a lot, I mean a LOT of negative feedback on here, particularly about all of the companies that are considered "training companies."

It is not necessarily all sour grapes, either. Most of these companies will use you, screw you and then throw you away, if they get the chance. But it is obvious that you are no young kid who has never been around the block before. From what you are posting, I'd say you stand as good a chance of making it, as anyone will.

I know that you feel you are in a dead end situation right now. And maybe you are. But only you know, if you are able and willing to risk taking a pretty good leap without much of a safety net to get into trucking. If you are pretty well set financially, you should be fine. But if you are currently living from one paycheck to the next, you really need to do some more research on this.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

I remember how i ended up here as well. I used to be an architect's apprentice making good money and all that good stuff had myself a 98 Firebird and liked the money but i remember sitting at my desk one day thinking man i hate my job, its so boring and so repetitive and i dought i would ever make a full blown architect position so I went home that day and started looking around. I wanted to travel I wanted good money and i wanted to keep on moving. none of this crap of get off a plane and go to a business meeting CDL driving fit the bill perfectly But i was only 21 and seeing how most company's want you at least 23 i had to wait a few years. so few years came and went and now here i am.

As for your training shell out for a school. Most times when your trained by a company they over step and skip a few things... than your locked in for low wages and how long your with them and if your fired or quit from that job your expected to pay them back... i dont know if theres any out your way but i went to a sage school and they come highly recommended as they will teach you what you need to know. there not in it only for the money there in it to make you into a trucker as well.

 

Good story and I look forward to reading more of your posts. As a newbie, listen to your instructors once you get too school. If you know anything about a truck or trucking, forget about it and listen. Take notes as needed and study hard. The road to me was like hell week for a fraternity at college: it will break or make you. Those that have a will to survive will make it. If you have questions, please post away. Remember, there is no stupid question in this industry.

KH

 

Thanks Big Don for the words of encouragement. I would not say i was totally set financially, but I can live on what we have in savings for the next year or so if I had to. I Inherited our house from my grandfather, only maintenance no mortgage to pay for, and the place is in all right shape no major work needed. As far as the risk goes, yeah I know its a huge risk, but at this point in my life If I do not take a risk, I'm afraid either that it will pass me by or I will forever regret it.

I'm still in heavy heavy research mode, even though I did apply for those companies, I am not jumping on the first offer i get untill I am comfortable with everything I can find out about them.

I know there are a ton of negative-heads on here, I have been reading it all for a few months now, but for every negative person there seem to be some genuine nice people willing to shed a good point or words of encouragemnt.

It took forever to get to the point of posting on here, but here I am lol.

 

Never been much for water, I'm a mountain type of guy myself.....and I get seasick, not to mention last time at the beach a jellyfish stung me in the backside, couldnt sit down for a week.....i'll pass.

 

How about being happy that you made the recognition about your personal situation and now have a willingness to change for something better. Trucking can be fun if used in the proper context. It will be demanding, fun, worrisome, and a host of other things to come. Just remember that you have a major support group in the trucking industry as a whole, a plether of knowledge here on the forum and you have the common sense to jump ship from that wreck of job you were on. Hopefully you have the best of luck going forward and make a boat load of money!, oh wait you gonna be a trucker forget the $$ just have fun lol!

 

I have no issues listening. I figure if someone is taking the time to share something with me or show me how to do something it is worth listening to. I'm not much for questioning authority or complaining about something. If someone is asking me to do it, it probably needs to be done.

Thanks for advice, it is appreciated sir.

 

Welcome and good luck. With the approach you are taking you'll do fine.