I'm an Police Officer and I have 13 years of service. Have received numerous awards, even Officer of the year. My love is the big rigs. I obtained my CDL this Jan. and have been driving part time since. I've wanted to drive trucks since I was a kid. Wife has a great job with benefits. Kids are older and I would love to become an owner operator. Never had a ticket or gotten in any type of trouble. God has really blessed me. Can't leave the Dept for two years because at 15 years I lock my retirement and healthcare so when I turn 55 I will receive them. I would like to be prepared when that time comes for me to leave with my three years of driving experience. I have money to put down at least half for a tractor costing 30-40.
My questions are
1. What should I should be doing right now outside of getting driving experience,
2.what companies cater to someone that has a law enforcement background, college graduate and even has had a Goverment securty clearance in the past. I'm looking to maximize my earning potential. And any suggestions on which field to enter- flatbed, refer, etc. I'm a big guy that actually enjoys working hard. The Police career has been a good one but it's just not my love- trucks are. And if you tell me the harder I work the more money I will make is the key to success, I won't have a problem. Please send me any and all suggetions. Thanks.
Need your advice For My Future
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by fkm, Oct 13, 2008.
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I know landstar has some divisions that haul military contracts where the secrity clearance couldn't hurt.
Why is it so many cops want to drive trucks?? -
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If I may ask, who do you work part time for? A local or national company? I'm going to get my CDL soon and want to drive part time, too; however, I've found that everyone I've looked at so far only wants full time people. Seems they want to keep the truck running and not sitting - I can understand that. Although I haven't exhausted all possiblities searching for a job because I don't even have my CDL yet, it just seems like a trend I've noticied in the little I have looked.
Ultimately I'd like too get hooked up running shipping containers out of the Port of Baltimore north into PA - Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Carlisle, etc... Eventually working up to becoming an O/O and having a good side business established for when I retire in another 10 years.
The only suggestions I can offer you though would be to maybe get your HAZMAT endorsement which can maybe open up more doors regarding your police/security background. Of course, this is coming from someone who's not even in the business yet, so take it for what it's worth....fkm Thanks this. -
I drive locally for a friend who owns 6 trucks. He does everything from van to flatbed locally and regionally. I don't get alot of hours just yet because times are hard and his full timers are good workers. I am just trying to build up my resume in the truck seat and after 1-2 years, I will be able to work at a bigger company. We have alot of part time positions in this area but they all want at least 1 year of experience.
And for the reason I want to be a truck driver --- I've always loved trucks. I love the independence, the traveling and just being your own boss. The Police job is a love/ hate relationship because when I leave for work at night I might not be coming home. Don't get me wrong, it's filled with some great times but in the end I'm paid pennies for what I endure on a daily basis. I tell my family all the time that I deal with the worst of the worst people on a daily basis. I wish I wouldve went the Firefighter way because right now I would be asleep in my bed or eating lunch or exercising or watching TV in my lazy boy and only working 2-3 days a week. Ha ha just kidding.
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I have the utmost respect for all of you firefighters and law enforcement people. What you do warrants much more pay than what you get along with a lot more respect than what you get. A big thank you to all of you!
fkm Thanks this. -
I really only have a few suggestions for you: 1). stay right where you are for now! you are getting some seat time and have the oportunity to try different things(ie flatbed, reefer etc.). If you can ride along once in a while, even for free, just to get more experience on loads etc.
2). wouldnt hurt for you to get the hazmat as well as the TWIC card(transportation workers idenification credentials) This is supposed to be needed to get into ports, starting this past Sept. I believe.
3). Keep reading everything you can here! Seriously, the info and expertise available from actual drivers is invaluable! But you probably figured that out, thus the thread. -
What part of MI are you in? My suggestion is keep doing what you're doing to build up experience, once you have some solid experience there are companies that will work with you part time doing deliveries and pick ups. To name a few, Van Eerden, Van Kampen, Koleaseco, Feb 14th.... Even though i wouldnt suggest Feb 14th as they pay pennies. What you mainly would do is run from the GR area to detroit and muskegon with the 1st 3 i mentioned, they run the west coast and you would be taking the produce loads in to unload at places like meijer,the produce terminal in detroit, kroger in livonia etc. Then in muskegon you would pick up herman-miller stuff and bring back to GR for the guys who run west. Koleaseco has a program where singles run to NE, IA, MO with loaded trailers and then swap with a team and bring their load back to MI while the team heads back west. Once you fully retire and are ready to roll in your own truck then you can lease on with Van Eerden or Koleaseco, they will keep you busy and yes the harder you run the more you will make. All they do is reefer, mainly produce from places like CA, AZ, OR, WA, ID, NM, TX, and also they do lots of FL, The furniture loads pay pretty good and are light going out so you would be doing good as they pay % for O/Os and would get good millage pulling it. Produce always pays good with those guys coming back in from the west as well, ive hauled some loads for them....
Now please Officer, when you see a big black/white W900 KW yanking a spread axle reefer (see sig) smoking excessivley please dont give that guy a ticketfkm Thanks this. -
fkm Thanks this.
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Wish me luck, I'll be taking my CDL learner's permit test on Friday.
And thank you Lilbit for the kind words.fkm Thanks this.
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