R and D's big adventure at Knight Transportation. Wait, really? Yes Knight!

Lol. Just don't know what to say..... You ever consider KTS Kelles transport service?

 

No, I think me and the wife have come up with a plan, we are going to move to the bay area so I can get a local job and she can find a job w/her shiny but so far unused business degree. There just aren't any jobs in the Central Valley.

 

Oh, final straw times two today. First, as of yet, no layover pay for the BS from this weekend. Second, found out that the new insurance won't cover my wife's medical problem if she has to have a second surgery because it's a "Pre-existing" condition. Ditto for my BP meds.

 

Yeah, I hear you there. I have Family in Tulare, King City, Capitola so I kind of know that valley pretty well. Best wishes your way and enjoy reading your post.

 

If you want a local job driving truck that pays good $$$ and has a future, move to N. Dakota and work in the Oil & Gas Industry (where unemployment is near 0%).....and with the new increase in population, I'm sure that your wife can easily get a job also.....but staying in CA with their 10+% unemployment (and will get worse with their poor state congress running amuck!), as well as competing with thousands of other drivers (many Hispanic) is a losing cause.

Personally, having lived in the boonies of Montana, plains of CO, rural WI, ergo 'cold countries,' I would still rather live in the Dakotas (have some beautiful rolling hills, gold country, etc.) than in the SF Bay area...you can plan your retirement in the sunny W/SW but go where the work is.....

BTW, I've seen advertised as being a shortage of truckers up there, can get top $$$ for your 'skills' and experience---will carry drilling mud, oil tankers, pipe, supplies, etc , many diff job types.

 

FYI: You mentioned that your wife was a 'horse lady,' and I raised one---my daughter at 11 yo starting cleaning stables for riding lessons, 'baby-sat' horses & stables when the gentlemen ranchers (and their wives) went out of town, was in 4H, and became a 'wrangler' saddling up horses & leading trail rides in HS. Later in life, was married and lived on 5 acres with 2 horses outside of town in CO. Only gave up her horse love after having 3 boys and moving into town to be close to their activities---but plans on having horses again after the boys get into HS and then leave the nest.

Plans can be deferred but not given up on!

One more thang: you can make more $$$ as a local driver in the O&G industry than as an OTR working for a big co.! I'm hearing over $100K/yr. Living in the valley in CA in that litle town where you currently live shows that you & wife are not crowded-suburban type folk---get away from all the traffic; and if you 2 are 'outdoors' types, can find some breathing space, and some beauty anywhere you live....if I was a young, single driver, I'd be up there in an instant!

BTW, as hard up as they are for truckers, you're 'desertion' ding wont bother them if you can talk to them and have a clean driving record otherwise......

 

The only problem up there is the housing. It's hard to talk your wife into living in a mancamp.

 

There are several options:

1) Go up by yourself for several months to look and get established. Home every couple of mos. for a while. Not much difference than driving 3-4 wks out and 3 days off as OTR is done.

2) Where there is demand, there will be supply---housing will come! The 1st house you buy now for $100-120K will be worth 5 times that in a couple of years---I've seen it happen in W. TX during the oil boom of the 70's. This is an opportunity for many that may not come around again in their life time! I've stepped out several times in my life, out of my comfort zone, and never regretted it...if one is content being safe as a steering wheel monkey working for a big co., then this is not for you.

Also, if you are married to a 'big city mall woman,' then this opportunity is also not for you...

 

Also, moving your household to a new location w/o knowing anyone there is not a big deal. I've done it twice. Go up by yourself to scout out the area, interview for a job, and once securing a job, then look for a rental home. Once secured with a deposit, drive back home and start packing.

At the place your are moving from, have friends & family help you load a U-haul, attach a trailer for one of your vehicles, and have your wife drive the other 'more fuel efficient' one behind you. But b4 moving, go look at the Inet for large churches in the new location, call ahead and offer $100/ea to HS boys (just need 2) for a couple of hrs of work (primarily help with the big items ) who want to help and get a commitment from them/the church ofc to be there at the new house/rental following the day after you arrive.

And b4 you know it, you are moved in, unpacking, and starting your new job...and another of life's "adventures."

Btw, if you are physically limited and cant lift boxes, etc., many local independent moving co.s will provide just the labor (w/o the pkg materials and/or truck)...or can look up the local Salvation Army, etc. to provide you with the labor for some $.

 

Oil in North Dakota spurs housing boom

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/oil-north-dakota-spurs-housing-boom

Sounds like a guy would have to move up, settle in a good job after possibly moving around over several jobs, and then find an area with a new housing project to bring his family up to..could take months to a year or so (?). Would be easier for a single person who is more foot loose & fancy free to pursue the $$$...

EDIT: Williston is 125 mi from the 'big city' of Minot (Pop of 46K with several 'malls'..<wink>) About 1 1/2 drive if one commutes the straight rds up there...altho the winters will prolong it if passable!

http://www.ndoiljobs.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RtKVHlYiS0