Second thoughts

If you love driving, and I mean REALLY love driving, then go for it. Just remember that this isnt an RV excursion or driving a car X-country. This
is real hard dangerous work, and you have to stay awake for hours on end. You cant just pull over anywhere you want like a four wheeler.

 

I would have to say, I have been around the block a few time. I do not know of any job, any where, that dont have rules, and someone telling you what to do. My brother just got a job selling Toyotas, he has been a salesman 35 years, he is up to his neck in computer classes and mentors. You say you are 21 years old, what does your future look like without any futher education, weather it be McDonalds or getting a CDL. You are at the begining of you earning carreer, yes, you may have held jobs and paid bills before. You must ask yourself, What do you want for your future.
I wish you luck in any field you choose, but don't make a decesion on how much learningyou will have todo, or test you will have to take, For a good life, it will only just begin.

Good Luck and safe miles,

Larry

 

I would suggest exploring Expedite Van companies. Start out just rolling in a van to get a feel for it before running a truck.

Anyway I did it for 3 years and got sick of it. I'm training up for welding and going for that next.

 

If you've got what it takes to be the next American Idol, then go for it. Otherwise, I find this question a little asinine. Any job you go into, pretty much, will require some kind of training or certification. Why would you expect truck driving to be an exception?
Other than that, you know better what you want out of this than any of us do. At the risk of sounding cheesy, follow your heart. Yeah, you'll have to take some chances - that's a part of life, too.

 

Ranger 309 just gave you some excellent advice - if don't LOVE to drive it will be difficult for you to put up with the hassles that come along with the life of OTR trucking and it will get old quickly.
Yes, you will get to see new places but remember, you will be in the commercial zones most of the time and not the touristy (is that even a word?) areas. For someone who has driving "in their blood" it's all worth it at the end of the day.
Best of luck to you whatever you decide in your heart of hearts.

 

Get an education and pursue a career in a field other than trucking. If things don't work out, you can always try driving as a last resort.

 

What if you don't really love driving, but you are #### good at it. I have never really loved anything that I have been PAID to do, but I have gotten #### good at it, why would truckig have to be different.

 

I'm not going to sit here and tell you all the pro's an cons since i'm sure you've read about them 1000 times already and it wont answer your question "is it worth it?"


Think about it this way:

Your Training will take 3 weeks to 6 months of your life, not a big deal right?

Depending on who you go to work for you will be with a trainer for 0 days - 6 months, typicly around 4 weeks, so again not a huge deal, Right?

Then your most likely going to have to do at least 1 year OTR.....so you are going to be employed, gaining experiance on a new trade that will NOT ever dissapear, you'll get to see all 48 states and possibly parts on canada, all the while being paid and haveing insureance, so still not to bad right?


Again depending on who you choose to go work for you'll gross $25,000-$40,000 for your First year, sounds pretty decent for a rookie to me.....Right?


After a year of Experiance you'll have 1000's of OTR companies to choose from some can get you home every weekend and some even every few days, or better yet you can find a local job that your home nights and weekends.....and Make anywhere From $12/hr- $100,000+/ Year....still sounds pretty good right?


Worst case scenario, you man up do your year and get out of trucking, as long as your smart and KEEP the CDL in your Pocket for the rest of your life, considering your age you have PLENTY of time for other careers after that 1 year OTR. No matter what happens, if all else fails you can ALWAYS go back to driving, and the next time around it'll be quick and easy and you'll know what your doing.



So the way I see it, give it a shot and you could have a potential lifetime career or at the very least a ROCK SOLID backup that will insure you and your future family never have to live on the street.





just my highly edumecated .02cents.......






American Trucker

 

because at least in OTR trucking you will Eat, Sleep, Live, Breath Trucking 95-98% of your time, so if you dont at least "like it" your going to want OUT!


Trucking EVEN local, is NOT a 9-5 job (in most cases)




American Trucker