Should I or shouldn't I, that is the question!

Ok y'all, you may think this is crazy or stupid but its weighing heavy on my mind. I am missing being in a truck so I am contemplating having a go at it again. Anyways, my wife and I make a great living currently and we are still young, me 45 her 44. She works full time and I literally sit at the house and do nothing (medically retired from the government and 100% disabled vet). Together we make $110,200+ depending on her overtime. Now I have been retired for 7 years next month and she really wants to stop working or at least cut way back. So I was looking and thinking maybe I could get her to get a CDL and we could team together if she wanted or she could just stay home, I dunno. Anyways, looking at numbers, If I did it on my own, I would need to gross 1300 per week, and after the first year, 1600 per week. The reason for the difference is I would loose my retirement and 100% and go down to 90% until I decided to retire again. The other kicker is we live in Florida and being 100% DAV I know longer have to pay for property taxes (kicks in during 2021) and also our health care is free. So those two things would add me needing to make roughly 1k more a month to cover them.

So, that means I would need to gross 6600 per month the first year, and 7900 the remaining years. Anything over that we would throw to truck, business and extra on personal bills.

Soooooo........ what is your thoughts?

 

to me, i'd never give up any disabilty at 100% now.

let her cut back if she wants.

you can find things to do like volunteer your time at a local animal shelter. volunteering a few hours a week will keep YOU busy, and keep your 100% disability.

she will still be working, but either fewer hours per day, or fewer days per week.

i think you might lose more than you think on your disabilty. the money you earn will be offset on your disabilty payments, then too, you gotta watch out, you may be found "totally abled" to work, and get kicked off disability.

 

Buddy, I wouldnt loose anymore than I already mentioned. I'm rated 90% scheduler by the VA, but I get the 100% rating because my disabilities are permanent and they consider me unemployable. What I mentioned up there is worse case scenario, there are caveats that would allow me to keep my 100% but I didn't want to get into all that. Unfortunately my wife wouldn't be able to cut back unless I went back to work as we have to many toys and other bills. Also, I wouldn't permanently loose either, they would just basically be on hold if you will.

 

if you 2 cannot live, down in florida on $110,000 a year, then it goes without saying, that you 2 are living well beyond your means right now.
i wish i had THAT much myself yearly on my retirement account and SS.....(and we have HIGHER taxes up here and HIGHER prices on EVERYTHING up here....) and i can live "comfortably" on my new yearly take.

good luck

 

With how the industry is right now, I wouldn't come back to it if I were in your situation. Rates are, for the most part, pathetic. The amount of trucks outnumber the loads (and gov says we have a driver shortage). The foreigners will just as soon wreck you as wave to you. And on and on and on. Way more reasons NOT to get in a truck than there are to get in one, in my opinion.

 

Oh no, we are doing just fine right now the way things are lol. Im saying she wouldnt be able to cut back at this time and us still be comfortable.

 

Redbone Trucking has a team FedEx run out of Orlando and hires new cdl school grads.
You're in the panhandle aren't you?
A drop & hook team run might be ok.
V3 Transportation runs established teams.
Lots to choose from.

 

@Chinatown yes Im up here in satans armpit or taint which ever you prefer, they are both hot. Anyways, Im looking at buying another older truck with no payment and leasing on with a local guy. Im looking at buying the truck and parking it while I drive for him and build the emergency repair fund and also go through the truck completely and make sure everything is spot on before putting it on the road. We also have a fedex terminal here that would work with redbone I bet.

 

TransAm sells their used fleet trucks that are on the website. Those trucks are fully loaded with driver comfort amenities including TriPac APU. All that stuff is nice for the wife, since she'll be with you.
Click here > Fleet Sales
TransAm Fleet Equipment Sales is asubsidiary of TransAm Trucking

 

Man I dont know what you do to get this amazing amount of information you have but you are a goldmine. I appreciate it..