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Something different

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Oregon Grown, May 8, 2012.

  1. May 8, 2012 #1
    Oregon Grown

    Oregon Grown Light Load Member

    220
    86
    May 7, 2012
    lapine or
    0
    Hello everyone,Im 37 years old and have been working in bodyshops the last 13 or so years painting cars and have just plain had ENOUGH.Between fighting insurance companies for every red cent i make to dishonest money hungry shop owners that would cheat their own family for a buck, thats it. Last friday myself and the manager loaded up and left. Now you may say in this economy that was dumb.....maybe.But its not as if we were making good money for a while anyhow.Last year a friend in Utah was trying to talk me into going to work the oil fields in Wyoming and another friend in Colorado was tossing this around.They cliam 75 g first year.Sounds pretty good untill i find out that its 17-23 bucks an hour working upwards of a hundred hours a week.Not to to mintion windy 40 below. No thanks. So a few months ago my Co buddy calls up and tells me he had got his cdl and was buying a truck. He did he got an older volvo and a refer.Now hes got me talked into to getting my cdl and running truck too.He started his own company and in afew months hes actually making money.I will go and get my permit in a couple of weeks here and erly next month hell pick me up and hit the road so i can start getting some experience.So im looiking for something different a complete carreer change.Now beeing i own a mortgage and like everyone else have plenty of bills this seems like something that i can get into that in a relatively short period of time can make decent money.Now my my freind says he will put me in his truck pay me 40 cpm and buy himself another truck working his way to an empire. He turned me on to this website and said to join and talk everyones ear off.He gave me hiss password stuff for the load boards on transcore and told me to familierize myself with it. So does any one thing tthat this is the way to do it versus school and contracts and big companies or any other advice on what to expect and yes it will be long haul. Anything will be helpful . THANKS :biggrin_2556:
     
    Oregon Grown, May 8, 2012
    Oregon Grown, May 8, 2012
    #1
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  3. May 8, 2012 #2
    Drifter42

    Drifter42 Hopper Heartache

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    Dec 4, 2011
    Seymour IN
    0
    That may work out well for you, but be careful of working for a buddy lol, .40cpm is not bad starting out, but does he have any sort of bennies? Being new to the industry, I suggest going to a school or even go to a big company like schneider or someone like that to start. I started with schneider in late 2003 went through their training and stayed my year with them. Back then you had to stay a year or it cost $3500 for the training, I'm not sure what it is now. After that many other doors will open up for you. Btw I was like you in many ways. I was 37 when I got into the trucking industry and I'm 46 now. You may do good with the first option with you're buddy, but to familiarize yourself with the trucking industry, I suggest you go the school or the big company route to gain experience and go from there. Hope that helps and I'm sure others will chime in as well and may have better advice than what I have just given. Thats just what worked for me and I still consider myself a rookie.
     
    Drifter42, May 8, 2012
    Drifter42, May 8, 2012
    #2
    Oregon Grown Thanks this.
  4. May 8, 2012 #3
    RedForeman

    RedForeman Momentum Conservationist

    4,875
    22,141
    Jan 30, 2011
    0
    Before you get too excited, read all the stickies at the top of the owner operator section. The common advice is to self-pay your training at a carrier approved school and go to work as a company driver for at least a year. That way you're free of the obligations that come with so-called company provided training, and have a chance to see if you can do this for a living before you tie up even more money in equipment. It's not for everybody.

    Here's another tip, since you mentioned a mechanical background. Me too. Changing jobs in trucking can be like an act of Congress compared to your mechanic days of toolbox on wheels, quit on Friday and roll to your new job Monday. It just doesn't work that way. Short of the health and food industries, interstate trucking is about the most heavily regulated and taxed industry there is. It's serious business and takes a lot of diligence to know what's gonna hit your schedule or wallet next and for how much. With your no experience and following the advice of a buddy, you're already off to a weak start.

    You're facing some potentially huge time and money barriers with what you propose. Don't let the load boards dazzle you. It costs a lot more than you think to operate a semi. Spend a few days reading before you ask a lot of questions. The people that will respond to your posts will give better advice if you make the effort in the first place to read and understand what is already posted.
     
    RedForeman, May 8, 2012
    RedForeman, May 8, 2012
    #3
    Oregon Grown Thanks this.
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