Stacking the deck in your favor.

Do it like this: @TripleSix , you are being beckoned. You have to tag people; he's an awesome man of wisdom and would probably (most often!) reply, when he's not giving his A'game to what he does.
I'm 54 years old and been driving 20 plus years considering the old school non regulated, and I still learn a lot from this man.

Read his posts. Subscribe to him as in 'follow'. Nary have I heard him steer a man wrong. He could write a string of e'books and retire, but that's not his game.

Good luck on your journey, man.

 

Yeah most definitely!

 

I've followed @blairandgretchen and @Lepton1 as well, but not @Hammer166 ... will have to catch up there. I've read a few of his posts here and there through the year(s,) don't recall him posting much.

I'll have to check it out; I'm never too old (or good) to learn. NEVER.

 

So many things I'd say, and like to ask, would really be too long for a forum thread here.

I've got a general understanding of what is involved with Heavy Haul / Oversize from talking to a couple guys over the years, permits, curfew, etc. and while intriguing to me, then I reflect on would I really want to take on all the added responsibility and thought process (I haven't decided a final answer).

This forum is an excellent resource to me. Perhaps for some it is also a source of entertainment, and a virtual brotherhood. I registered on this site when I was deciding on entering the trucking career, during which I read a ton of all topics, as time would allow. Now, my time doesn't allow. I have a decent, no wait, actually its a "good" OTR job at a carrier which many would not believe that my yearly income is what it has been with this carrier. But I work a lot....well if you consider pulling a dry van all over this nation "work"... with extremely rare hometime. Dry van lots of drop and hook is lazy bones trucking compared to your heavy hauling. I hauled reefer loads for 3 years prior, and glad to be on dry van. Having said that I'd be willing to switch to any type of haul if the earnings were significantly more, and/or better lifestyle along with good earnings, and I still could reasonably enjoy what I do.

Thought about learning flatbed, oilfield, food service etc. Want to decide on sticking to one, not keep bouncing around. Not that I have bounced around - 2 jobs in 5 years driving. And I say for now I do fine where I'm at, fine yes, but want more.

As I working stiff now I have little time for the forum. I lurk when I do check out some threads and read to get a sense what's current, what guys are talking about. Could be that I'm not taking advantage of the learning opportunity to continue reading as much as I can....but in a sense I am reading as much as I can, and pursuing other interests in my life, and doing none of those fully as I'd like. But I can run the heck out of a truck.

I sense there should be a better way. A smarter way. If I told you I make so near 50 cents per mile in my company driver gig...so near it, that you could consider it 50 cents per mile, and run 150,000 miles per year.....Well I'd be willing to wager 1) its pretty good earnings compared to "industry average" and compared to a driver of 5 years experience (without unloading freight); and 2) its leaves a lot of upside earnings which could be made by going beyond dry van, beyond company driver, and NOT DRIVING SO MANY MILES. But the 5 years I've been driving has all been mileage pay, and I want to maximize earnings, therefore my wheels keep on turning. I just know it would be true - I'd succeed further if I could figure out where to go with my talents in this business. My trouble is figuring out the direction I'm comfortable with....maybe a mentor would help make this decision more clear and less frightening to me about not wanting to make any mistake.

When I am stopped at a shipper, at receiver, at company terminal, at the truck stop for the night (or day) - often I approach the driver parked next to me and strike up a little small talk. Not always, but I do it a fair amount. Looking for a new different perspective, looking to see what I can learn, and maybe I can be of some help. Walking up to a guy parked in his truck sitting there in the driver seat I will approach and the usual reaction (at first) is the guy looks at me like I'm an alien (outer space kind, not immigrant) for approaching. Then a conversation of some length ensues, rarely ending with an exchange of phone numbers. Point of this paragraph - haven't found too many signs of intelligence, let alone mentor candidates. Tried finding one. Not looking in the right places? Not enough time to look?

I could go on, but I'm tired and ready to rest now.
Of the names you mentioned, I will admit to enjoying what Mr. Lepton1 has written.

 

Plenty of us out here! Just usually catch us when were doing laundry! I'm out for two weeks before I go home for a while ! We make our money and go home and enjoy life!

 

Yup!

 

@TripleSix , now you're gonna make me spend some time sharing some schooling! LOL