Strategizing the long term.

The Patriot · Jan 12, 2015

Jake G said: ↑

Hey everyone.
Im new to all this so please keep that in mind when you answer. I dont know the lingo or many of the basic concepts. Although Im reading 3 books on trucking.
Im trying to come up with a good plan or path to take. I realize this is a large question and may not have a simple answer. If you have an answer based on personal experience, great, Id love to hear it. Or, if you know of a book(s) about trucking that answers all this, please give me the title(s).

First of all, I dont mind working my ### off. I dont get burnt out. I learn fast. And Im already a loner with no steady girlfriend. I love solitude. So the social side OTR does not sound bad to me. It sounds like its right up my ally.

Among the different options for types of jobs (working for a company, lease purchase, team, independent contractor, flat bed, refrigerated, propane, a bunch of others) Ive been told the annual pay differs greatly. Anywhere from 30k to over 100k. I imagine the time it takes to achieve the qualifications for each also differs. Then there is availability. If certain jobs are rather difficult to find openings, Id probably avoid it. And I dont want to do the team. After training, I want to drive alone.

So what I want to know is, which jobs have these three advantages:

1)Pay the highest? Assuming you dont easily burn out. A workaholic.

2) Dont take a long time to qualify for. Id like to qualify in two years or less if possible, but I dont even know if thats possible for the higher paying jobs. Again, Im new to this. The the two year thing does not exist, then which job types that pay the highest can i reach the soonest?

3) Good to decent availability. If its real tough to find openings, Id probably choose something else.

If you know of any types of jobs that fit all three parameters, what are they? And, if you have any advice of how to make it happen, Im all ears. Such as, better places to train under, companies to avoid, whatever else you would advise.

Thanks a lot.
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Piece of advice. KEEP YOUR RECORD CLEAN! Do whatever you have to so that your have that perfect CSA score. Even if it means not running in bad weather or stretching your hours because some dispatcher is crying.
Once you have that golden score with the years to boot you can negotiate positions, even work some back room deals for better runs,less time and higher wages. The CSA is putting the screws down on companies and those of us who have them can live life pretty good. Pisses off the super truckers who speed and like to rack up tickets that have been with a company for years and a new guy comes in with a gold card and gets better than they have. lol

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