Think I am going to take the plunge later this year.......

You certainly come across as informed and having a pretty good idea of things in life. If this is what you want to do, I say go for it. For me the last 16 years that I've been truck driving, it's been good to me.

 

Well I have met a few nurses who felt just like you and took up trucking so It is not unheard of. I have also met truck drivers that went to school for nursing and then came back to trucking shortly after there first stint as a nurse.

While you appear to have a better outlook on the trucking thing than most, as you might be aware most that enter trucking don't have a clue what they are getting into. That said you mentioned Swift, a favorite around here. You know at Swift, like most mega's, the turnover is at 100% and often exceeds 100%. That means for every new truck drivers that enters Swift almost all are out the door before the year is up. That is even after many have invested $4000+ in schooling. Many have not worked in an environment with such turnover and speaks volumes on the actual quality of the job Swift offers. If you still have student loans know you might want to consider that before you sign up with another.

 

The roads gonna chew you up, mess you up, and spit you out. Sounds like a big softie.

But good luck!

 

I am going through some similar issues at this moment in life, getting ready to make some huge life decisions this year, so I understand where you are coming from. Seems like you have a good head on your shoulders, and I wish you the best of luck!

 

Keep the horse. Trust me. There will be some places that you visit in a big rig that you will swear to yourself to come back and visit on your horse. There are some towns, some roads that are so awesome that you will be thinking, "Man, if I was on my HOG, I would have wood!" Believe me when I tell you, friend...keep the bike. I would have to say that HALF the drivers I meet own a bike. When we get out of the rig, we only want to ride.

I started in Rescue. Then the PD. EVOC. Didn't transport, I cut them out of the cars. It was the first time I had to take a physical for a job. You have to qualify to drive. It is very similar. So you want to truck. Nothing wrong with that. Some of us aren't losers so we actually enjoy life on the road.

I started off as a local driver. I was working for a food service outfit, loading up at the same places these road drivers were. They would sit there and converse about certain roads and places and whatnot. They were running large cars and I was in a POS WhiteGMCVolvo daycab. So I went and applied for job. It was a good experience. Even though I hated those grocery warehouses, I loved running down the bigroad in that old cabover. I still enjoy the job. Don't care for all the handholding in the industry, but I still enjoy the job.

Get to a truckstop, go sit in the restaurant, and soon enough, some old hand walks in there and you can look at him and tell he still owns a horse. Next thing, we are taking out the phones showing pictures of the bikes.

The first year doesn't have to be crappy. It is what you make it. Want it crappy, it will b crappy. Want good times, there will be good times. Remember, you're not a loser. Some of these people in the business can't do anything and never done anything in life more difficult than wiping their arse. So of course, they're going to be negative. If you were as helpless as an overgrown infant, you would be negative too.

Anyways, wish you success in whatever path you take.

 

Very realistic approach . Plus you have a great back up plan.

 

That's my story, too. Only a little more money and I am in IT sales. I am so burnt out, it's ridiculous. I feel your pain, man.

 

I use 1% of brain power out here compared to the 120% I used in IT.

This was my way of seeing the country.

 

Eighteen + years in IT (help desk) here... starting CDL school next week and hope to be hired by a company with a dedicated or regional route available to new drivers - Schneider & US Xpress seem to be the best choices so far. I expect it to be harder and longer hours, but I think the trade off will be well worth it. Best of luck to you!