Thinkin about changing careers

Now you are talking sense. I knew of folks that had another business and bought a truck strictly for a write-off, and ended up losing the whole magila. I'm glad you checked this out, as years ago, we didn't have the luxury of this site, and it was mostly trial and error. Difference being, back then, it was no big deal switching jobs. Same $hmit, different shovel.I had 2 jobs in a week once. Doesn't work that way today, and if we saved ONE person from ruin, well, we've done our job. Best of luck.

 

You will make far more money as a lineman. If you want to buy a truck to run when you feel like it after you retire, you can have fun doing that. Maybe find a seasonal gig that pays good, then park it all winters. Good luck with your decision!

 

Wow this guy followed some advice and didn't go bulldozing ahead to buy a truck anyway. That's got to be the first time ever in here?

 

That revenue you are in search of is definitely available. It is also most certainly not easy to get to the point of being able to achieve it. Generally in trucking to make better than average income you have to do things that most people don’t do. I have been in the carhaul side of the industry the last 12 of my 36 years trucking. The skills and the equipment in carhaul don’t come quickly or cheap. Spend a couple years as a company driver (if you like it) and spend $400,000 for a rig and this income could be yours as well. Generally most of the large carriers business is long term contract freight with a fuel surcharge so you don’t have the highs and lows that people relying on the spot market experience. You are definitely still susceptible to market slowdowns, pandemics and strikes to cause you to temporarily slow down or loose work completely occasionally. There are very few businesses I know of that aren’t dependent on a healthy economy so most all businesses have some amount of risk. Carhaul is a darn good way to make a living for some people who aren’t afraid of working in all types of weather with some daily physical activity.
Not all of the carriers use owner ops or pay as well but depending on where you live I am sure you could find one that worked.

 

There's 3 car hauling companies that hire new cdl school grads. He can start there.
Cassens Transport Company
United Road Services Inc.
Can't remember the name of the other one.

 

I missed the part where you are a lineman. You can definitely handle this job and you probably won’t look back.
If you are currently Union with a lot of seniority and an excellent pension I would think twice before leaving your job. If you can return to being a lineman if you don’t like trucking maybe you should try it. Since you stated you are thinking about changing careers you likely are not happy with your current gig or maybe you are just bored with it.

 

First time I've seen it in my seven years around here.

 

I will have to respectfully disagree with the 3 car. I can’t see the reason to try something that won’t help him reach his ultimate goal. 3 Carhauler and 9-11 carhauler is a totally different animal.
Cassens is definitely a great suggestion depending on where he lives.
United Road is a great option if they will hire him with no CDL A experience. His Class B experience driving Power Company trucks coupled with his working a physical job experience (being a better candidate to haul cars than some people) could get the one year experience requirement relaxed.